Giving Back to the Profession That Gave So Much to Me

By Laarni Canoy

When people ask why I volunteer so much of my time to Austin SHRM, my answer is simple:

Because this profession has given so much to me.

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to learn from incredible leaders, colleagues, mentors, hiring managers, candidates, and HR professionals. Every role, every challenge, and every career pivot has been shaped by people who were willing to share their knowledge, offer guidance, or open a door.

None of us build our careers alone.

As I’ve reflected on my own journey, I’ve realized that some of the most meaningful opportunities I’ve had were made possible because someone chose to invest in me.

That’s why giving back matters.

Giving Back Looks Different for Everyone

Giving back doesn’t have to mean serving on a board, volunteering with a professional association, or participating in a formal mentorship program.

It can look like making an introduction for someone in your network. It can mean helping a colleague navigate a difficult challenge, mentoring an emerging professional, speaking at an event, sharing knowledge online, supporting a community organization, or simply making yourself available when someone needs advice.

Some people give back through organized groups. Others do it one relationship at a time.

What matters isn’t how you give back. What matters is that you do.

I’ve found that investing in others is rarely a one-way contribution. The time, perspective, relationships, and lessons gained along the way often come back tenfold.

For me, giving back has always been one of the most rewarding investments I can make, not just in others, but in the profession that has given so much to me. That same spirit is what shows up in recruitAbility’s own volunteer work abroad.

The Power of Community

One of the things I love most about the HR and talent profession is that we’re ultimately in the business of helping people succeed.

We help organizations grow
We help leaders build teams
We help employees navigate change
We help candidates find opportunities that can transform their careers and lives

But who helps the people doing that work?

That’s where professional communities become so important.

Over the years, I’ve found that some of the best learning doesn’t happen in a classroom, webinar, or conference session. It happens through conversations with peers who are facing similar challenges, sharing ideas, and supporting one another through an ever-changing business landscape.

Community creates connection.

Connection creates growth.

And growth creates opportunities to make an even greater impact, which is exactly what showed up at recruitAbility’s own Austin SHRM event this fall.

Mentorship Changes Lives

If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout my career, it’s that mentorship matters.

I’ve benefited from mentors who challenged me to think bigger, encouraged me to take risks, and helped me navigate moments of uncertainty.

Sometimes mentorship looked like formal guidance.

Other times it was a simple conversation, a thoughtful piece of advice, or someone taking a chance on me before I felt fully ready.

Those moments stay with you.

As professionals progress in their careers, I believe we all have an opportunity, and perhaps even a responsibility, to pay that forward.

We don’t need to have all the answers
We don’t need decades of executive experience
We simply need to be willing to share what we’ve learned and support others on their journey

Mentorship is one of the most powerful ways we strengthen our profession, one relationship at a time, the same principle behind using mentors to strengthen employee retention.

Leadership Beyond Your Day Job

Many of us spend our days focused on business priorities, organizational goals, and immediate challenges.

Volunteer leadership creates a different opportunity.

It allows us to contribute to something bigger than ourselves.

Through my involvement with Austin SHRM, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside passionate professionals who generously volunteer their time to advance our profession and support the HR community.

What continually inspires me is the shared commitment to creating value for others. People show up not because they have to, but because they want to help fellow professionals learn, connect, and grow.

That’s a powerful thing.

I’ve found that some of my greatest leadership lessons have come from volunteer work. Leading without formal authority, collaborating with diverse perspectives, and working toward a shared mission requires a different set of skills that often translates back into our careers in meaningful ways.

The Ripple Effect

One conversation can spark a new idea.

One introduction can lead to a career opportunity.

One mentor can change someone’s trajectory.

One volunteer experience can help a professional discover capabilities they didn’t know they had.

That’s the beauty of giving back.

The impact often extends far beyond what we can see.

I’ve witnessed people find mentors, build lifelong friendships, land new roles, gain confidence, and develop leadership skills through professional communities. Those outcomes don’t always make headlines, but they’re incredibly meaningful.

The ripple effect is real.

And it starts with people who are willing to invest in others.

Final Thought

As I look back on my career, I’m grateful not only for the opportunities I’ve had, but for the people who helped make those opportunities possible.

Their generosity, guidance, and encouragement shaped my journey in ways they may never fully realize.

Giving back is my way of saying thank you.

It’s also my way of helping ensure that the next generation of HR and talent professionals has access to the same support, mentorship, and sense of community that helped me grow.

Because when we invest in one another, we strengthen not only individual careers, but our entire profession.

And that’s a legacy worth building.