6 Pieces of Career Advice from Nonprofit Professionals Driving the Conversation in Social Impact

Welcome to the latest edition of Moving Forward, a newsletter designed to help nonprofits exchange ideas and learn from one another to unlock the full potential of the sector.?

In June, we launched our inaugural Top Voices in Social Impact list, spotlighting 70 creators from around the world who are using LinkedIn to drive conversations about the biggest issues of today. Many of these thought leaders come from the nonprofit sector and have great insights to share about what it means to dedicate your life to making positive changes in the world.?

Looking to make an even bigger impact? Get inspired with these six pieces of career advice from Top Voices in Social Impact honorees, and click the country links below to find more thought leaders to follow.

1. Let your principles guide you

Based in Australia , Ross Wetherbee is President on the Board of Wear it Purple . Ross advises fellow mission-driven professionals to worry less about where they’re heading, so long as they have the right compass.?

“I am a big believer that you don't necessarily need a big career plan, but you do need principles to help guide you along the way,” he explains. “I've almost always said ‘yes’ to opportunity, when it is in line with my own career principles and values.”

2. Work joyfully?

Dr. Tarika Barrett is CEO of Girls Who Code and is based in the U.S. For her, the secret ingredient to a successful career is joy.?

“Strive to be present and enjoy yourself and others in every professional moment,” she says. “Approaching your work with joy has countless benefits, including building a supportive and affirming professional network.”

3. Put people at the center

Moussa Camara lives in France and is the Founding President of Les Déterminés . Moussa’s top piece for a purposeful career is very simple.

“Put people at the heart of your decisions, your choices, your projects,” he says.

4. Learn from those around you

Matt Bershadker is based in the U.S. and is the President and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals . His advice for an impactful career? Be proactive about learning and growing.

“At work, identify your weaknesses or gaps in understanding,” he says, “and seek out colleagues and opportunities that can help you fill those gaps and even challenge you further.”

5. Advocate for yourself

India -based Jyotsna Siddharth is Country Director for Gender At Work India . Their advice is rooted in the need for self-advocacy.

“Loyalty to workspaces is crucial but do not ever settle where you feel violated and undervalued,” she says. “I urge you to make decisions, stay focused, ready to ask for help and provide support, be open to new perspectives, and never shy away from speaking your mind.”

6. Remember your “why”

CEO and Human Transformation Strategist at KLITSCHKO Ventures , and Co-CEO of #WeAreAllUkrainians , Tatjana Kiel lives in Germany . Her reflections on her career offer a great reminder to stay focused on the impact you’re having on the lives of others.?

“At the core, our usual business is about moving people and empowering them with the right tools to lead a self-determined life,” Tatjana says. “And this thought and desire to create added value for others or empowerment accompanies me everywhere.”

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? Join the conversation by using the hashtag #MovingForward or sharing your thoughts in the comment section.

• Michelle Mitchell , Chief Executive at Cancer Research UK , considers what great leadership means and why “leading through others” is key to achieving the organization’s ambitious goals.?

• Anita Ravi , CEO and Co-Founder of PurpLE Health Foundation , reflects on what she learned as a team of one at the start of her nonprofit journey — and what it means to have a team at her side today.

• Jen Wasem , former Director of Development for AnitaB.org , shares an article outlining the Center for Progressive Reform’s actions to pay staff more than a livable wage and discusses an experience educating a donor about overhead.?

• 4 Practical Things Nonprofits Can Do to Embrace Environmental Sustainability : The disruption and destruction caused by climate change pose a threat to every nonprofit’s mission. Liz Zavodsky, Executive Director of Ecochallenge, shares some simple steps nonprofits can take to reduce the ecological footprint of their organizations.?
• What Everyone Can Learn From Leaders of Color : “The ways people of color have experienced the world up to this point can affect how they lead.” Darren Isom, Cora Daniels, and Britt Savage of The Bridgespan Group discuss why these experiences — including connection, meaning, and joy — can be some of these leaders’ biggest assets, and what integrating them into narratives of leadership might mean for nonprofits.
• Learning to Deal Constructively with Uncertainty : Binary measures of success and failure often aren’t effective metrics for evaluating complex social systems like nonprofits. Alliance Magazine suggests that a better approach involves embracing feedback loops that engage with those directly involved in initiatives.

We want to hear from you! Click here to refer a nonprofit professional you admire and whose insights you'd love to read. And if there's a particular topic that's top of mind for your organization right now, let us know and we may highlight it in a future edition.