Editor’s Note: Today’s post is by Deja Forte, Senior Program Manager, Silverchair.

When I joined the scholarly publishing world in 2022, I didn’t quite know what I was stepping into. With more than 15 years in customer relations, I was used to building partnerships, managing strategic relationships, and solving complex problems. But this new space, so rich with legacy, innovation, and impact, felt different. At times, it felt mysterious. Important, yet quietly so. Technical, yet deeply human.

Like many newcomers, I asked myself early on: Where do I fit in? And, more importantly, how can I help? Should I step up and help?

Now, a few years into my journey, I’ve come to believe that there’s room for everyone to contribute to the evolution of scholarly publishing. Whether you’re new or seasoned, on the technical side or focused on editorial, there’s a place and a need for your voice, your values, and your effort.

The Hidden Impact of Scholarly Publishing

Before joining this industry, I didn’t fully understand how deeply scholarly publishing shapes the world around us. The public often sees research outputs in headlines or soundbites about scientific breakthroughs, but they rarely get a glimpse of the ecosystem behind those insights.

What I’ve learned since is that scholarly publishing isn’t just about journals and peer review. It’s about the infrastructure that ensures vital knowledge is discoverable, credible, and trusted. Ensuring that a physician in a small clinic can access up-to-date treatment research, that a student in a remote town can find the spark that inspires a career in science, and that a policymaker can make decisions grounded in evidence.

This ecosystem matters, and realizing that shifted the way I viewed my work, from checking off tasks to contributing to progress.

A Personal “Aha” Moment

One of the first “aha” moments I had was realizing how present scholarly publishing is in everyday life. Whether it’s medical journals that improve patient outcomes or research that shapes public policy, scholarly content is behind so much of what we see, hear, and experience.

I’ll never forget the moment I saw McGraw-Hill listed among our publishing clients – I fan-girled a little. After all, this was the company whose textbooks helped me (and now my children) through school. It suddenly clicked that the tools shaping early education were part of the same industry I now support.

Another moment that hit home was seeing the work of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). I have several family members and close friends who are nurses, so to see how much AACN invests in training and certification, and how those efforts directly impact patient care, was incredibly moving. This was no longer just “content management” or “platform work,” this was work that directly improved people’s lives.

Finding Your Footing in a Complex Ecosystem

One of the most rewarding aspects of this industry is also one of its most challenging: the sheer number of interconnected roles and responsibilities. Researchers, editors, technologists, marketers, librarians, platform engineers, and client relations all play crucial roles in advancing knowledge. It can be overwhelming to figure out where you fit.

But I’ve come to appreciate that publishing isn’t a linear process; it’s a web. And just like in any complex system, each role, no matter how seemingly “back-end” or quiet, creates ripple effects. Whether you’re troubleshooting a technical issue, providing metadata strategy, or collaborating on access models, your work influences the researcher experience. And by extension, the lives that researchers impact.

The question isn’t just “where do I fit?” – it’s also “how do I help?” For me, that shift in perspective opened an in-depth sense of agency and belonging.

Belonging Over Fitting In

There’s a difference between fitting in and belonging. Fitting in can feel like trying to mold yourself to match an environment. Belonging is showing up fully, offering your questions, your lived experience, and your perspective, knowing it’s valued. In a work environment, this may look like leadership or inviting input during meetings, making space for every voice to be heard, and actively building on one another’s ideas rather than competing with them. These small but important intentional actions reassure people that their contributions matter and create an atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable bringing their full selves to the table.

Early in my publishing journey, I often found myself holding back in conversations with longtime colleagues or industry veterans. I wasn’t sure if my voice had earned its place yet. But I’ve since learned that fresh perspectives are important in an industry that’s both rooted in tradition and hungry for innovation.

Belonging means trusting that you don’t need to know everything to contribute meaningfully. It means offering curiosity, not just credentials. And it means recognizing that you don’t have to be “an expert” to make a difference.

The Power of Showing Up

As I became more involved in the industry, I started volunteering with the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP). That decision, seemingly small at first, had a big impact on how I saw the field and my role within it.

Through SSP, I’ve connected with people from all parts of the industry, and those conversations enhanced my understanding of the pressures and opportunities we all navigate:

• The balancing acts between speed and integrity
• The need for transparency in research workflows
• The challenge of creating systems that are both scalable and equitable
• The moral imperative of DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) is not just a policy, but a mindset
• And the ongoing questions about how we define quality, credibility, and trust in the age of AI and information overload

Volunteering taught me that contributing to progress doesn’t require a title or a leadership role. It might look like engaging in a meeting, asking thoughtful questions, or taking part in mentoring. I have had such great mentors who empower and support me! These moments matter more often than we realize.

Embracing Change with Empathy

If there’s one constant in scholarly publishing, it’s change, from new business models, emerging technologies, and evolving author and reader expectations. Global events that can shift priorities overnight.

It can be tempting to feel overwhelmed or cynical about the pace or direction of change. But what I’ve witnessed, and try to embody myself, is a different approach: embracing change with empathy. For example, when new submission systems or policies are introduced, do we think about how everyone will be impacted,  or are we focused only on the efficiencies promised? An empathetic practice is pausing to consider the editors, reviewers, and authors navigating these changes, acknowledging their learning curve; listening to their concerns and offering extra support or training, so they feel fully supported rather than left behind.

That means understanding not just what’s changing, but who is affected. It means thinking about how new systems or policies impact the researcher in Ghana, the librarian in Detroit, the editorial assistant in India, and the first-time author navigating submission workflows without mentorship.

Empathy doesn’t slow us down; it makes our work more thoughtful. More inclusive. More human.

Publishing as a Platform for Purpose

I didn’t plan to work in scholarly publishing. But now that I’m here, I’m all in.

I see this industry as one of the few places where curiosity, collaboration, and care intersect so consistently. We’re not just supporting the transmission of knowledge, we’re shaping its accessibility, integrity, and reach.

What inspires me most is knowing that our work, even when behind the scenes, helps fuel discoveries, informs decisions, and uplifts communities. That means there’s always more to do, not because we’re failing but because we care. Feeling “there’s more I could be doing” isn’t a failure. It’s a sign of belonging of connection and purpose.

So, Where Do You Fit In?

If you’re reading this and wondering whether you, your voice, your background, and your ideas belong in scholarly publishing — let me assure you: they do.

Maybe you’re just starting out. Maybe you’ve been here for decades and are looking for a new spark. Maybe you’re in a role that doesn’t get much spotlight but drives real change. Wherever you are, this ecosystem needs you. It needs your perspective. Your questions. Your passion. Your hope.

Publishing isn’t just about systems and standards; it’s about people. It’s about building bridges between knowledge and the lives it’s meant to impact. And each of us, in our own way, has the power to strengthen those bridges.