Leading means being where I’m needed.

MMBay volunteer leader Rohini Venkatesan is a Consumer Insights Manager at SmartNews, and joined MMBay in 2018 as a volunteer Mentor. Since then: Rohini has mentored a student through her high school journey, keeps in touch with her while she is at college, and herself has taken on roles at MMBay as a Mentee Recruiter, Junior and Senior Mentoring Class Leads and most recently as Co-Chief Program Officer (an executive volunteer role in our org). Reflecting on her experience, Rohini shares how our organization inspired her growth and choice to lead:

“Like so many volunteers at MMBay, I found this org when I was very early in my career, and looking to expand my own community. Coming from an immigrant family, I've always felt an affinity with other immigrant families who work so hard to build a life such that their children and grandchildren can thrive in this country. And so, when I think about expanding my community, I’m more interested in building relationships that can bring value to someone else's journey. MMBay is a place where I can really make a difference, and from that foundation, I've built some of the most meaningful friendships in my life.

I joined the executive Steering team as Co-Chief Program Officer because it's where this org needed me to be at this time, and to me that's what service means: being where you're needed, at the time that you’re needed. I hope that by being in this role, I can be a part of sustaining and growing MMBay’s valuable services to students in San Francisco, because what we offer as a program and community is so necessary for the kids in this city.”

You can view Rohini’s volunteer testimonial for MMBay here.