With the help of his employer Stephen Thomas Ltd., Brock Warner has successfully started a community called Young Non-Profit Professionals, which has received nothing but an overwhelming response in less than a year. As if that weren’t enough to keep him busy, read about how he also balances being on the board of directors for TREC Education in today’s YPDaily…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
Helping charities raise more money and reach new audiences.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
Just over a couple years ago, I was working for Amnesty International as an intern. The catch was that Amnesty didn’t have the space to house an extra staff person. So Steve Thomas who has been a big AI supporter for over 30 years now, offered up space in his office for me to work. When my internship wrapped up, I was offered a position at Stephen Thomas Ltd and have been here ever since!
Choosing to work at an agency like ST, which works exclusively with charities, rather than working directly inside a charity wasn’t an easy career choice to make. My passion is charities, and working to advance the non-profit sector, rather than a specific cause or issue. As a young professional, to work at an agency and see the inner workings of a variety of charities was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
The relationships that I have with my clients and peers at the office are absolutely the best part of my job. I honestly believe people that work in, close to, or volunteer regularly with the non-profit sector are the most fun and likeable people on the planet.
The most challenging part is reminding myself to slow down, and remind myself that I have decades of learning ahead of me. I’ve got some great mentors that keep me grounded, and that makes all the difference.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
If I’m in a place where I can have strategic and creative insight into the development of a charity, or charities, then I’ll be a happy guy.
What does success look like to you?
It know it is a cliché, but success to me is doing what you love, rather than loving what you do, and making a living out of it. It was a light bulb moment for me when I realized I can make a career out of being obsessed with helping charities, rather than just approaching as a volunteer.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
I’ve been working on building a community called Young Non-Profit Professionals as a project here at Stephen Thomas Ltd. Last February we sent out the first invite to our first event, and the response was overwhelming! We would have been thrilled to have 25 people come, but we sold out 80 spots in under an hour, and had a huge waiting list. That morning, I was getting emails and phone calls from people who were really jazzed about the idea, and the enthusiasm was electric. I was, and still am, so proud of what YNP has evolved into and the wide-open future it has to continue developing.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Always keep work/life balance in mind. What you do outside the office is what really makes you you, and there is tremendous value in that.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
Of course! I’m the Co-Chair on the board of directors at TREC Education which educates Ontarians about decisions about energy usage that are beneficial for our communities, province, and ultimately, the planet. TREC Education connects with approximately 20,000 students every year. This is important to me because I believe that to build a clean energy infrastructure for future generations, sound education on why and how has to be in place.
What to you is notable?
Clarity. I love meeting anyone that is passionate about a specific niche market or idea, and hearing them get pumped about it.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
iPhone!