My first job was at a nonprofit organization with limited funding. I was responsible for a wide variety of duties, from project management to fundraising to marketing. I had no educational background in those areas, but with each new task, I found myself growing by leaps and bounds as a professional.

 

I don’t have a marketing background, but at the nonprofit, I learned to design program materials such as fliers and pamphlets and to make presentations to stakeholders. Those skills came in handy a few months back when I launched my own nonprofit organization and had to create a website, a sales presentation and design my business cards. My work may not be expert, but it is good enough to provide credibility to my startup company.

 

Another experience I vividly remember was giving a presentation at a prestigious college. The college was a different platform than I was used to, I reached the college almost an hour early, and my speech was completely out of sync with my PowerPoint presentation. When my talk was over, I was ready to run as far as possible from that building.

 

However, that embarrassing presentation prompted me to work hard on my presentation skills. Last year, I had an opportunity to teach an undergraduate course at Drake University. When the semester was over, my students had many positive comments on how much they enjoyed the course, testimony to the improvements I had made to my speaking skills.  

 

Fundraising is another nonprofit skill that has helped me throughout my career. The nonprofit I worked for early in my career needed more funding, so I learned to write grant applications. Some applications were successful, some were not, but each time, I honed my skills, and over the years, I have written highly successful grant applications and continue to do so.

 

There have been many moments in my career that were far from perfect, but all these experiences were stepping stones to a better me. Those moments outside my comfort zone created a more polished version of me. Moreover, the know-how I gained from those experiences has served me well in my various leadership roles.

 

So take risks. Step outside your comfort zone. Use your 20s and even 30s as a time to hone skills that will prepare you for future leadership roles in life. The worst that can happen is a few embarrassing moments, and no one but you will remember those. However, people will remember a job well done. So confidently step outside your comfort zone. You’ll be pleased you did. 

 

Paritosh “Pari” Kasotia, MBA, MPA, PMP, CSM, is a founder and CEO of Unfolding Energy. She was recently named a Midwest 40 under 40 Emerging Clean Energy Leader. Coming from a diverse background and experiencing many cultures firsthand, she is passionate about the advancement of women, especially those from minority backgrounds, and she strives to lead by example.

 

Contact Kasotia by email or by phone at 515-802-0412. Follow her on Twitter or connect with her on  LinkedIn.