Ensuring Long-Term Impact

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Creating long-term impact through your initiatives is essential for sustaining Young Professionals engagement and driving continued growth within your Society or Council. A successful initiative lays the foundation for future leadership, collaboration, and innovation. Some examples of successful YP initiatives include mentoring events, networking mixers, panel discussions, training programs, and community-focused activities.

Many IEEE Societies and Councils have developed dedicated Young Professionals programs, initiatives, and resources tailored to the needs of early-career engineers and technologists within their respective technical domains. These programs are excellent opportunities for professional development, networking, technical skill-building, leadership training, and community engagement.

You may also organise events in conjunction with Society/Council flagship conferences, making use of the visibility, infrastructure, and support available. Engaging local IEEE volunteers, Section leaders, and Society Chapters in the host region enhances collaboration and helps embed your event into the local and technical IEEE ecosystem.

4.7.1 Success Stories

  • IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (DEIS)

The IEEE DEIS Young Professionals Portal serves as a central hub for early-career professionals and students in the dielectrics and electrical insulation field. It provides curated resources, event updates, and tools for community building and professional growth. Recent enhancements include a major overhaul of the DEIS website to better serve young professionals by offering more accessible and practical resources offerings with additional webinars, online discussion forums, and targeted outreach activities.

To increase visibility and engagement at DEIS-sponsored conferences, new YP-focused initiatives are being introduced. The Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena (CEIDP) will feature a dedicated YP Luncheon, bringing together academic and industry leaders to interact with YPs. This initiative will be extended to all upcoming DEIS conferences.

In addition, a new “YP Highlights” column will be launched in the IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine (EIM). This section will spotlight early-career DEIS members as they embark on professional journeys in academia or industry.

One of the most impactful areas of YP involvement continues to be the DEIS Summer School. Efforts are being made to expand this program by increasing the number of schools, diversifying topics and speakers, and offering additional funding support to ensure broader participation.

More details at: https://ieeedeis.org/members/yp-members/

  • IEEE Computer Society

The IEEE Computer Society has a dedicated Student and Young Professionals (SYP) Committee, which serves as a joint platform to empower early-career professionals and students across the globe. The committee drives a wide range of impactful initiatives, offering mentorship, leadership development, technical skill-building, and community engagement opportunities.

The IEEE Computer Society SYP Committee leads several flagship programs and events that enable engagement, leadership, and technical development. These include the COMPUTE Newsletter, Scholarship Outreach Initiative, MicroMentoring, and TechX – a platform to highlight emerging technology leaders. Signature gatherings such as AICSSYC (All India Computer Society Student & YP Congress), regional Summits and Congresses, and High Impact Zonal Events are designed to maximize local participation. Additional initiatives like Climate & Sustainability Spaces and Rooftop Socials offer thematic discussions and informal networking opportunities in relaxed settings.

More details at: https://syp.computer.org/

  • IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS)

The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) has made significant strides in empowering young professionals through its IEEE RAS Young Reviewer Program (YRP) – a flagship initiative that exemplifies mentorship-driven development. The program introduces early-career members to the peer-review process of scientific papers by pairing them with experienced Senior Reviewers in a structured mentor – mentee model.

Through this initiative, Junior Reviewers gain hands-on experience in evaluating research papers for IEEE conferences like ICRA and IROS. Senior Reviewers guide Junior Reviewers through the entire review process – providing resources, feedback, and one-on-one mentoring – without increasing their own reviewing load. Once trained, high-performing Junior Reviewers receive official recognition, certificates, and opportunities to participate in major RAS events.

More details at: https://www.ieee-ras.org/membership/young-professionals

  • IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS)

The IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) proudly continues its commitment to supporting early-career researchers through the Young Professional Paper Competition, held annually at the flagship IEEE EMBC (Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference). Organized by the EMBS YP Committee, the competition recognizes outstanding research contributions from Young Professionals. Beyond awards, winners are featured on the EMBS YP website and social media platforms, enhancing their visibility within the global biomedical engineering community. Moreover, there is a dedicated session at IEEE EMBC where the 10 finalists are invited to present their excellent works. The initiative promotes academic excellence, encourages participation in EMBS conferences, and helps integrate young professionals more deeply into the society’s ecosystem.

More details at: https://embc.embs.org

  • IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS)

The IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS) actively supports the growth and development of early-career engineers through impactful programs tailored for Young Professionals. One such initiative is the Young Engineers’ Webinar Series, which brings together leading experts from academia and industry to share insights on a broad range of topics within and beyond power electronics. These sessions are designed to not only enhance technical knowledge but also provide career guidance and exposure to current trends in the field.

Complementing the webinars is the highly regarded Mentorship Roundtable Program, established in 2017. This signature initiative offers Young Professionals a unique opportunity to engage in small-group discussions with distinguished leaders in power electronics. Unlike traditional mentoring formats, the Roundtable emphasizes non-technical topics critical to professional success, such as leadership, communication, and strategic career planning. Held regularly at premier conferences like APEC and ECCE, and globally at ECCE-Europe and ECCE-Asia, the program fosters meaningful mentor–mentee relationships in an intimate, interactive setting—making it a cornerstone of the PELS YP experience.

