What are the most effective ways to transition from a traditional career to a social impact career?

Having transitioned from a traditional career to a social impact career myself, I can attest to the power of identifying your purpose as a foundational step. In 2014, after years in a traditional career role, I became the CEO of Black Bear Carbon, driven by a passion to make a meaningful environmental impact. Aligning my professional journey with the causes I deeply care about, such as the circular economy, was instrumental in navigating this transition successfully.

Transitioning to a social impact career is a commendable and fulfilling journey. Start by identifying your passion within social and environmental causes, and then acquire relevant skills and experience, perhaps through volunteering or additional training. Networking is key; connect with professionals and organizations in the social impact sector. Be open to entry-level positions or internships to gain industry experience. Remember, perseverance and a genuine passion for making a difference are your greatest assets in this transition. Align yourself with impact-motivated organizations, and keep a look out for greenwashing. #CareerChange #SocialImpact #MakingADifference

I can say one thing: If you can a purposeful career, you need to follow your heart (as cliche as it can appears). Before following your heart, self-knowledge is crucial, so you can better understand what shines your eyes. A tool that I indicate for that is "IKIGAI". Once you understands it, and decides to follow your heart, I can say it is important to have ALWAYS a look of "purpose before money" (I can guarantee, that some voluntary work will open doors for the future). If you do this, your happiness will come first. If not, you'll re-enter the cycle of pursuing paths that are not aligned with your IKIGAI.

Many of the skills which are fundamental to a career in social impact are soft skills - my top 3 are project management, stakeholder management, communication. So, if you want to make the leap find ways to make these transferable skills stand out and be clear how you could apply them to a social impact role. There is also a lot of open information out there to deepen your knowledge of ESG issues, so that you can demonstrate you have an interest and handle on this rapidly-shifting industry.

Early on in my first career, I had clear strengths that got me noticed yet I spent a lot of time filling in my gaps--years, in fact. There was this idea that if I could excel at all of the competencies, I'd be an unstoppable success. You know what? It was draining. I never felt good enough. And I don't think my first career advanced as quickly as it could have if I had leaned further into my strengths. So as you reflect on what you're great at, think of tasks and situations that come really easy to you that you may overlook. Often times, we underestimate our strengths since they're so inherent to who we are. And news flash: They're not inherent to everyone, so let yourself shine and your work will feel smoother to execute.

What skills might be different in the social impact sector? All your professional soft skills and functional expertise will be as important. This sector is not different from any other segment of the economy. What companies in the social impact sector look for are professionals with a mindset that is able to include others and the planet in the consideration and the will to innovate the industry you are working for. So if you have to improve any skills I would suggest develop your activist mindset, your willingness to engage in uncomfortable conversations and deal with conflict and power-dynamics. Bringing change is not easy and you have to build resilience to keep on working in an environment that is complex and challenging.

One of the most effective ways to build your network is to volunteer in organizations that are aligned with your purpose. Sharing time with people with similar interests can help you build a network and understand the impact sector you want to jump into. As a relevant point, this would be effective if you focus on giving first. Give as much as you can and the community will give back. Feel the joy of giving, and you will engage with your purpose while you create a social-oriented profile.

When you've identified the bare minimum of gaps you think you need to fill in to get your first job in a new area, how you fill in these gaps can double as networking opportunities. Look into certification programs with group dynamics, newsletters in your area of focus that list meetups and online workshops, and other ideas so you have a boost of people to connect with without a ton of heavy lifting on your part.

Transitioning to a social impact career involves building a robust network and a solid reputation in the sector. Your network, composed of like-minded individuals, colleagues, and mentors, plays a pivotal role in supporting and connecting you with opportunities. It's akin to the principle of giving back first; contributing to a community of shared interests can lead to a more socially-oriented profile, enhancing your capacity to create an impact. Building your network and reputation can open doors to valuable collaborations within the social impact sector. So, embrace the idea of giving first, connect with a network that aligns with your purpose, and observe the transformative effects on your ability to make a difference.

Pathways can vary from slight shifts to jumping in with both feet and never looking back. The lowest risk ways to start can be volunteering outside of work, starting an affiliation or project group at your current employer, and enrolling in training programs outside of work. These are ways to gain knowledge and take action while still staying secure in your current employment and potentially providing you some financial runway. These experiences will also be content for your resume should you decide to turn up the intensity of your transition--or when you make the leap!

A path that helped me immensely was the On Purpose Associate programme. This was a one year course that gives all the ingredients you need to transition into an impactful career - work experience, training, coaching and a great crew of like minded coursemates. Thinking wider, one thing I have noticed now I'm working in sustainability is people are so open to helping each other out! People recognise this is a collective issue, so it feels far more collaborative than other careers. In other words, go to events, meet people and see how you can help each other.

Before making the career transition, test the waters by volunteering with various social enterprises and non-profits to get an idea of how a social impact career would be like.

1. Be adaptable and embrace change to stay aligned with evolving sustainability trends. 2. Pursue continuous learning and attend relevant workshops and events. 3. Gain hands-on experience in sustainability, even starting as a junior. 4. Demonstrate initiative and measure the impact of your sustainability efforts.

Transitioning to a social impact career demands a high degree of flexibility and adaptability, as the sector is inherently dynamic and unpredictable. Challenges such as resource limitations, intricate issues, and uncertain outcomes are commonplace, necessitating the ability to cope, pivot, and recalibrate expectations. It often involves a degree of experimentation, trying out different roles, sectors, or projects to discover the best alignment with your purpose and skills. Cultivating a growth mindset is a valuable asset in this journey; viewing challenges as opportunities for growth, seeking feedback and support, and celebrating incremental progress can fortify your resilience and capacity to effect meaningful change.

Also, you can take up internship opportunities in the areas that you think you like to assess if it actually aligns with your interest. This will also provide you with experience in that area if you end up liking it. You can then use the experience to launch your career in that area.

Please also keep in mind that there are countless ways to make an impact even without a formal "title" in the social impact, sustainability, or ESG space. In fact, sometimes you can make the biggest change from elsewhere in an organization, by aligning yourself with the team responsible for that work and championing it within your remit. There are so many ways to align your work with your purpose and mission that have very little to do with your job title!

Social impact roles have shifted in the past 5-10 years, especially in the environmental space. Now, technical skills outside of the field are just as important as skills and experience within it. Particularly in the area of environmental sustainability, there are needs for public policy experts, auditors/assurers, engineers, logistics experts, data scientists and more. In fact, you may have more impact on an organization's sustainability strategies from one of these roles within an operations team than from being in a formalized sustainability/CSR department. There's a great new article by HBR on the important role of middle managers on sustainability strategies: https://hbr.org/2023/11/middle-management-is-the-key-to-sustainability

In my experience, this transition reminds me of the concept of IKIGAI, where the sweet spot lies at the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs. Indeed, embarking on this journey isn't always straightforward, as finding a well-paid impactful job may require time and exposure to different opportunities. However, it's a path that demands passion, unwavering focus, determination, and staying true to core values. By leveraging your existing skills and knowledge, which are valuable in a societal career context, and continuously adding to that foundation, this transition becomes more manageable.