Exploring the Benefits of a Leadership Role

By Tina Guadan Fogall and Ginger Hultin

Running for a leadership position, whether within the GSDA, your workplace, professional organization, or community, offers a host of advantages. It provides opportunities to contribute and acquire new skills along your professional journey. Assuming a leadership role enables you to share your expertise in a specific area and gain insights through collaborative efforts with others. It can be a life-changing benefit to your skills that you won’t get anywhere else.

Your Nominating Committee Chairs at GSDA are here to guide you on how to maximize your volunteer experience because you’ll really only get out of it what you put into it. Here are our top tips for getting the most out of your volunteering and also, some tidbits from both of our personal journeys in leadership (see below!):

1. Professional Growth: As a volunteer, you can develop vital skills such as team management, budgeting, and public speaking. Whether you’re recruiting members, managing websites, or leading events, these experiences can enhance your resume and provide valuable talking points in interviews.

• Our biggest advice? Put your hand up for skills you want to build, not necessarily ones you already have! Ask for mentorship and support along the way. Then be sure to add it to your resume.

2. Network and Connect: The dietetics community is tight-knit, offering vast networking opportunities. Collaborating on the GSDA board or attending events can open doors to job postings, industry contacts, and professional friendships, amplifying your career prospects.

• Be sure to take advantage of the connections. Talk to someone you don’t know at a meeting or event! Reach out to see if someone that lives near you might want to meet up for coffee. Use your time to create a fun exchange where you can meet new friends and colleagues.

3. Build Your Resume and Your LinkedIn: Documenting your volunteer roles showcases your contributions and skills. Update your resume with action-packed phrases like “organize,” “plan,” and “create” to highlight your accomplishments. Don’t forget to update your LinkedIn profile, demonstrating your dedication to community involvement.

• Years from now, you may need to remember the actions you took and accomplishments you had in a position when you were a student, intern, or early dietitian. We recommend putting a note in your calendar every June 1 (the start of the “nutrition year”) and then in December as a reminder to go into your LinkedIn and make a bulleted list of the tasks you’re working on or have completed as part of your volunteer work.

4. Get Continuing Education Credits: Your GSDA membership provides access to valuable continuing education events, ensuring you stay current in your field with ease. These dynamic courses are eligible for CE credits at no cost to GSDA members.

• Volunteering and leadership should go both ways. You get to build skills, make connections, and gain confidence while also giving back, supporting others, and helping our profession grow bigger and stronger!

Through teamwork and collaboration, leaders can achieve far more than individuals working independently. They can engage a broader audience within the organization or community and effect greater change in the process. Assuming a leadership role is also a powerful means of fostering positive change in your community. As dietitians, we possess the expertise to not only educate others about healthy practices but also to empower fellow community leaders to make crucial decisions regarding health and wellness.

While joining a new board may seem daunting, remember, GSDA is a welcoming community of local students, interns, DTRs, and RDNs working together for the greater good. Whether you’re unsure of your fit or new to the profession, there’s room for you, and we’d love to have you on the board. Reach out as we build our board for the “new year” starting June 1, 2024.

Tina’s journey: I became part of the nominating committee nearly two years ago during my DPD master’s program, aiming to refine my skills and bolster my internship resume. Working alongside an exceptional dietetic leader on Nom Com has been a privilege, affording me invaluable insights into the profession and leadership in the field. Securing my dream internship while serving my second year on the board has been a highlight. I deeply appreciate the vibrant community of individuals on the board, who continually inspire and provide a sense of connection and support.

Ginger’s journey: I put my hand up long ago (about a decade now!) as a dietetic intern in Chicago. Little did I know that I was partnered with a very talented dietitian in tech at the time who taught me everything I know about WordPress. It was a huge gift. From there, I actually stepped into a large leadership role because I was encouraged by my team there and I became the President of the org! What a journey. I realize now that I did a lot of skill building before I was “ready” but it’s been one of the biggest gifts of my career. I’m now a volunteer-addict and you can find me on the board and groups at all levels of dietetics. I hope we get to work together soon.