MAKING MID-CAREER VITAL CONNECTIONS: SIGs, MOUs & Powerful Partnerships Because Professional members’ needs are generally non-technical (centering on establishing connections within industry), the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) can provide powerful programmatic support to the 5 – 15-year experience level. SIGs are well-positioned to help mid-career professional members make meaningful, value-adding connections to the breadth of the Engineering and STEM industry infrastructures (e.g., Government Agencies, Professional Organizations, etc.). The Workgroup saw the optimal method for forging these connections was through very specific and structured Memorandum of Understandings (MOU). Examples of partnerships might include: • an MOU/Partnership between the Entrepreneurship SIG and the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce; • an MOU/Partnership with the Congressional Black Caucus and the Public Policy SIG. Ideally, MOU Partners would be the bride-points facilitating connections between NSBE members and leading industry organizations and interesting field initiatives. To begin this reset of the SIGs, the Professional Executive Board should evaluate the structural components around who leads SIGs, how long should they lead, and who creates their strategic direction. An annual evaluation of goals and objectives to determine impact and eectiveness, should also be included in SIG operations.
Member / Stakeholder Engagement
Suggested Changes Necessary
Program Activity
Descriptions
• YTPs are the programmatic focus, with a potential need to hyper- focus on the Young Professionals only 0-2 years into their early career and away from their collegiate experience. This is a critical period in career development is most important • This group’s career development & transition needs will be supported by key activities with the general membership population. • YTP need intentionally providing supports (i.e. safe space for “being”), lifestyle development (continued introduction to cultural experiences), technical development (skills and strategies to get ahead), and mentorship. While this group is our focus, support can be provided to membership demographics that are beyond the 5-year career experience level.
• Conduct Assessment of currently Professional events and program activities in light of segmented Member needs/interests. • Prepare professional- centric toolkits to implement and assess the following program elements: - Implementation Steps - Best practices - Sample budgets - Case studies - Evaluation forms • Create incentives • Create tracking systems (e.g., align Activity Reports with these data)
Young Technical Professionals (YTP)
0-5 Years of Work Experience Post Collegiate
• General Membership • Chapter Leadership • Chapter members
0-2 Years Hyper Focus of Work Experience Post Collegiate
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