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“Given the impending ‘threat’ of regulation, I joined PEG with the sole aim of becoming an accredited editor. Because of this mindset, I regretted my decision shortly after joining. My first interaction was with the PEGforum, which overwhelmed me. Within a few hours, my email inbox was flooded, and I battled to prioritise work while keeping up with the PEGforum discussions. [...] I attended my first Coffee Conversation, which was the perfect starting point. It was unexpectedly easy-going, and the interactions helped me feel less intimidated about being part of a group of highly skilled, highly experienced academic editors.”

“One of the biggest personal gains I experienced from being a part of an organization was mentorship and faculty development. Subgroups and committees within the organization provided me the opportunity to network with those in my field of interest. As an example, I joined the Women in Cardiothoracic Anesthesia (WICTA) special interest group within the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesia (SCA). I participated in their inaugural Professional Development Mentoring Program, where I was paired with an amazing anesthesiologist with experience in congenital heart disease, Dr. Johanna Schwarzenberger from UCLA. The group conducted webinars on presentation skills, storytelling and communication, statistics, and manuscript writing. [...] The exercise helped me develop contacts, find a mentor, and improved my presentation and communication skills.”