“Rekindling the Fire: Principles-First EA Groups as a Path to Impact [Talk Transcript]” by jessica_mccurdy

This is a transcript of a talk given at EAG Boston 2024 by Jessica McCurdy[1] (slides can be found here). This was written as a talk and has not been edited to read well as a post, but we were keen to get it out, especially as we are currently hiring for a Strategy Lead (application deadline: Dec. 2nd) Talk Description: While we see enormous potential in principles-first community building (CB) roles, many talented individuals are hesitant to pursue them, viewing them as low-status or risky for career growth. This talk addresses these criticisms head-on, exploring why EA groups remain a powerful engine for impact. Jessica will highlight how these groups ignite ambition, guide top talent into high-impact careers, and offer a nuanced vision of their value for those considering leading them. Rekindling the Fire: Principles-First EA Groups as a Path to Impact Questioning my path Over [...] ---Outline:(00:58) Rekindling the Fire: Principles-First EA Groups as a Path to Impact(01:05) Questioning my path(01:55) Ecosystem approach(02:54) The Disconnect(03:41) Why groups?(04:01) What groups do(06:00) Multiplier effect(07:00) Data on groups(08:23) Why principles-first EA?(10:45) Why now?(12:29) Addressing objections(12:53) Objection 1: The EA brand is so bad, it's ruined!(14:18) Objection 2: “Reputation Risk”(16:05) Objection 3: “Community Building Isnt Good Career Capital”(19:31) Is Community Building for you?(21:59) What can you do?(23:06) Final thoughts and next stepsThe original text contained 2 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. The original text contained 2 images which were described by AI. --- First published: November 27th, 2024 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/m5jGFzYpNJiLyQ9DF/rekindling-the-fire-principles-first-ea-groups-as-a-path-to --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO. ---Images from the article:Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts, or another podcast app.