More details at: https://www.ieee-pels.org/membership/young-professionals/

  • IEEE Vehicular Technology Society (VTS)

For the past three years, the IEEE VTS Students and Young Professionals Mentoring Meet has been a standout event organized by the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society’s Young Professionals (VTS YP) Committee at the society’s flagship conference IEEE VTC. This initiative has grown into a key platform for nurturing professional development and fostering connections between students, early-career professionals, and established leaders from academia and industry. Led by the IEEE VTS YP Committee Chair and supported by the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society and the IEEE YP Mentoring Meet Program, the Mentoring Meet is designed to cultivate one-on-one and small-group mentoring relationships. Its unique format of small group discussions (8–10 participants per mentor) across three themed sessions enables meaningful, focused conversations on topics such as career planning, research directions, industry trends, and job search strategies.

The IEEE VTS New Members and First-Time Attendees Breakfast has become a successful and welcoming tradition at each IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC)—the flagship conference of IEEE VTS. Organized to greet new student members and young professionals, this engaging event provides a warm introduction to the society’s mission, values, and community. By fostering early connections, offering insights into VTS activities, and encouraging active participation, the breakfast plays a key role in enhancing the conference experience for newcomers. Its consistent impact has contributed to stronger member engagement and increased retention, making it a valuable touchpoint in the society’s efforts to build a vibrant, collaborative, engaged, and sustainable professional community.

More details at: https://vtsociety.org/membership/young-professionals

  • IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S)

The IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S) supports young professionals through mentorship, technical events, and educational opportunities. As part of this commitment, the Society has launched the MTT-S Outstanding Young Professional Lecturer Program to recognize and promote exceptional early-career professionals in the field.

more details at: https://mtt.org/young-professionals-in-microwaves/

  • IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES)

The Power & Energy Society (PES) provides the world’s largest forum for sharing the latest in technological developments in the electric power industry, for developing standards that guide the development and construction of equipment and systems, and for educating members of the industry and the general public. Members of the Power & Energy Society are leaders in this field, and they — and their employers — derive substantial benefits from involvement with this unique and outstanding association.

The PES SYP team will have IEEE PES students and PES YP (Young Professionals) volunteers from different parts of the world. The PES SCC team members will coordinate +490 IEEE PES student chapters across the world.  https://pessyp.ieee.org/

IEEE Power & Energy Society has announced the  IEEE PES Future Energy Leaders’ Summit process. This event is designed to inspire, equip, and connect the next generation of energy leaders in the power and energy sector. The summit is expected to train IEEE Young Professionals in relevant technological know-how, governance methods, policy tools, and advocacy skills relevant to the power and energy sector to empower local communities and implement the learnings for the betterment of society.

Some key features of the summit include:

  • A Leadership Bootcamp for early-career professionals
  • Keynote Speakers from thematic areas in the future of power and energy
  • A Poster Competition focused on community engagement initiatives
  • Capacity-building sessions on entrepreneurship, financing, and the AI-energy divide
  • Training programs on advocacy, governance, and community development
  • Fireside conversations on the AI–Energy–Industry Nexus
  • Networking mixers, youth-led debates

This event hosts over 50+ Future Energy Leaders selected from a competitive process. These ambassadors will represent many countries of the world in a fully sponsored event, demonstrating our commitment to fostering collaborative, transformative leadership.

More details at: https://pessyp.ieee.org/

  • IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc)

At ICC 2025, the IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) Young Professionals hosted a series of impactful events in collaboration with IEEE Women in Communications Engineering (WICE), aimed at empowering early-career professionals in the communications field. Highlights included a structured Mentoring Program offering direct engagement with experts from academia and industry, a WICE/YP Networking Reception that fostered meaningful cross-generational connections, and a Career Fair organized in partnership with IEEE Region 7, featuring leading companies such as Huawei, Keysight, Nokia, Rohde & Schwarz, and TELUS. Additionally, panel discussions explored key topics like 6G technologies and AI applications in communications. These activities provided valuable opportunities for professional growth, technical insights, and industry exposure—demonstrating ComSoc YP’s ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders in communications and networking. In particular, the cooperation with Region 7 brought great visibility to the event, resulting in attendance that far exceeded expectations.

More details at: https://yp.comsoc.org/

  • IEEE Education Society (EdSoc)

At IEEE Education Week and key international events in 2024–25, the IEEE Education Society Young Professionals (EdSoc YP) Committee organized several impactful initiatives to support early-career professionals in the field of engineering education. Highlights included the “Write Way” Blog Contest, which showcased inspiring personal stories from YPs globally, and Fireside Chat sessions with senior IEEE leaders offering mentorship and career insights.

The committee also launched a Call for New YP Initiatives, providing funding and support for members to lead projects on innovation, education outreach, and professional development. Other notable events included Coffee-Time Diaries, a casual virtual series connecting YPs across regions, and the INNOSOLVE Hackathon, which encouraged problem-solving for real-world challenges.

