Creating Your Own Career Path in a Broken System

You’ve finished your MPP or Public Policy degree... now what? You entered the classroom full of hope that maybe you'd work with the traffic department to redesign road systems, partner with village bodies on water conservation, or advise an embassy on international relations. But now? You find yourself stuck in one of three frustrating boxes: Box 1: You got a job... but it's mostly Excel, half-baked analysis, and vague frameworks. Your managers say "impact," but chase donor deadlines. Funding determines everything from your priorities to your pay. Box 2: You landed a role... but honestly, you could’ve done it without the MPP. Many of your colleagues are from unrelated fields or just have undergrads. Box 3: You’re still applying. Or studying again. Or teaching. Or writing. You're in limbo while people on LinkedIn (maybe even me!) keep saying “read more, apply more, be proactive.” Exhausting, right? Meanwhile, you see impact jobs posted. Consulting roles. Policy gigs. Government collaborations. But when you apply? Silence. Or a labyrinth of forms, interviews, and dead ends. So... what do you do now? I don’t think the system is broken. I think we need to get sharper about navigating it. Here are 3 things you can do right now to break the loop: 1. Stop looking for “policy jobs.” Start targeting functions. "Public Policy" isn’t a job title. It’s a lens. Ask yourself: Do I want to design, evaluate, communicate, implement, or strategize? Then search for roles with those functions across consulting firms, funders, think tanks, CSR teams, and gov-backed startups. Example: If you want to evaluate programs, search for roles like “M&E Specialist” or “Impact Analyst”, not “Policy Officer.” You'll find roles you didn’t even know existed and you’ll actually get shortlisted. 2. Start publishing. Not to go viral but to get visible. Post once a week. Share a case you worked on. Break down a policy headline. Reflect on a challenge no one talks about. You’re not building a personal brand. You’re building searchable evidence of clarity. Hiring managers (and collaborators) do Google you. Give them something to find. 3. Get on 1 live project. Any size. Any sector. Contribute for 3 months. While you apply, get into the game. Don’t wait for the offer letter. Volunteer on a pilot with an NGO or a startup Join a short-term research project (Or better yet, like I said in my last post, start your own project) Reach out to an ex-professor, MPP alum, or mentor and say: “Can I help on anything?” It’s not free labour; it’s portfolio building. And when you walk into your next interview, you’ll have a real, recent project to talk about. That changes everything. And finally, dear fellow policy enthusiasts, you don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to take one concrete step this week. That’s how momentum begins. Trust me- everyone you admire in this space also started out a little lost. #PublicPolicy #PolicyCareers #MPP #PolicyEducation

The old way of choosing a career is broken. Here's a better approach. Most career guidance is outdated and useless. We grow up hearing, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" A doctor? A social worker? An accountant? A career determines the kind of life we get to live. We should start with the life we want before determining the job title and then accepting the life that comes with it. Here's what you need to decide: 👉 Where do you want to live? Do you want to stay where you are? Do you have a dream city? Do you want to be remote? 👉 What kind of work environment do you want? Do you want to be inside? Outside? Moving from site to site? Do you want to work with people or by yourself? 👉 What kind of schedule do you want? Do you want to work 40-hour weeks? Swing shifts like 16 hours on, 16 hours off? 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off? Only a few hours a day? 👉 How much do you need to make to live how you want to? Create a budget for what it would cost to have a home, raise kids, have pets, and travel to get to a number. 👉 What industry or job do you want? Is there a specific industry or job you are passionate about? Next, rank these factors by order of importance to you, which can change over time. When I was 22, here was my order: 1. Where I live: must be Silicon Valley so I can learn about startups 2. Industry: Must be tech 3. Work environment: With smart people, I can learn from 4. Money: Enough to meet my needs. I had to share a room to make ends meet 5. Schedule: Any schedule works; I can work 80 hours/week if needed 10 years later, here's what I think about for my career: 1. Work environment: Must be remote 2. Where I live: I should be able to choose 3. Money: I am planning to have kids soon, so I need to save more 4. Schedule: Okay with anything. I work at night when I'm in Asia 5. Industry: I am interested in many industries and can find joy in anything This year, a girl on my customer support team left Prequel. She decided she wanted: 1. Work environment: An in-person team and a place where she's bringing energy to others (Prequel is remote) 2. Schedule: Flexible, a few hours each day 3. Industry: She wanted to explore coaching, yoga instructing in person 4. Money: Enough to meet her needs 5. Where I live: Toronto was fine, but she was okay with going anywhere

