3 Questions to Find Your Career Sweet Spot

Trying to figure out what work is best for you? Answer three questions and find the “sweet spot” where your answers intersect. In sports like tennis, baseball, or golf, there is such a thing as a “sweet spot” – the area on the racket, bat, or club where hitting the ball will have maximum impact. [...]

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Good Fences Make Good Careers in International Development

Fresh out of grad school, I took a job at a management consulting firm in Washington, DC. My employer was a large private sector company; all of my clients were government agencies. I was excited to help public sector organizations become more effective in carrying out their missions. In my early days on the job, [...]

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Dads in International Development Weigh In on Work-Life Balance (Part 2 of 2)

Long working hours, extensive international travel, and late night (or early morning) conference calls are often expected of international development professionals. And for those who are raising kids, it can be challenging to balance these demands with the needs of family. To celebrate Father’s Day last week, I asked dads who work in aid & [...]

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Dads in International Development Weigh In on Work-Life Balance (Part 1 of 2)

Long working hours, extensive international travel, and late night (or early morning) conference calls are often expected of international development professionals. And for those who are raising kids, it can be challenging to balance these demands with the needs of family. To celebrate Father’s Day, I asked dads who work in aid & international development [...]

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Help Build a Network of Support for International Development Professionals

“I shouldn’t complain and vent so much to my team about our projects,” admitted Annette (not her real name) during one of our coaching sessions. As the country director of an international development contractor, she is the only person at her level in country, and the only expat in the office. “I know complaining is [...]

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Working Moms (and Dads) in International Development (Part 2: The Trade-offs)

Raising children while pursuing a career in international development is not for the fainthearted. In speaking with working moms in development about the challenges – and benefits – of being a working mom in this field, I heard about several themes. Travel, of course, is a critical issue. Working moms also shared about the trade-offs [...]

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Working Moms in International Development (Part 1: Surviving Travel)

What are the challenges – and benefits – of being a working mom in international development? To celebrate Mother’s Day, I gathered answers to this question from aid & international development professionals who are also moms. Their input highlighted a variety of issues, including travel, balancing one’s career with a spouse’s or with the needs [...]

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5 Ways to Identify Your Strengths

If you want to rock your career, you’ve got to play to your strengths. But to do that, first you have to figure out what they are. Here are 5 ways to identify your strengths. I write, think, and coach a lot about the importance of playing to your strengths in order to have a [...]

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Why Reading a Comic Book is Good for Your Career

Read a comic book – it’s good for your career! Well, not just any comic book. I recommend “The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need.” It is, hands down, the most unique and entertaining career management book I’ve ever read. And its career advice is solid – six essential lessons [...]

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4 Ways to Make Your Own Luck

In some parts of the world, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17 by wearing green clothing, drinking green beer, and dyeing the local river green. Although this particular holiday will pass pretty much unnoticed here in Manila, my thoughts at this time of year turn to the topic of luck, and the fascinating research [...]

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