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Varsha Rajagopalan volunteered through Grameen Foundation’s skillanthropy program, Bankers without Borders (BwB) where we connect thousands of skilled volunteers with high potential social enterprises and nonprofits around the world. Varsha's story highlights what skill-based volunteering can do, both for the organization receiving support and for the professionals stepping up to serve.

My First Global Fellowship Experience: Leading with Purpose and Learning Through Impact:

When I signed up for the Wells Fargo Global Fellows Program, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. It was my first time participating in a global fellowship, and the idea of working with a nonprofit sounded exciting—but also a little intimidating.

The process started with choosing a nonprofit from a list of organizations. I didn’t find one in my city, so I picked SERJobs, a Houston-based nonprofit whose mission resonated with me: empowering individuals through education, skills training, and employment opportunities. A few weeks later, I received the acceptance email. That’s when reality hit—I wasn’t just volunteering; I was going to lead the project as the Project Manager. And I would be working with five other Global Fellows from different parts of the company.

Our first team call was a turning point. I met five passionate professionals who shared a common goal: giving back and making a difference. Their energy was contagious, and I knew we were in this together. Then came the kick-off call with SERJobs. The nonprofit team walked us through their pain points—there were many—and for a moment, we all felt overwhelmed. How could we possibly address all these challenges in just three months? That’s where the real work began.

Over the next few weeks, we broke down the problems into smaller, manageable pieces. We spent time in discovery, asking questions, listening deeply, and learning about their operations. Slowly but surely, clarity emerged. By the end of the engagement, we delivered meaningful recommendations that included:

• A Strategic Plan to guide SERJobs’ future growth
• Workforce Trends Research to inform program development
• A Brand Visibility & Marketing Plan to strengthen community engagement
  
  Looking back, this journey taught me far more than I anticipated. Three lessons stand out:

• Leadership is about enabling others to succeed—not having all the answers. Guiding a diverse team reminded me that true leadership means creating space for collaboration and empowering others to shine.
• Collaboration and diverse perspectives spark innovation. Working with colleagues from diverse backgrounds showed mehow different viewpoints can lead to creative, impactful solutions.
• Skill-based volunteering creates a ripple effect. It doesn’t just transform communities—it helps us grow professionally and personally, reinforcing the value of purpose-driven work.

I’m grateful to my amazing teammates for their creativity and dedication, and to SERJobs for trusting us with their vision. A big thank you to Grameen Foundation and Bankers Without Borders for making this opportunity possible.

This was more than a project—it was a journey of learning, leadership, and impact. And I can’t wait to see the positive change these recommendations will bring to the Houston community.