Gone are the days of a linear career path. Not long ago, the idea of a successful career followed a simple formula: Choose a study field > land a job > climb the ladder > retire. But today, career paths are anything but linear. More professionals are weaving between industries, blending their passions and redefining success. I went from climbing the corporate ladder as an Accountant, to taking a leap into tech and creativity — aligning my career with my passions and purpose. At school, I gravitated towards structure and logic, which led me to study accounting. It seemed like a practical and stable choice — one that promised job security and a clear trajectory. But at the same time, I craved the creativity I found through studying art, IT and photography. So I decided to pursue a double degree in business and design. While studying at uni I kickstarted my career at an accounting firm, getting a head start in the corporate world. Meanwhile on the design side, a Fine Arts assignment led me to launch my photography side hustle. I soon found myself fitting creativity into the margins of my finance career and defying the belief that Accountants couldn’t be creative. I knew I had more to give beyond a traditional corporate career, but I wasn’t sure how to blend my skills and passions in a way that felt authentic. Then came the opportunity to work at Canva. This was one of those sliding doors moments. I found my sweet spot at a company that is values-driven and where I could contribute to doing good in the world, while seamlessly merging my analytical and creative skillsets. The transition from corporate to tech was huge, but it unlocked a whole new level of growth. I now apply my financial expertise while being surrounded by creativity, innovation and a culture that encourages out-of-the-box thinking. If you’re feeling stuck or considering a career pivot, here is some advice: — Your passions matter. If you feel pulled in multiple directions, explore your intuition. Unexpected opportunities may follow. — Skills are transferable.  The analytical thinking I developed in public practice helped me thrive in tech, just as my creative background has shaped my approach to problem-solving. — Side hustles can open doors.  My photography business isn’t just a creative outlet — it has built entrepreneurial skills, connections, and confidence. — Growth happens outside your comfort zone.  The world of tech was unknown, but taking the leap led to profound learning and career development. — You don’t have to have it all figured out.  Each challenge offers learning and adds to your story. You know I love a unique personal brand! Your career doesn’t have to fit into a box — there’s value in taking the unconventional path. If you’re currently navigating a career change or thinking about one, I’d love to hear your story and help unblock your next step. Photo taken on my third day at Canva — which seems like a lifetime ago!

POV: You’re doing great work… but there’s nowhere to actually go. If that feels familiar, it’s not just you. Many mid-career professionals are hitting invisible walls because of “organizational flattening.” Companies are cutting out middle layers, leaving fewer formal promotions and broader, heavier roles. It’s frustrating. You’re performing at a high level, but the ladder you were told to climb doesn’t even exist anymore. Here’s the shift I want you to make: stop waiting for the system to create space for you. Start creating it yourself. That might mean broadening laterally into cross-functional projects that stretch your skill set. It might mean building strategic visibility so leaders actually see your impact, not just your output. Or it might mean negotiating for scope instead of title, because growth doesn’t always come with a promotion. Flatter organizations aren’t going away. But you can still grow within them, if you play a more strategic game. You don’t have to stay stuck waiting for someone to “open up a role.” You just have to redefine what advancement looks like for you. #careerstrategy #midcareerprofessionals #careercoaching #leadershipdevelopment #careeradvancement

