Thriving Together: How Team Deltek is Making an Impact

At Deltek, our values are more than words. They guide how we operate, support one another, and make an impact in the communities where we live and work. That's why we're excited to launch our new Employee Values Spotlight series, where we'll highlight team members who are bringing our LIFT values to life through their actions. 

For our first spotlight, we're featuring Mel Azizi, Deltek Support Services Manager and team captain for Tampa's Light the Night Walk. The event raises funds for Blood Cancer United, one of the causes we support through Deltek Cares. With creativity, collaboration, and a passion for bringing people together, Mel has rallied colleagues around the cause—showing what it means to thrive together. 

We sat down with Mel to learn more about her experience, what she's learned along the way, and why getting involved can make a bigger impact than you might think. 

What inspired you to get involved with Light the Night, and what does supporting Blood Cancer United mean to you? 

I’ve always loved bringing people together, and with my background in event planning and management, Light the Night immediately felt like an opportunity where I could put that experience to good use for something meaningful. Fundraising, however, was completely new to me, so I also saw it as a chance to step outside of my comfort zone and challenge myself. 

What I’ve really come to appreciate through this experience is that supporting a cause like this doesn’t have to start with doing something huge. Sometimes it starts with creating an opportunity for people to come together, have fun, learn more about the cause, and contribute in whatever way they can. Knowing that the energy we’re creating here in Tampa can help make a difference for people and families affected by blood cancer has made the experience incredibly rewarding. 

As Tampa’s team captain, how have you brought people together around this cause, and what has that experience taught you about the power of teamwork? 

My approach has been to make getting involved easy, fun, and accessible. We’ve tried to create different opportunities for people to participate, whether that’s our pumpkin decorating contest, this week’s cornhole tournament, next week’s tie-dye bandana event, fundraising, or ultimately joining us for the Light the Night walk on November 7th. 

I love people, and I’ve always believed there is so much power in numbers. This experience has reinforced me. One person can start an idea, but it’s the enthusiasm, creativity, generosity, and participation of everyone around them that really brings it to life. Watching people get involved and seeing the momentum build has been one of my favorite parts of being team captain. 

One of our LIFT values is Thrive together. How do you see this value reflected in your experience with Light the Night? 

To me, "Thrive together" is really at the heart of Light the Night. This is something none of us has to do alone. Every person who participates, donates, signs up for an event, encourages someone else to join, or simply helps spread awareness becomes part of something bigger. 

That’s what I love about this initiative. We all bring something different to the table, and when we combine those contributions, the impact becomes much greater than what any one of us could accomplish individually. It’s been a great reminder that thriving together isn’t just about working together professionally. It’s also about showing up for our communities and supporting causes that matter. 

What advice would you give a fellow Deltek employee looking to get involved in our philanthropic efforts? 

My biggest advice would be don’t wait until you feel like you know exactly what you’re doing. Just get involved. 

I had event planning experience when I volunteered for this, but I had never done fundraising before. There was a learning curve, but that has also been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. 

Start with what you’re good at and what you enjoy. Maybe you love organizing events, connecting with people, creating things, volunteering, or simply rallying others around an idea. There’s a place for all those strengths. You don’t have to do everything yourself, either. Ask for help, invite people in, and let the experience grow from there. 

You may be surprised by how many people are willing to step up once someone takes that first step 

Mel’s story is a reminder that living our values doesn't always require a grand gesture. Sometimes, it starts with taking the first step, inviting others to join in, and creating opportunities for people to connect around a shared purpose. 

As our Employee Values Spotlight series continues, we'll be highlighting more team members who are bringing Deltek's LIFT values to life in meaningful ways. Whether through volunteering, supporting colleagues, driving innovation, making an impact in the workplace, or giving back to their communities, these stories showcase the impact we can make when we come together. 

Want to support the cause? Visit Deltek’s Light the Night team page to learn more about the initiative and explore ways to contribute. Whether you donate, volunteer, or help raise awareness of Blood Cancer United’s work, you can be part of a shared effort to support people and families affected by blood cancer.

Interested in a culture where giving back is part of the experience? Join Deltek's Talent Community to learn more about life at Deltek, our community initiatives, and career opportunities.