How have efforts like this helped you in creating relationships with each other and others, and in turn, making a deeper impact on clients, colleagues and your community?
Taylor: Working on the audit side, we can be a little siloed at times, and being in this role has helped me with exposure to all lines of business, as well as the partner group. It’s been an awesome tool in building relationships with leadership, but it’s also good common ground. From a client perspective, it’s been one of the greatest talking points because each organization has this social responsibility, so serving on the stewardship committee has definitely benefitted me in a client-facing role. Within the firm, building those relationships in Baltimore through volunteering allows me to talk to people I wouldn’t have met and provides a way to make connections. It’s also been a great way to tap into someone’s potential and allow people to find their passion and get involved in something outside of their role, which really helps them find their place in the firm.
Emily: I’m an admin, so I’m not client-facing, and I joined the stewardship committee when I was relatively new to the firm, so it’s given me a new opportunity to meet people face to face and provided an easy integration into the firm. Doing something outside of your normal job function gives you an opportunity to showcase some skills you wouldn’t normally. I joined RSM right out of college and didn’t know how my art skills would translate to work at an accounting firm but serving on the stewardship committee gives me a chance to show those skills. It has also given me a chance to work with a couple innovation teams and think creatively.
