Two or three times a quarter the Communication department at the University of Washington invites alumni to speak to current students about their career path and give a few tips about how students can achieve their own success. Today I had the privilege of meeting Diane Scott who currently works as a Public Affairs and Communications officer for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Global Development Program. Her job is my dream job, but her life took a lot of twists and turns before she got to be where she is today.
After graduating from the University of Washington in 1988, Diane Scott worked for a medical malpractice insurance company. It was not a job that she said was particularly fulfilling, but it taught her a lot of skills in PR and marketing. After 10 years, an amazing opportunity presented itself to work in Jordan with a friend who was organizing a recycling program for underprivileged children. One thing led to another, and Scott eventually landed positions working on USAID-funded projects that ranged from microfinance and family planning to government communications. Her work and travels took her around the world to Uganda, Colombia, Jordan, the Philippines and Indonesia, where she provided communication advising to the Indonesian government following the tsunami in 2004. Diane Scott does not have a graduate degree and she did not start off at a huge PR firm, but somehow her unconventional path opened up doors for her and landed her a job that people dream of having.
Diane Scott had some great advice and shared with us a bit about how social media is becoming an important part of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. For non-profits with minimal resources for marketing, social media is a inexpensive way to reach out to the public and target audiences. Social media helps to start a dialogue with the public and provides transparency and understanding into the inner workings of a organization. Twitter and podcasts are playing an increasing role within the foundation including live podcasts and Twitter feeds of Bill Gates’ speeches.
I have always been the kind of person who loves to have a set plan for the future. The realization that I will be graduating in March and have absolutely no idea what I will be doing next, is terrifying me. Speaking with Diane Scott made me realize that I do not need to have my whole life planned out ahead of me. While uncertainty is scary, it is also exciting. My goal for the next few months is relax, let opportunities present themselves and enjoy life however winding the path may be.
