Why Choose between Creativity and Expertise When You can have Both? The Rise of the Hybrid Professional

The Pandemic - I mean it. Look at the number of positivities it brought upon us.

Some very unexpected changes in our lives within few years, but also look at the new breed of professionals it led to - the Hybrid Experts.

These Hybrid Experts (I know you are one of them! ;) ) have so gracefully managed to break free from the traditional mold of choosing between one profession or the other and have mastered the art of standing on two boats at once. It's like they have one foot in their creative passion, and the other in their technical expertise, and they're gracefully gliding through life's waters with both.

Modern-day mermaids and mermen, except instead of a tail, they have a laptop. Who would have thought a pandemic would give birth to such magical beings?

Gone are the days of being stuck in a single career path, shackled to a life of monotony. Thanks to the pandemic, many of us have been forced to adapt and explore new avenues of work and creativity. From chefs turned podcasters to accountants turned YouTube sensations, the possibilities are just beyond endless.

Take for example my friend Sher, a Software Developer by day and a stand-up comedian by night. He's found the perfect balance between his love for coding and making people laugh. Not only does he get to flex his creative muscles, but he's also able to use his technical skills to create his own website and promote his shows.

Or how about my neighbor who's a graphic designer and a freelance photographer? She's able to utilize her eye for design in both fields, creating stunning visual content for both her clients and her personal portfolio.

The pandemic has forced us to think outside the box and find new ways to stay afloat. But instead of just surviving, why not use this opportunity to thrive?

Don't be afraid to combine your passions and expertise, because the World needs more magical Hybrid professionals like you.

Also, look at the Amazing Benefits of being a Hybrid Professional, not just be a Professional in a Hybrid Setting -

Benefits of being a Hybrid Professional that You can Flaunt about in Your Next Interview:

1. Diversified Skillset - Combining passions and expertise allows one to develop a diversified skill set. This enables a person to approach problems from different perspectives and come up with holistic innovative solutions. For example, just like how my neighbor has been doing wonders of being a graphic designer with a passion for social media marketing creating visually stunning campaigns that are also effective in achieving business objectives.
2. Increased employability - Employers are increasingly seeking individuals with a range of skills that go beyond their expertise. So, the next time you are on a call with your Interviewer, flaunt your skills like a New Luxurious Item you've just brought that no one around you has. Offer them your unique combination of skills that make you more valuable to their organizations. According to LinkedIn , hybrid professionals have seen a 12% increase in demand over the past five years. Now, that's something!
3. Enhanced creativity - Pursuing a passion outside of one's expertise can in no doubt lead to enhanced creativity. Combining different interests can result in unique solutions and innovative ideas.

For instance, a lawyer with a passion for music can use their creativity to write lyrics that can educate the public about legal issues. That's Creativity taken to the Next Level.

How about that? (I mean, comeon, would you prefer reading hundreds of pages of law books or rap them like a song!)

And if I can just say, the pandemic has truly showed us our "Path to Success." I mean look at it. Just look at it -

The Real World Examples of Hybrid Professionals who have combined their passions and expertise to make a significant impact in their respective fields. To name a few -

1. Elon Musk: known for being the top on the grid for hybrid professional, combining his passions for technology and sustainability to create innovative solutions. As the founder of Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity, Musk has used his expertise in engineering and business to bring electric cars, space travel, and renewable energy to the mainstream. Oh did I forget the sensational Twitter?
2. Steve Jobs: Steve Jobs was a hybrid professional who combined his passions for design and technology to revolutionize the computer and mobile phone industries. As the co-founder of Apple, Jobs was responsible for creating products like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad that have become integral parts of our daily lives.
3. Arianna Huffington: Arianna Huffington is a hybrid professional who combined her passions for media and wellness to create the Huffington Post, a news website focused on providing readers with a positive and uplifting experience. Through her work at the Huffington Post and her books on wellness, Huffington has inspired millions of people to prioritize their health and well-being.
4. Greta Thunberg: Yet another hybrid professional who combined her passion for environmentalism with her expertise in activism to become a leading voice in the fight against climate change. Through her advocacy work and speeches, Thunberg has inspired a global movement of young people who are demanding action from world leaders.
5. Bill Gates: The legendary hybrid professional who combined his passion for technology with his expertise in business to create Microsoft, one of the largest and most successful companies in the world. Through his work at Microsoft and his philanthropic efforts through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates has used his skills to make a positive impact on society.

These examples on point show that being a hybrid professional can lead to great success and impact in various industries. By combining your passions and expertise, you can create something truly unique and valuable to the world.

And you thought the healthcare industry that I am in can be a bit… sterile? Hmm...Not really and Not anymore! Thanks to the rise of hybrid professionals, we’re seeing some real creativity in the medical world.

Healthcare Industry is no less in bringing out amazing Examples of Hybrid Professionals:

1. Take, for example, the work of Dr. David Eagleman . He's a neuroscientist and best-selling author who's using his expertise to revolutionize the way we understand the brain and treat neurological disorders. But he's also a creative thinker who's exploring new ways to communicate complex scientific concepts to the public. His book, "The Brain: The Story of You," is a great example of this, as it blends scientific research with storytelling to make the subject more accessible and engaging.
2. Another example is the work of Dr. Andrew Newberg . He's a physician and neuroscientist who's exploring the intersection of spirituality and the brain. He's published numerous scientific papers on the subject, but he's also a skilled photographer who's using his art to help people better understand the spiritual experiences he's studying. His book, "The Spiritual Brain: A Neuroscientist's Case for the Existence of the Soul," is a fascinating exploration of this topic that blends scientific research with personal anecdotes and reflections.

So, the next time you think about the statement of Stepping on 2 boats at the same time - and someone says "That's not good." Just gracefully seal their mouth right there and then with the amazing things you've got to offer! :)

And Don't be afraid to pursue your passions and combine them with your expertise because the world needs more magical hybrid professionals like you.

So there you go folks!

Go ahead, Break the Mold and Embrace the chaos. Who knows, you might just discover a whole new side of yourself you never knew existed.

Signing off,

Sai Praneetha Mutyala.

About the Author:

Meet Praneetha, an accomplished Engineer and a Social Entrepreneur with extensive experience in the healthcare industry. With a background in engineering, she has been involved in numerous projects that have improved healthcare delivery systems, customer care wait times, and patient outcomes. But her passion for using technology to address global healthcare challenges led her to pursue a degree in public administration to be at the intersection of public health policy-making and technology.

Currently, Praneetha is pursuing public administration and is actively involved in the healthcare policy-making space. Her goal is to use her skills and experience to make a meaningful impact on healthcare policy and technology to improve healthcare access, affordability, and quality for everyone.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Praneetha is also the executive director of a startup called Genebiotix. The company's vision and mission showcase its innovative approach using deep technologies like AI, Blockchain, and predictive analytics to solve significant problems and gaps faced in the healthcare industry - especially during the clinical trials phase. To know more or invest in their built system, please contact her directly! Genebiotix is poised to make a significant impact on the healthcare industry and improve the lives of patients worldwide.

Recognitions: National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholar

Education:

• Bachelors of Science in Engineering from University of Southern California
• Currently Pursuing Masters in Public Administration from Johns Hopkins University