My First Experience at the APRA Canada Conference; or
How Important it is to get Together
by Mylène Castonguay, Prospect Researcher and Mid-level gifts Officer, Canadian Cancer Society
It was a big surprise for me when I learned that I won the Radhika Jaggernauth Memorial Scholarship, because I was not expecting much given the likelihood of numerous applicants. Well, never say never!
The timing could not have been better. The organisation I work for has been going through a major restructuring (apparently it is common in the non-profit world as I heard at the conference!) and all employees are in the process of learning and getting comfortable in their new roles and responsibilities. So I thought to myself that the conference would be a good opportunity to get inspired by the experiences (good or bad) and best practices from fellow researchers. Here are some of the highlights that I have been chewing my colleagues’ ears off with since the conference!
- The importance of advocating for prospect research and showing the validity of our work. All the sessions I took part in were showing how prospect researchers have a strategic role in the organisation and should use every single opportunity to duly advise their coworkers. Whether it is a matter of personality (introvert, yeah!) or leadership and authority, we should embrace our role as advisor.
- The importance of clear procedures and transparent communication. I was particularly curious to see how some organisations have succeeded in implementing major changes although they work in big, complex and hierarchical structures. What seems crucial is to implement, revisit or clarify the procedures and the role of each team . . . and to accept that change takes time.
- The power of visualisation. I was happy for the opportunity to learn how visualisation was used in other organisations. The amount of data our brains are trying to absorb daily is extreme and we must get better at organising the data and using visualisation as a tool for decision-makers.
Being the only prospect researcher in an organisation makes these conferences and get-togethers more meaningful and resourceful. They are inspirational, help us gain confidence with the work that we do and motivate us to innovate. I can say that, through learning from my fellow peers, I have a clearer vision on how I want my career to evolve. And for that, I must say: “Thank you!”