Once a month, we show how our readers a
behind-the-scenes look at our work here at Girl Scouts' national headquarters.
In each profile, we spotlight employees from different departments and the work
they do to serve our 3.2 million members. Today, we are looking at Shonda
Prince, Manager of Corporate Communications at Girl Scouts of the USA.
Shonda
Prince never has a typical day working at GSUSA, and she likes it that way.
When she first joined the organization in 2006, she worked as a communications
consultant, writing articles to showcase the work we do on behalf of girls.
Now, as a communications manager, her work has expanded to include not just
writing, but also engaging communities at large in Girl Scouts’ mission.
As
part of her job, Shonda writes press releases and develops communications plans
for GSUSA events and programs, such as the launch event for Girl Scout
University. She also worked closely with GSUSA’s Human Resources department to
create the organization’s first-ever booklet on national board and staff
diversity, The Architecture of Inclusion,
establishing the first-ever section on diversity and inclusion for the
corporate website in our organization’s history. She works on public
relations projects, establishing relationships with different external partners
to spread the word about Girl Scouting. In addition, she uses writing and
public relations to help pull off some of GSUSA’s biggest events. Among other
national gatherings, Shonda coordinated and produced the organization’s 2011
Convention and 100th-anniversary kickoff event, the Girls’ World Forum, and
several other girl-focused events. To accomplish all of this, Shonda liaises
with many GSUSA departments every day, helping to make sure these programs and
events are produced seamlessly. Currently, she’s on the team to help plan the
2014 National Council Session/53rd Convention, to be held in Salt
Lake City.
Shonda
loves taking an idea and moving it from something that is small and vague to a
fully formed program or event. She thrives in a sink-or-swim environment,
moving from project to project and mastering the demands of each. Through her
work, she hopes to demonstrate to others that a writing background (she earned
a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from S.U.NY. College at New Paltz and a Master
of Science from New York University) and determination can serve someone in any
field. A proud mother of two with a daughter who herself is a Girl Scout,
Shonda is driven by the knowledge that all the work she engages in—and every
project she helps execute—contributes to the benefit of girls.
A
former supervisor once told Shonda that if you’re not taking risks, you’re not
doing your job—advice she takes to heart. It’s clear that Shonda dedicates
herself fully to everything she does for GSUSA.
This interview was conducted by Elizabeth Venere,
who is not only our social media content scout, but also a Girl Scout Gold
Award recipient entering her senior year of college this fall. She provides
GSUSA with awesome social media content.