6 Questions with Leena Riggs. It's National Volunteer Week

1. What has been the biggest challenge in your career?

   The biggest challenge in my career (so far) was my recent ADHD diagnosis.  After decades of not understanding why my mind works the way it does, the diagnosis was freeing.  I mourned the time and energies lost throughout the years when I didn’t understand this difference and then it was time to re-evaluate how I manage my days. Naturally, this meant an adjustment professionally.  I focused on time for therapy.  I re-designed my day, my living space and office to function for how my mind works- not how I expect these things should be.  It’s a work in progress and a challenge that will persist.  I’m grateful for the Visit Rancho Cordova team and my MPI community for giving me the time, space, and grace to adjust and thrive.

    

2. What is the biggest challenge facing our industry today and what should we do about it?

   The biggest challenge facing our industry is workforce development. From frontline staff to leadership, this industry has hoped for thought leaders amongst 30 under 30s and rising stars.  As we say in marketing, hope is not a strategy. (I can’t take credit for that gem; thank Brian Matson from TwoSixDigital.)  While workforce challenges are not unique to our industry, there are many steps we can take to inspire new talent and retain industry leaders.

   • Market industry opportunities and potential career paths to the next generation before they enroll in university.
   • Advocate for global education standards centered on critical thinking, analysis, communication, and the creative arts.
   • Support early childhood education and childcare initiatives in the United States.Talent becomes more competitive when more talent can participate.
   • Develop certifications and cross-industry trainings in fields with highly transferrable skills such as health care, journalism, tech, education, and political sciences through platforms like the MPI Academy.
   • Nurture and formalize relationships with colleges and universities internationally.These partnerships would include student associations, faculty, departments, university advancement, and continuing education.Three cheers the MPI Global team for tackling this head-on!Emerging Professionals Advisory Council 2021 we honored to assist in an engagement survey sent to university and collegiate partners.
   • On a local level, for MPI Chapters, mentorship programs and Board positions dedicated to the success of emerging professionals and university relations. Stay tuned to Emerging Professionals Advisory Council for more information!

      

3. What are you most passionate about outside of your career and the meeting industry?

   I am a history nerd, theme park junkie, and dog mom who plays in the dirt and has a caffeine addiction.  For me, history is the most complex, dramatic, and hilarious story you’ll ever know.  Theme parks are the ultimate experiment in shared experiences and show control standards. My dogs teach me every day how to have fun.  My garden is a science experiment in chaos- sometimes I plan it carefully and sometimes I hope for the best.  Hope may not be a strategy in marketing and workforce development, but I appreciate how mother nature makes it work.

    

4. What’s the best advice someone gave you?

   Professionally, the best advice I ever received was, “When you think you’ve made it, that’s when you’re wrong.  There’s no such thing as ‘made it.’ There’s only ever growth.”

    

5. What advice would you give to someone considering to volunteer?

   We’re all familiar with ‘you get what you put into it.’  However, I think it’s important for volunteers to know and communicate why they want to volunteer.  Are they looking to expand their skillset? Are they aiming to network? Were they volun-told?  Are they passionate about the cause? All of these are equally valid reasons to volunteer.  Everyone volunteers for their own reasons and that’s wonderful. My advice is to know yours.

    

6. Would you like to share any feelings, observations, or stories related to MPI’s 50^th anniversary?

This industry is full of creative problem solvers and professionals who know how to take a challenge and turn it into an opportunity.  Our opportunities are vast.  I’m looking forward to the creative problem solving of the next 50 years!