𝗙𝗹𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂—𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗜𝘁 * * More often than not, we find ourselves facing change that’s imposed on us, rather than something we’ve actively chosen. It’s easy to get comfortable in the illusion of “security”—believing that our organisations will always be a safe bet—only to be blindsided when our contributions, no matter how significant, aren’t treated as sacred. A huge part of my work revolves around helping people own their change—understanding that organisations don’t owe you a thing. What you do owe yourself, however, is the awareness and the plan to take control of your own career and life. It’s not you, it’s them… You could be smashing your KPIs, going above and beyond, being the ultimate team player—zero complaints—yet still find yourself surplus to requirements. Trust me, I’ve sat in those transformation meetings. I’ve worked with the world’s top consultants to refine strategic priorities, and I’ve even led those projects myself. If you’re a strong performer and your role is removed or changed, know this: it’s not about you—it’s just business. I get that it feels deeply personal, but behind those closed doors, execs aren’t thinking about names—they’re looking at boxes, headcount, and whether roles align with strategy. So, what now? If you find yourself in this position, here are three things you can do right now to take back control: 𝟭. 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 (𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗳 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴) You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. What strengths do others see in you that you might have overlooked? Could there be opportunities within the organisation that you haven’t considered? Clarity is power. 𝟮. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 If you could design your ideal role, what would it look like? Would you stay in the same industry? Pivot to a new sector? Or is this the push you needed to start that business you’ve always dreamed about finally? 𝟯. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗽 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲 This is where the real work starts. Find an objective friend—or better yet, negotiate coaching as part of your exit package. Use this time to strategise your next move. Do you need to jump into a new role straight away? Can you afford to take some time out? If so, how will you use that time? Learning a new skill? Travelling? Recharging? (Ideally, a balance of all three!) Whatever happens, own your next step. Yes, this change may have been imposed on you, but now that the rug has been pulled, you get to decide how you land. 𝗦𝗼, 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳: 👉🏾 What’s the biggest risk I could take right now? 👉🏾 And if I won’t bet on myself, how can I expect anyone else to? 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲. 💥 #CareerChange #OwnYourSuccess #LeadershipDevelopment #ResilienceInAction #BetOnYourself

They call it the "broken rung," but it feels more like a broken system. For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women get promoted..... For Black women? That number drops to 58. For Latinas? 64. I used to think I wasn't getting promoted because I wasn't ready. Needed more experience. More credentials. More visibility. Then I watched mediocre men get promoted after 18 months while I perfected my performance reviews for 5 years. The broken rung isn't about your first job. It's about your first promotion to manager. And it's where most women's careers get derailed before they even begin. Here's what makes it so insidious: You can't see it happening. There's no email saying "we're passing you over because you're a Black woman." No meeting where they explain why Brad's "potential" matters more than your proven results. Just silence. Another year. Another "not quite yet." But here's what changed my entire approach: I stopped trying to fix what wasn't broken (me) and started understanding what actually was (the system). The Invisible Barriers They Won't Name: The Likability Trap: Men are promoted on potential. Women need to prove themselves. Black women need to prove themselves while being "likable" enough not to threaten anyone. The Office Housework: Who takes notes? Plans parties? Mentors interns? These invisible tasks eat your time but don't count toward promotion. The Moving Goalpost: First it's experience. Then it's executive presence. Then it's "strategic thinking." The target keeps moving because the problem was never your qualifications. But here's what you CAN control: The Self-Audit That Changed Everything: Ask yourself: - Am I doing work that gets measured or work that gets appreciated? - Am I building relationships with decision-makers or just my peers? - Am I documenting my wins or assuming they're being noticed? - Am I negotiating my role or accepting what's given? The brutal truth I discovered: I was stuck because I was playing by rules that were designed to keep me stuck. Working hard on the wrong things. Building excellence in roles that had no path up. Waiting for recognition from people who couldn't see me. The moment I understood the broken rung wasn't my fault, I stopped trying to fix myself and started building my own ladder. Some of us will repair the broken rung. Some of us will build new systems entirely. But none of us have to accept that this is "just how it is." Career Glow-Up Diaries, Episode 2: Understanding the game is the first step to changing it. Where are you actually stuck - the system or your strategy? If this post resonates, share it. Someone needs to stop blaming themselves for a broken system.

