An Introvert’s Guide to community leadership

25-minute Talk

All levels

Timetable

10:45 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Thursday 16th

Room

Room E1 - Track 4: Mental Health Track

Audience

Everyone who is interested in community work or is an introvert

Key-Learning

- Community leadership requires a lot of engagement, and it is traditionally seen as something an extrovert or a people person can do.

- Introverts have an edge here as they engage with intention and can optimize interactions and communication channels to ensure their own sanity.

- You can do community leadership and engage and rally people even when you are an introvert and feel anxious in social interactions.

How to lead communities and community-focused initiatives when talking to people or meeting them drains you out.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be extroverted to lead. You can be an introvert and a socially awkward and anxious person like me and still lead communities and rally people around a cause.

This talk is about my experience with community leadership and how I realized my strengths and learned to take care of myself while shifting the culture and narrative about Pakistani women in tech. We will talk about exploring our non-negotiables, setting boundaries, optimizing our community engagements, finding ways to unwind, and also unpacking our Whys for the work we want to do. I will also talk about the times I got out of my comfort zone and why it was the best thing I did to improve at the things I care about/volunteer for.