What if saying “yes” to an unpaid role could open doors your day job never could?

In this insightful episode, Yasmina Khalifi—telecom engineer, project manager, and author—shares how volunteering became a game-changer in her career. From public speaking at global conferences to co-authoring a book with someone she hadn’t met in person, Yasmina discovered that volunteering offered unexpected professional growth, leadership opportunities, and creative challenges her corporate role didn’t.

We explore:

• How volunteering helps you experiment with new skills in a low-risk environment
• The evolution of project work in a fast-paced, virtual world
• Yasmina’s “My Volunteering Canvas” for finding roles aligned with your passions and goals
• Why volunteering isn’t just a career move—it’s a mindset shift
• Common myths about volunteering (and how to overcome them)

Whether you're navigating a career pivot, looking to grow your leadership capabilities, or simply want to expand your network, this episode is full of practical ideas to help you turn purpose-driven work into long-term career value.

Connect with Yasmina or Mayte on LinkedIn or visit yasminakhalifi.com to learn more about her books The Volunteering Journey to Project Leadership and How To Become a Culturally-Aware Project Manager and her work with global project communities.

Yasmina's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasminakhelifi-pmp-telecom/

Mayte's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayte-mata-sivera-pmp/

In this episode, I cover:

3:04 Yasmina’s Journey in Project Management
5:57 Evolution of PM Over 20 Years
10:37 Creating a Book on Volunteering
17:14 Volunteer as Career Development
22:54 My Volunteering Canvas Framework
31:31 Writing Process and Book Impact
And more…
Have you built a PMO from the ground up—

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Agile Ideas! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from our discussions. Remember to rate us on your preferred podcast platform and follow us on social media for updates and more insightful content.
Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and rate us. Let's spread the #AgileIdeas together!
We'd like to hear any feedback. www.agilemanagementoffice.com/contact
Don't miss out on exclusive access to special events, checklists, and blogs that are not available everywhere. Subscribe to our newsletter now at www.agilemanagementoffice.com/subscribe.
You can also find us on most social media channels by searching 'Agile Ideas'.
Follow me, your host, on LinkedIn - go to Fatimah Abbouchi - www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/
For all things Agile Ideas and to stay connected, visit our website below. It's your one-stop destination for all our episodes, blogs, and more. We hope you found today's episode enlightening. Until next time, keep innovating and exploring new Agile Ideas!
Learn more about podcast host Fatimah Abbouchi
...