Full Circle: How Rachel Lipski Returned to Her Economics Roots Through Associate Board Service

When Rachel Lipski competed in the Economics Challenge as a high school student, she couldn't have predicted that years later she'd be returning to the same competition—this time as a volunteer through her role on the Council for Economic Education's Associate Board. But this full-circle journey perfectly illustrates how board service can connect young professionals to their formative experiences and deepest values.

Today, as a Transfer Pricing professional at Deloitte Tax in New York, Lipski has found a way to unite her professional expertise in finance with her longstanding interest in economics education. Her path to meaningful board service reveals important insights for other young professionals considering similar opportunities.

Breaking Down Board Service Barriers

"Before learning about CariClub, I was not familiar with the opportunities of joining an associate board," Lipski explains, addressing a misconception that keeps many talented young professionals from pursuing board service.

Like many others, she had viewed board positions as reserved for those with "inexhaustible qualifications" rather than seeing them as opportunities for passionate young professionals to make meaningful contributions. This perception barrier—the belief that one isn't experienced or connected enough for board service—is precisely what platforms like CariClub work to overcome.

"I did not realize that associate boards make personal involvement and action accessible for someone with an interest and passion towards an issue," Lipski says. The revelation that organizations actively seek the energy and fresh perspectives of rising professionals transformed her understanding of her own potential to contribute.

As she discovered, "these organizations benefit greatly from leveraging a young professional's enthusiasm and network." This insight reframes board service not as a position reserved for the established elite, but as a mutually beneficial relationship where young professionals' unique assets are valued and leveraged for impact.

‍

When Past Passion Meets Present Purpose

For Lipski, the Council for Economic Education (CEE) wasn't just any nonprofit—it was an organization that had played a formative role in her own educational journey through its Economics Challenge competition.

"As an associate board member, I have the opportunity to attend the national competition in New York as a volunteer," she shares, highlighting the personal significance of this full-circle moment.

But her research through CariClub revealed dimensions of the organization's work she hadn't previously been aware of: "Since further researching CEE through CariClub, I realized the organization supports not only students of economics, but teachers as well. They provide economics curriculum materials, teacher webinars, and conferences."

The alignment between her personal interest in economics education and the organization's comprehensive approach created a perfect match. And a recent development made the opportunity even more compelling: "The cherry on top, this year CEE merged with Invest in Girls, adding a new concentration of financial literacy and career exploration for girls."

This combination of personal history, professional relevance, and evolving organizational focus illustrates how the right board match can connect to both one's past experiences and future aspirations.

Empowerment Through Action

When asked about her favorite aspect of board service, Lipski highlights something that many young professionals crave in their volunteer experiences: the ability to translate interest into impact.

"You are given the resources and empowerment to mobilize," she explains. "As a member of a new associate board, each meeting revolves around goals and events for fundraising or ways that the associate board can further deepen its involvement."

This action-oriented approach transforms passive support into active contribution: "By collaborating and pitching new ideas in those meetings, my interest in supporting economics teachers and financial literacy programming became tangible."

For many young professionals early in their careers, this agency and autonomy in creating impact can be particularly fulfilling, especially when it might be harder to find in entry-level professional roles.

Managing Expectations and Maximizing Value

Lipski offers candid advice about the commitments involved in board service, encouraging prospective members to ask questions before joining.

"Definitely ask about the commitments prior to agreeing to join an associate board," she advises. "While the time and financial factors vary across organizations, across the board the principle, 'you get what you put in,' applies."

Her insight distinguishes board service from mere financial contribution: "It is great to be able to give your money to a cause you care about, but the difference between donating to an organization and serving on its associate board is personal action."

This personal action component creates both responsibility and opportunity: "The organization needs its associate board to spread awareness to other young professionals and contribute fresh ideas. If your time availability is low, you may not be able to reap the full package of benefits like networking and event hosting that serving on an associate board provides."

This transparent assessment helps prospective board members set realistic expectations and make informed decisions about their capacity to engage meaningfully.

Workplace Wellness While Making an Impact

As a professional at a demanding firm like Deloitte, Lipski has developed practical strategies for managing stress that complement her board service.

"I recommend physical reminders for calmness and positivity when work gets stressful," she shares. Her specific tactics reflect a mindful approach to workplace wellbeing: "Being aware of your facial expression (e.g. no angry eyebrows) can actually make you feel calmer and happier, and it will reduce imposing stress on your co-workers around you!"

Her other recommendations include practical tools that can be implemented in most workplace settings: "Standing desks can help relieve some of the anxious energy I get from a stressful project by being able to shift my weight and stretch my legs. And don't forget to listen to the timely deep breath reminders thanks to Apple Watches and FitBits!"

These strategies enable her to maintain effectiveness in both her professional role and board service, creating sustainable engagement rather than burnout.

Lipski's journey from Economics Challenge competitor to CEE Associate Board member illustrates how board service can connect young professionals to their formative experiences while creating tangible impact in areas they care deeply about. Her story demonstrates that meaningful contribution doesn't require decades of experience—just passion, commitment, and the right platform to find the perfect match.