By Hasala Dharmawardena, PhD, PE, Chair, IEEE Young Professionals Committee
One day in 2015 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, I ran into a volunteer of the local IEEE Power and Energy Society Chapter, Manjula Hemapala. He told me about the plans to invite a legendary educator and Smart Grid pioneer Mo El-Hawary to Sri Lanka. He also said he struggled to raise funding to host a reception after the technical event. Given I was a big fan of Mo, I volunteered to find sponsors because networking with a legend in the field like Mo was an opportunity of a lifetime for the local community. I wrote a funding proposal and sent it to a friend who was an industry leader. Luck was on my side because it only took one call for him to close the deal!
Networking with a Smart Grid Pioneer
On event day, when I arrived at the reception, I was surprised to see the legend Mo standing by himself at a table. My friends and I joined him, and what followed was one of the most enjoyable evenings I ever had. I learned a lot about Mo. We exchanged ideas that spanned culture (Egypt, US, Sri Lanka), technology (How smart are smart grids?), and history. This experience enriched and inspired me, and the connection I built helped me significantly as I navigated my career. This experience was a turning point in my life.
IEEE Volunteering is Hard Work, But Rewarding
Over the last decade and a half, I have served in many IEEE leadership roles across three continents, most recently as the Chair of the IEEE Young Professionals Committee. Looking back, much like the experience with Mo, I realize the most valuable benefits of IEEE membership were those I found by engaging in various active ways.
Good results require hard work – irrespective of the type of engagement. IEEE volunteer work, at times, has added more to my plate. However, I have found it enjoyable – especially working for a shared purpose in a team environment. While I did not pursue networking in the volunteering activities, I have come to realize the engagements have helped develop my network far beyond my imagination. Even more importantly, volunteering has built meaningful, strong, and lifelong bonds with some incredible people – who may have started as colleagues but ended as family!
Building a Vibrant Young Professionals Community
Over the past two years, the IEEE Young Professionals Committee has been unwavering in its commitment to creating a platform empowering members to find and create their own membership value. We’ve developed monthly meetings, regional engagements, and thematic and open communication platforms to ensure that you can easily access the benefits that matter most to you.
One example of a thematic platform we built was the IEEE YP Climate and Sustainability Taskforce. This task force is focused on connecting youth who want to make a difference in climate and sustainability technology. The team has made incredible memories together and built many benefits for the community, some of which you can see here.
As technology and society evolve, so do our needs. As leaders of the IEEE Young Professionals, we are committed to supporting all Youth Technologists and Early Career Professionals in creating their own membership benefits to help you succeed. We are always on the lookout for great ideas and the next generation of champions to bring those ideas to fruition. We encourage you to share your ideas and feedback with us. Together, we can adapt to change, learn, and grow.