𝘙𝘦𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯? 𝘈 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘨𝘭𝘦, 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩. 💡 Flashback to March 2024. I was in the final year of my Integrated M.Sc. in Mathematics, a field many assume is purely academic. An email landed in my inbox that challenged that assumption, an invitation to the next stage for a Pre-Doctoral Researcher role at Google Research. 🤯 For a math student fascinated by tech, this was a dream opportunity. But just as quickly as it appeared, the communication went cold. I initially questioned myself. Was I not a good fit? Then, the news broke in April 2024: Google was undergoing a massive reorganization, merging its core research teams into Google DeepMind. This led to widespread hiring freezes and restructuring. It wasn't personal rejection, it was a global, strategic pivot by one of the world's largest companies. This realization was a game-changer. Instead of waiting for a door to reopen, I decided to build my own. I jumped headfirst into the world of freelancing. I realized the "reality of the industry" was less about waiting for the perfect role and more about creating value 𝘯𝘰𝘸. My key takeaways from this journey: 1. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵: My mathematical training wasn't a limitation, it was my superpower for complex problem-solving and rapid learning in the real world. A strong foundation is everything. 2. 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿: The market can change overnight. The ability to pivot, learn new skills, and apply your knowledge in new ways is more valuable than any single job title. 3. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: Don't wait for permission. The experience I've gained as a freelancer in a short time has been immense and has given me a level of autonomy I never expected. The path you're 'supposed' to take isn't always the one that leads to the most growth. That rejection from Google was the redirection I needed. What's the biggest pivot you've ever made in your career? Would love to hear your stories! 👇 #CareerPivot #Google #DeepMind #Resilience #MathematicsInTech #AI #TechCareers #Freelancing #StudentSuccess #Adaptability #Opportunity

A job isn’t security. Options are. A former colleague messaged me to say Friday was his last day. I could feel the sadness in his note and the quiet fear of what now. I remember when he was hired. He was buzzing with energy, excited to grow, ready to make an impact. Now that path has ended. That story is playing out for so many right now. Talented people stuck in roles that no longer fit, clinging to jobs that feel safer than they really are. Waiting for things to get better. For those in tech, whether in a technical role or not, the squeeze is real. An industry once defined by constant growth now feels like it is shrinking, even as AI innovation dominates the headlines. Here is the truth: security is not found in one job. It comes from creating options. Options give you leverage, momentum, and confidence no matter what happens next. Here are 5 ways to start creating them today: ✅ Update your career story so your wins are visible on LinkedIn and your resume ✅ Expand your network by booking 2–3 coffee chats outside your team or company ✅ Build a brag doc to capture results and feedback in one place ✅ Invest in one skill upgrade that aligns with the roles you want next ✅ Map at least 3 paths forward so you never feel boxed in You are not stuck. You are preparing. The options you create today are the power you will draw from tomorrow. 💬 If your role ended tomorrow, which option would you lean on first?

Right now, I could pick from 10 different jobs, any one of them would bring in over $100K a year. I'm not bringing this up to brag. In fact, I'm one of the lowest paid employees at my own company and I like I that way. The point is, I made an intentional decision to diversify my skills and career options so that no matter how the landscape shifts, I have multiple paths forward. I grew up during the dot-com boom and saw entire professions disappear overnight. My dad was a successful commercial illustrator - one of the people who helped define the modern illustration style that’s still used by corporations and startups today. He adapted as the industry changed, transitioning from hand-drawn work with pencils and Dr. Ph. Martin’s Dyes to early design software like Freehand and Illustrator. But it wasn't enough. Stock photography and digital tools flooded the market, allowing anyone to replicate styles, driving down demand for original illustration. Practically overnight, he was forced out of a thriving career with no clear options for what to do next. What do you do in that situation? How do you find what you're good at in a new world? For young people in high school, college, and early in their careers, the future has never been more uncertain. AI and new technology aren’t just changing industries, they’re rewriting the rules of career stability. So, think of your career like an investment portfolio: Betting everything on one skill is like putting all your money into a single stock. When the headwinds come (and they will come, from places you never expected), you’ll want to have diversified yourself. Here’s how to do it: ✔ Gather all of your interests. Be real with yourself. Don’t just pick what’s trendy or pays well - those won’t last. Pick things that truly interest you. ✔ Find the common threads. What do your interests say about you? What’s your unique way of seeing the world? Your core value proposition? ✔ Build a mental map of multiple career paths. If one industry disappears, where else could your skills apply? ✔ Look for careers that seamlessly combine multiple skills. These are harder for AI to replace and will give you flexibility no matter how the landscape changes. This approach has worked for me. I’ve switched industries multiple times with ease and success - from architecture to creative agency to digital agency to tech startup. Now, I have at least ten career paths I could pursue, each with large salary potential. The past gave us a clear picture of the future. Today, that picture is more uncertain than ever and that will only continue. Those who adapt, diversify, and stay flexible won’t just survive the shift. They’ll lead it.