How a lifelong commitment to volunteering has shaped the way I work and lead

Volunteering is often framed as something separate from our professional careers. Meaningful, worthwhile, but largely personal. Over time, I’ve found the opposite to be true.

The volunteer roles I’ve taken on over the years have quietly shaped the way I work. They put me in situations that required patience, awareness and follow-through long before I had formal professional experience. More importantly, they gave me repeated opportunities to work with people in real, imperfect circumstances, where listening and adaptability matter as much as preparation.

From middle school through adulthood, my volunteer experiences have changed shape, but not purpose. While my roles have evolved, the lessons I’ve picked up along the way have remained consistent. Each opportunity strengthened my ability to work thoughtfully with different groups of people, stay grounded when plans inevitably shift and build lasting relationships rooted in respect. Those experiences have fundamentally shaped the way I show up, both personally and professionally, to this day.

Earning trust through consistency and care
Some of my earliest volunteer experiences took place on a farm where I supported an equine program. At a young age, I learned that animals respond to steady behavior, attention to detail and calm energy. Success depends less on intention and more on consistency.

This environment encouraged observation. Any small change in behavior mattered, and reacting too quickly or without context could exacerbate problems rather than solve them. It became necessary for me to slow down and take cues from my surroundings to adjust my approach.

The program also brought together people with a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. Working and teaching effectively meant being flexible and aware of how others were experiencing the same situation. Those early lessons continue to guide how I approach management and collaborative work, especially when outcomes depend on trust and shared understanding.

Helping people connect and find common ground
As a student at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, I served as community relations officer, tasked with strengthening relationships between energetic international students and local, mostly retired residents. These efforts required me to strike a balance between different perspectives and expectations that often clashed diametrically. Many times, students and community members came to the table with disparate priorities or assumptions about a given issue. My role involved listening closely and encouraging constructive dialogue. Molding a safe space for all to have difficult conversations was the true purpose of my work.

That experience sharpened my communication skills. Framing ideas thoughtfully and recognizing that people define success differently reinforced how easily trust can be won or lost based on responsiveness, demeanor and accountability. Those lessons translate into almost every professional arena. Many projects include diverse stakeholders with different pressures and perspectives. Engaging productively in the face of those differences helps keep work moving forward in a way that feels collaborative and respectful.

How these experiences influence my ways of working
Rather than viewing this work as separate from my career, I see it as a necessary stepping stone for success, especially in the PR industry. Today, I continue to make volunteer work a priority and support my local animal shelter. It may be an excuse to spend time with puppies, but it also serves as a reminder to stay attentive and respond with care.

Volunteering experiences have widened my perspective and strengthened my ability to balance competing priorities. They’ve made me more comfortable working with people from all backgrounds and communication styles. That comfort fosters clarity and mutual understanding, two essential ingredients for productive collaboration.

They’ve encouraged a thoughtful, measured approach to problem-solving. I prioritize listening carefully to assess context and move forward with intention, supporting alignment both internally and externally while avoiding unnecessary missteps.

They’ve also deepened my appreciation for clear, honest communication. It’s cemented my belief that clarity is kindness: finding ways to be direct while remaining respectful is an essential skill for anyone working with people, both in volunteer and professional settings.

For clients and colleagues, these habits (hopefully!) translate into an experience that feels consistent, attentive and collaborative. They influence how I engage, how I respond to challenges and how I work to support shared goals.

Where personal commitment meets firm culture
At Pierce PR, community involvement isn’t treated as extracurricular. It’s part of how we define leadership. The firm has consistently encouraged me to pursue opportunities that strengthen both personal growth and professional perspective. This year, that includes participating in the Young Leaders Council program, an experience supported and championed by our leadership team.

That encouragement reflects something larger about our culture. We believe strong communicators and thoughtful leaders are built through real-world experience, not just client work. Investing in community engagement strengthens our ability to listen, build trust and navigate complex environments with care. The same principles that guide volunteer work – clarity, consistency and accountability – are the ones we bring to our clients every day.

A broader view of experience
Professional experience is often measured in years and titles. While those markers matter, they can’t always capture the full picture. Long-term volunteer work offers exposure to real-world situations that build judgment, awareness and people skills over time. These qualities aren’t always visible on paper, but they certainly show up in how work gets done.

Volunteers who are able to bring that perspective to other roles in life, professionally and otherwise, are easy to spot. It manifests as they communicate, collaborate and approach complexity. If working with a team of thoughtful collaborators inspires you, start a conversation with us today.

Hannah Leavitt is a senior account manager at Pierce Public Relations, a Nashville-based strategic PR and marketing firm specializing in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry and professional services. Connect with Hannah at hannah@pierce-pr.com or on LinkedIn.