The week of November 3rd – November 7th, with the help of Nuclear Energy Institute, U.S. Women in Nuclear (U.S. WIN) hosted our 2025 Professional Development Week. A full week of virtual sessions designed to inspire, educate, and connect our community. The goal was simple: to provide opportunities for learning and growth not just for our members, but for anyone passionate about the future of our industry.

But behind that simple goal was something far more powerful, a group of volunteers who gave their time, creativity, and trust to make it happen.

Why We Volunteer

Volunteering often begins with a simple “yes.” A yes to contributing, to helping, to making something a little better than it was before. Over time, that yes becomes part of who we are.

For many of us, volunteer work allows us to contribute to a greater cause, one that sometimes feels easier to influence than our “day jobs.” It gives us space to lead, to test ideas, to connect.

I’ve structured my work week to include a full day dedicated to volunteer work, and I’m fortunate that much of what I do through U.S. WIN is also aligned with my professional mission. Giving back to the industry is not a side project, it’s part of building the future workforce.

Lessons from Professional Development Week

Throughout the week, several key themes emerged:

• Be open to explore new tools. AI is here to stay, and those who learn to use it will find new ways to work smarter, safer, and with better balance.
• Communicate openly about change. The tools are new, but the human elements including communication, trust, and empathy, remain constant. How we talk about change determines how we experience it.
• Your job will evolve. AI isn’t coming for your job, but your job will change. And that’s not something to fear. Many of the technologies highlighted this week are already improving safety, productivity, and work-life balance across the industry.

Trust, Flexibility, and Teamwork

Organizing a full week of webinars and sessions across time zones takes more than planning, it takes trust.

At one point, just minutes before a session, my audio completely failed. We couldn’t fix it in time, but because we had communicated openly and trusted one another, another presenter stepped in seamlessly. The session started on time, the audience never knew, and we carried on as a team.

That moment reminded me what true collaboration looks like. When people trust each other, when communication flows freely, problems become opportunities to adapt, not obstacles to success.

Leadership Through Service

Volunteering has shaped my leadership and coaching style more than any textbook or seminar ever could. Working across diverse teams, relying on each other in a pinch, and celebrating shared wins has taught me that leadership is about connection, not control.

You can’t “command” trust. You build it through showing up, following through, and giving others the confidence to do the same.

A Call to Action

If there’s one message to take away from last week, it’s this: It starts with you.

Whether it’s joining your local WIN chapter, mentoring a colleague, or volunteering where your passion meets purpose, you have something to contribute that no one else can replicate.

In a world that often feels disconnected, these moments of community and collaboration are what keep us grounded and moving forward.

The future of our industry and our professional growth isn’t built by technology alone. It’s built by people who care enough to give their time, trust, and talent to something greater.

Because in the end, purpose is what powers progress, and community is what sustains it.

*This article was initially published via the Unqualified Opinion Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/starts-you-reflections-professional-development-week-nicole-hughes-t338e/?trackingId=e1teRKnm0fLS0FlyHswZKw%3D%3D