Interview with Anna Molnár.
We are thrilled to start this April with the newest interview as a part of our "Celebrating Women Volunteers: Insights & Inspiration" series.
In these interviews, we spotlight and celebrate professional women volunteers and mentors, sharing their journeys.
Prepare to be inspired by the amazing Anna Molnár!
“My first volunteering experience was very humbling and rewarding, it gave me the confidence to keep on learning, exploring, and developing for my own and others' good.”
Professional background
Anna is a Money Breakthrough Business Coach for female entrepreneurs who want to create a profitable and meaningful business with ease. She has created her company "Blossom Empowering Events" to do good in the world and to make others blossom with their talents. This resulted in coaching women entrepreneurs to create more impact, income, and freedom with what they love to do.
Anna is also an avid reader, a polyglot, loves nature, flowers, and pets. Although she initially started her business as if it were her baby, in the meantime, Anna became a proud bonus mom of 3 and a cat mom of a Siberian called Whisky.
Where did your volunteering journey begin?
— The first time I started volunteering was in Amsterdam, at the "Vrouwenruimte De Kat", a safe place where women can meet. I started teaching the alphabet and Dutch language to ladies who wanted to become more independent in our local society. It was eye-opening to see how something so basic as reading or speaking could be life-changing for many. It was a very humbling and rewarding experience that gave me the confidence to keep on learning, exploring, and developing for my own and others' good.
How long have you been volunteering, and how has it impacted you personally?
— As a business owner, I first started volunteering in 2020, during the COVID crisis, as a way to give back to the generous help that I had received from other volunteers. It's very rewarding to help others get on track and to help them with the development of their businesses. I've met great people and learned a lot while doing so, and it has challenged me in other ways than I would have been challenged without being part of a community of business owners.
What sparked your initial interest in volunteering for different causes or organizations?
— My interest was sparked by the desire to help others and to give back to society. That is still my main reason. Over the years, I've learned some of the pitfalls of overgiving and having low expectations. I believe it's better to limit the hours spent volunteering to the essentials so that it doesn't drain you but excite you. Regardless of what the organization or community wants from you, you have to be happy with the attention and time you dedicate to it. That's crucial.
“Volunteering gets you in touch with like-minded people, which is very beneficial if you are a solopreneur.”
What skills do you bring to volunteer work?
— In recent years, I've started volunteering in more business-related environments where I could use my entrepreneurial skills. Most of the time, it was very practical, as for the Amsterdam American Business Club, where I was responsible for the marketing, and for the Women's Business Initiative International, where I helped with Instagram, the newsletter, and finding interesting speakers for events.
How do you ensure that your actions and decisions as a leader or role model are in harmony with the values and goals of the organization you support?
— The value of the cause should be clear. The expectations of the volunteers should be clear. If needed, these should be repeated frequently. It's okay if the direction changes over time. Then you have to ask yourself whether you are still on board or not. It's really that simple.
How do you evaluate your overall volunteering experience?
— Not everyone is going to clap for your efforts. Often, they are not even perceived. So you are the main person to evaluate yourself, whether volunteering is worth it for you or not. To me, it has been a wonderful way to grow and be part of several communities, as well as a great way to give back and elevate female entrepreneurs as a whole. Things are going pretty well, and there's always room for improvement.
What moments have been most rewarding?
— It's very rewarding when you get a big thank you for your efforts, whether someone has paid for it or not. Volunteering gets you in touch with like-minded people, which is very beneficial if you are a solopreneur.
How do you manage your volunteering commitments?
— I have learned to minimize my commitments to volunteering, looking for the most efficient way to make a difference rather than saying yes to all kinds of requests. It's really okay to say more "no" than "yes" to volunteering requests.
After all, it shouldn't take up too much of your precious time and attention, as you need them mainly for your own business and personal life. Less is more!
“It's very rewarding to help others get on track and to help them with the development of their businesses.”
With your wealth of experience and knowledge, how do you approach mentoring and guiding other women volunteers within your community?
— As a project leader for FEMpreneurhulp, I build on my years of experience as a mentor. I know how it is to be a mentee as well, so I see it as my task to bridge these two worlds. I'm also a mentor in the Momentum Program, another program to help women build their dream businesses. It's very nice to be part of a mentoring group, as these mentors have so much wisdom and experience to share. It creates a wonderful community to work for the same cause.
From your perspective, to what extent do you believe your volunteering contributes to positive change in the community and has a significant overall social impact?
— Of course, it contributes to positive change. Sometimes you can notice this right away because someone smiles at you and thanks you for your efforts. Other times, the effect is long-term. You might hear a positive comment even years later. It's amazing how small efforts can spread over time and place. Whatever you believe in, it's worth it!
Any advice for aspiring volunteers ready to invest their time and talents for lasting impact?
— Make sure to pick your cause wisely. It will inevitably take up more time than you would think. And that's a good sign, initially. However, be cautious not to overdo it. After all, you have to stay available and refreshed for your paying clients, so you can continue doing what you are meant to do in the world.
