What happens when a cat matchmaker can't stop saying yes

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“I didn't really know what a generalist was. I worked in sports publishing for almost 15 years and we were really small company. So our owner, when he needed something done, it was like, you're a project manager, but also, can you do this and this and this? And we just did. And I didn't realise that was weird or interesting."

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Allie Dono is a business operations specialist and community builder with 15 years of experience spanning consulting and animal welfare. She spent six years at an animal rescue building programs, processes, and protocols after starting as a cat matchmaker. Her work ranged from creating adoption programs for hard-to-adopt animals to teaching these systems nationally to appearing on news media. Allie is also an active volunteer with Austin Farm Sanctuary, where she built their entire animal records system using Airtable, and currently leads the Generalist World Austin meetup community.

What you'll learn

Why volunteering for nonprofits' behind-the-scenes operations work is an untapped opportunity to build new skills and meaningful connections
How following "breadcrumbs" of community connections can lead you to unexpected opportunities and networks you never knew existed
Why building vulnerability and genuine relationships in community beats transactional networking every time

Some takeaways

Volunteer organisations desperately need behind-the-scenes operational help but rarely ask for it because they assume people only want glamorous hands-on work. When Allie asked Austin Farm Sanctuary what else she could do beyond animal care, the owner immediately handed her a project to build an Airtable system for 250 animal residents. She'd never touched Airtable before but learned it while contributing. These behind-the-scenes volunteer roles let you build new skills and create real impact without paid role pressure.

Following community "breadcrumbs" rather than strategic networking creates unexpected pathways to opportunities you couldn't have planned. Allie traced her current community cohort back through a chain: Jess led International Generalist Day, Allie led Austin's event, Sarah posted about a cohort, and suddenly Allie was in a group with 30 community leaders she never would have found two months earlier. This organic, curiosity-driven approach beats calculated networking.

Creating space for vulnerability in community gatherings transforms transactional networking into genuine friendship and collaboration. At Generalist World Austin meetups, Allie focuses on getting people to know each other and breaking down vulnerability walls before moving into project work. They use name tags that say "ask me about" to surface unexpected dimensions beyond job titles, prioritising depth over transactions.

The tough job market makes volunteering an underutilised strategy for skill building and career direction. Volunteer organisations will accept your help immediately, letting you build your tool belt and meet new people without formal job pressure. You never know which skill might become what you do for the next 10 years, or which person might open an unexpected door. Allie's generalist arc accelerated when she said yes to being a cat matchmaker.

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