We recently sat down with Aseem Chandra, Vice President of Adobe Experience Manager and Adobe Target, to talk about Adobe’s values and how they’ve inspired him to volunteer his time with a nonprofit focused on a little-known brain condition. Read on for our Q&A.
Q: Before we get into the specifics of your charitable work, tell us about how you find the time to devote to it.
A: This is such an important question because time can often be the biggest barrier to involvement with a nonprofit or charitable cause that interests you.
First, you need to think about what’s important to you personally and where charitable work sits within your priorities. We’re all balancing family, career, personal interests, health and fitness, etc. If you decide to make volunteering a priority, then you need to talk about it with your spouse, partner, family members and even close friends. Having their support is crucial and if these conversations spark an interest within them to volunteer alongside you, it’s a win-win for all.
Another important conversation is the one you should have with your manager to ensure that he or she understands the commitment you’re making and why it’s important to you. We’re fortunate here at Adobe because the culture supports and encourages volunteerism. A conversation with an Adobe manager might even uncover available matching programs or the potential for a team activity.
Q: How can we best make an impact within the nonprofit world?
A: Money certainly helps, but making an impact doesn’t always require a large financial commitment. A contribution of your talent and time can often be more meaningful.
Many nonprofits operate as a startup, with a small staff of generalists who wear multiple hats. They’re in great need of experts – legal experts, HR experts, marketing and PR experts, technology experts, event planners, fundraisers, administrative support and more. Financial expertise is an especially critical area within the nonprofit world, where donors’ dollars are closely scrutinized. Bringing our for-profit mindset into a non-profit organization can help tremendously, often resulting in a more rapid execution of vision and strategy.
One last thought. Many nonprofit organizations are dealing with life and death scenarios. The work you do has a direct effect on people’s lives and I can’t think of anything more motivating or inspiring than that**.**
Q: You have been involved with the Hydrocephalus Association for many years. What motivates you to volunteer your time and talent to that particular organization?
A: One million people in the U.S. live with Hydrocephalus and it is also the most common reason for brain surgery in children, yet it is largely unknown. As something that impacted my family, I was saddened to see a general lack of awareness, especially when compared to other less-common brain conditions that benefit from greater research funding and public support.
I started a dialog with the Hydrocephalus Association (HA) and first became involved by attending a national conference where I met patients, caregivers and the medical professionals who support this community. I was inspired to help them accelerate their research efforts, but I understood that giving money wasn’t necessarily the best I could do. What this organization and many others like it sorely need are particular skills and I realized that I could personally help with that.
Q: What are some of the things you’ve done in your volunteer capacity at the HA over the past few years?
A: I began by volunteering to chair one of the committees tasked with communications and PR, which is where some of my professional experience lies. I then moved on to support research and expansion of the organization’s brand experience via its website, Facebook page and other digital channels. Improvements in these digital channels have had a big impact on those who live with the condition as well as their friends and loved ones, bringing them better access to support networks, information, and online resources.
I currently serve as the chair of the board of directors where my primary role is to help set the organization’s long-term vision and strategy, and to ensure that donor funds are used effectively to support our mission. Each person on our 21-member board partners with HA staff and serves on several committees. As active volunteers, we leverage our personal and professional experience and networks to help the HA achieve its goals.
