Reciprocity Rings are virtual career support and community-building events that are designed to offer structured, effective peer-to-peer networking opportunities. They are for everyone, regardless of level or where you are in your pivot journey.
Basic Information
Here is what you need to know about the Reciprocity Rings:
Who: Anyone impacted by the ongoing shifts in the international development sector.
What: 75 minute facilitated peer-to-peer networking sessions. In each session, participants are placed into small groups of 10–15 people, facilitated by an expert career advisor (or up to three!). During the session, each participant gets a chance to share a specific need, challenge, or request related to their career pivot and the group then offers ideas, connections, or resources to help meet those needs.
When: Dates for these sessions will be announced in as timely a manner as possible. Our next event is on Wednesday, September 17. Please register for the event (we have a cap on approximately 100 attendees per session, so please sign up early!). The reciprocity rings will be scheduled on an ad-hoc basis, but will always be held on the same day at three different times:
10 am- 11:15 am EST.
1 pm-2:15 pm EST.
7 pm- 8:15 pm EST.
Where: Zoom links will be sent upon registration. Please save these links to your Google Calendar, or scheduling app of choice—additional links will not be sent.
Why: Everyone has something to ask and much to offer. This is a chance to share your knowledge and networks with your peers—and benefit from theirs.
Additional Information
Wondering what reciprocity rings look like? Unsure how to frame your ask? Or are you curious about how to take advantage of these events most effectively? Additional information as well as key tips and tricks are listed below!
First ~five minutes: Participants are welcome to check in! We will welcome you all and provide a quick overview of the format and process. Random breakout rooms will be created and facilitators are assigned to each room (1-3 per room) at random.
Middle 60-65 minutes: These sessions will either comprise of a single 60 min breakout session or two shorter, 30 min breakout sessions (expected attendance and availability of facilitators will dictate which format these events take).
Last ~five minutes: Everyone returns to the main Zoom room to regroup, concluding remarks are offered, and the session ends.
We recommend you prepare ahead of time to formulate your ask. Remember: we have many people participating in these events and only so much time to get to everyone!
Please limit your ask to three minutes! That way, we can ensure everyone has a chance to participate!
For clear and concise questions, we suggest breaking it down into three parts: (1) who you are, (2) where you are, and (3) what do you want in as specific terms as possible? Two example questions are below:
My name is Soraya and I worked as a USAID FSO in global health before the September RIFs. I am based in Washington, DC but open to work from anywhere, and I am looking to pivot to philanthropies and foundations involved in this work. Does anyone have connections at Rockefeller, Gates, or CHAI?’
My name is Nikhal, and I was a managing director at a USAID implementing partner that focused on governance and democracy. I’m interested in applying to applying to tech roles regarding AI and governance. I’m based in West Africa and my preference would be stay in the region. Does anyone know of organizations that conduct similar work, and what are ways to stand out in my resume and cover letter?
Any immediate or day-of concerns can be brought to the facilitators’ or Pivot with Purpose staff’s attention—we’re here and happy to help!
Come with an open mind and ready to help! Remember: reciprocity rings are meant to be structured, effective peer-to-peer networking opportunities. They are designed to build community across different levels of seniority and regardless of where you are in your pivot journey.
Be sure you register and attend the correct session(s)! All are welcome to sign up for one or multiple sessions, but due to demand, attendance without registration is not permitted.
Please ensure cameras are on! For both the community-building aspect and for general security, we ask that you turn on your cameras upon logging on to these events and that you keep them on for the duration of the reciprocity ring(s) that you attend.
Please provide your email addresses in the chat at the beginning of the breakout session. All transcripts will be emailed to breakout session participants, allowing us all to benefit from the knowledge of others and to follow-up with new contacts!
All asks are aloud while offers of help and responses are typed in the chat. Again, a transcript of the chat from will be provided to al breakout session participants within 24 hours of the session.
These sessions are not recorded. We intend these reciprocity rings to be safe places for all to be vulnerable if needed and, as such, we will not record any of these sessions (and we ask that you do the same!).
Please refrain from soliciting. Though we appreciate personal financial interests may be part of your pivot, we ask that you focus on networking advice and job knowledge for these events.
Don’t forget: This is a chance to be brave and generous—everyone is invited to make an ask, and everyone should respond to others as generously as possible!
After these sessions, we encourage everyone to reach out to all fellow participants (and facilitators) to follow-up with them on specifics asks!
Questions, comments, or concerns? Please reach out to us at pivotwithpurpose@georgetown.edu and we will get back to you as soon as possible!