Take the Call

When I was in college, I was mystified by what my friends majoring in "Business" were actually learning. Economics? Finance? Sure. But business was more foreign to me than the Krebs cycle or Kashmir was to others. The thing was, I didn't really care until I had to.

Fast forward four years and that science geek had entered the watering hole industry of tech where you had to have a little of every animal in you to succeed. Those who could converse with engineers, data scientists, design, and marketing had the easiest time ascending into roles they desired at companies we all covet. Communication may be your strength, but mastering how and when to use your company or department jargon is only learned by experience.

Working in strategy at my first startup threw me into an arena in which I could learn to tread water. I took an online course on python and web design, which helped me gain insight into how engineers and devs operate. A month's worth of lunch-and-learns around UX design concepts and programs gave me an opening into designers' parlance. Marketing has been my bread and butter working in strategy. But questions around business development still plagued me. What exactly was it and how do I approach learning in that system?

I couldn't exactly pick up Business Development Associate shifts on the weekend. The classes looked too philosophical and I wanted to see first hand what this realm was about. I'm no stranger to volunteering. In high school and middle school it was a requirement. In college I volunteered in health clinics to bolster my medical school application. After that, I continued to volunteer mostly out of habit but also because it genuinely made me happy. I mentored kids at the Chinatown YMCA and when the school year ended, so did my commitment. Around this time I was emailed a request for participation in the Be A Mentor program. I took the call. I thought it had something to do with the Y. Turned out it was actually software that they had used to match mentors with mentees. It was a passion project from a veteran that was so moved by the impact of his mentorship, he wanted to serve as an early cog in the wheel to help lead kids to success through mentorship.

I learned that there were many openings on their Board of Supervisors in various departments. Before Bob, the founder, could get through the entire list, I let him know I was interested in Business Development. The next thing I know, I'm on a call with a bevy of influential business leaders from across the country. We're discussing partnerships, expanding markets, building relationships with community organizers, and other strategies to spark growth. I'm stumbling to keep up but noticing what I'm learning. I'm realizing that maybe I'm out of the league, but then I remember that this is a volunteer position. There is something beautiful about that opportunity to get the most out of it because that's all you'll get out of it. I asked Bob early on why I even got the position. He said, "Well you took the call." He had nothing to lose, and I had everything to gain. I've learned about how to acquire users not yet in the funnel, about how products serve the business at large, and how this delicate ecosystem depends on a business mindset. A year and many wins for Be A Mentor later, I'm glad I took the call.