
Joni Sugimura is a force for good in the professional world. Throughout her more than 30 years of work in financial services, she participated in her company’s internal volunteer committee and volunteer giving back program – all while sharpening her retail, project, and operations management skills. So it was only natural that after moving away from her banking career, Joni would choose to donate her skillset for the benefit of her Bay Area community. Joni has applied her project management experience to the role of Account Director for five different organizations, including two Brand Strategy projects. In Joni’s words:
“It’s about giving back to the community and helping those in need. Taproot provides me the means to use my professional experience to help others, and I certainly feel rewarded for my
Tips for brand strategy and beyond
Joni also offered valuable advice for anyone involved with pro bono, whether you’re an experienced pro bono consultant or you’re just thinking about getting started:
- Brand Strategy projects, in particular, necessitate that everyone is on the same page up front. successful projects require that the Brand Strategist meet with the nonprofit early on to discuss the elements of a strong brand.
- Sometimes life is unpredictable! Pro bono consultants need to think about how they can integrate this activity with everything else they have going on.