These initiatives have strengthened global connections, enhanced professional growth, and empowered young educators and technologists to take on leadership roles in the education ecosystem.

More details at:        https://ieee-edusociety.org/about/ad-hoc-committees/young-professionals

  • IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS)

The IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS) developed a “Pathways of YP in IAS” Program for YP members within IEEE/IAS. These articles are regularly published in IEEE Xplore and the IEEE IAS Magazine.  To date, 54 YPs have been featured.

More details at: https://ias.ieee.org/media/mentoring

Example article: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10974387?source=authoralert

4.7.2 Building a team of volunteers

●        YP Committee

Establishing a strong volunteer team is essential for the success and sustainability of IEEE Young Professionals initiatives. A well-structured committee drives impactful activities and ensures continuity, engagement, and leadership development.

A typical YP committee may consist of the following roles:

  • Committee Chair (usually the Society/Council Representative): Provides strategic direction, represents the YP committee in relevant leadership meetings, and ensures alignment with overall society/council goals.
  • Vice Chair(s): Support the Chair in execution and may lead specific areas such as operations, programs, or outreach.
  • Secretary: Manages meeting minutes, documentation, and communication within the team.
  • Initiative Leads: Head specific programs or focus areas (e.g., webinars, career development, collaboration, membership engagement, industry relations).
  • Regional Representatives: Represent geographic diversity, enabling local engagement and global outreach.

Roles and responsibilities can be adjusted to reflect the unique needs of the society/council or regional context.

  • Recruit volunteers from diverse technical, geographic, and career backgrounds to ensure broad perspectives and collaborative
  • Clearly define roles and responsibilities, providing autonomy and ownership to volunteers.
  • Assign leadership opportunities such as organizing events or leading initiatives, enabling professional growth and visibility.
  • Encourage collaboration through regular meetings, shared planning tools, and active communication.

As one example, IEEE ComSoc YP Standing Committee (ComSoc) has set up a great example of building a team of dedicated volunteers with various expertise. This team consists of volunteers from different geographic regions and different technical interests inside the society. The committee chair divides responsibilities for each activity among the volunteers and provides enough opportunity for the volunteers to lead as well. At ICC 2017, an IEEE ComSoc flagship conference, the committee organized a lunch networking session for young professionals which was led by one of the committee members. This also ensures a strong succession plan and future of the volunteer activities.

As another strong example of effective volunteer engagement, the IEEE VTS YP Committee (VTS) has built a highly organized and committed team through its Young Professionals (YP) Committee. This dedicated group of early-career volunteers plays a central role in planning and executing initiatives that support student and professional development within the society. The committee is structured with clearly defined roles, including a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, YP Ambassadors Program Lead, Webinars Host, and a Membership and Mailing List Manager. Each role contributes to the smooth coordination and outreach of the committee’s activities, helping to strengthen the presence of YP within VTS and offering meaningful leadership opportunities for emerging professionals. This well-organized structure serves as a model for other IEEE groups aiming to build vibrant and sustainable volunteer teams.

●        YP Ambassadors Program

The IEEE Young Professionals (YP) Ambassadors Program is a vibrant initiative led by some IEEE societies to empower early-career members to act as local representatives and community advocates. Ambassadors play an active role in organizing outreach activities, promoting IEEE initiatives, and strengthening connections between students, young professionals, and senior members. They are also expected to deliver online webinars and, when invited, give in-person talks at local chapters, IEEE sections, or society-organized events. What makes the program especially valuable is its focus on leadership development, local impact, and global networking, offering ambassadors a unique opportunity to grow professionally while contributing meaningfully to the IEEE community.

For example IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Ambassador Program, stands as a shining example of a successful global initiative that bridges the gap between early-career professionals and the broader antennas and propagation community. As an Ambassador, members witness first hand experience on how this program cultivates leadership, fosters technical exchange, and builds lasting professional networks across regions. The initiative’s structured support and collaborative platform empowers to organize impactful events, engage with peers worldwide, and contribute to the advancement of our field. Each Ambassador has a term of 1 year and about 10 Ambassadors serve each year.

Volunteer Effective Engagement

An example of effective engagement includes having volunteers independently lead flagship activities (e.g., YP networking events, panel discussions, or workshops) at major IEEE conferences, which not only empowers the team but also showcases their leadership to the broader community.

To maintain momentum and provide new opportunities for member involvement, committees typically undergo an annual renewal or reappointment process:

  • Review and recognize current volunteer contributions, identifying those interested in continuing.
  • Open a call for new volunteers, inviting fresh participation from across the society, council, or geographic area.
  • Ensure knowledge transfer between outgoing and incoming members for continuity (e.g., handover notes, shared documents).
  • Appoint/reappoint leadership roles, particularly the Committee Chair and Vice Chair(s), ideally endorsed by the society/council or regional leadership.
  • Announce the new committee through official channels to build awareness and engagement.

A structured transition process results in strong succession planning, sustained initiative growth, and a consistent pipeline of leadership within IEEE YP.