Grad school advice from ProInspire Fellows panel

On Friday we had our monthly Inspire Fellows Professional Development workshop. This was the first workshop since Fellows started working, so we focused on career development. The highlight of the workshop was a panel about the role of graduate school in nonprofit careers. The panel featured:
– Keiva Dennis: Director, National Housing Trust Community Development Fund (MBA from Yale)
– Jimmy Henderson: Director of Planning, Policy, and Finance, E.L. Haynes (MBA and M.Ed from Stanford)
– Mike Kerlin: Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Co. (MBA and MPA from Harvard)
– Dave Wilkinson: Executive Director, City First Enterprises (JD from Yale)

In general, panelists felt that graduate school was a valuable stepping stone in their careers. Some of their advice to Fellows included:
Before you apply to graduate school
– Take time to reflect on your career goals and how graduate school fits in.
– Do what you want to do, not what you are expected to do.
– Get different experiences (like the Fellowship) because it is such a unique opportunity to try anything.
– Get advice from people who have positions that you would like to be in someday.

While in graduate school
– Selectively invest in classes, extra curricular activities and social opportunities. Do stuff you really want to do.
– Get to know your classmates – you can learn more from them than from classes.
– Find people who share your passions.
– Look for opportunities to get practical experience – both Keiva and Dave helped start a community development bank in New Haven during graduate school.
– Invest in classes that can help you down the road, like negotiations and nonprofit financial management.

After graduate school
– Stay committed to your passions, this will help you because pursuing opportunities in the social sector is harder than a traditional job search.
– Loans from graduate school are a real consideration. Look at schools that have loan forgiveness programs for graduates who pursue jobs in the nonprofit sector.
– Even though nonprofits may pay less than traditional law firm or consulting jobs, you will find more satisfaction and control over your schedule.
– Focus on getting to the point where you can enjoy what you are doing.
– Dave shared one of his favorite quotes by Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

Big thanks to our panelists for taking time to speak with us and to City First Enterprises for hosting us at their office!