Last month, our founder, Sheena Pentin, joined Aranzazu Sardina, Senior Relationship Manager at Genesis Investment Management and member of the CFA UK Soft Skills and Careers Working Group, on CFA’s “In Conversation” podcast. The episode explores career management, crucial soft skills, and the burgeoning field of impact finance.
Sheena began her career in senior management roles at global organisations like Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal. However, her desire to align her personal values with her professional life prompted her to leave the corporate world and launch a specialist social impact recruitment consultancy. Here, we break down Sheena’s advice for pursuing your own social impact journey.
Navigating a Career Transformation from Corporate to Social
During her career transition, Sheena engaged in corporate partnerships with charities, learning about corporate social responsibility (CSR). This eventually led her to work with a social enterprise that transitioned into an impact investment firm. Recognising a significant gap in the market for human capital needed in the growing social impact sector, Sheena founded Careers4Change, connecting diverse, purpose-driven individuals with organisations focused on social and environmental change. Her advice for making this transition is:
- Ensure that your work life reflects your personal values if you want to achieve professional fulfilment. Our article, How to determine whether your intrinsic values align both at home and workexplores this in detail.
- Identify gaps in the market by networking, researching, and engaging in conversations with people in the industry and roles that you may want to move into.
- Build relationships with leaders in impact-led organisations. During your career transition, you have nothing to lose by connecting with diverse, purpose-driven individuals.
The Journey of Entrepreneurship
Reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey, Sheena emphasises the importance of having a well-thought-out business plan, systems, and processes in place. Although Careers4Change grew organically, Sheena emphasised the value of scaling faster and being prepared for the evolving needs of a growing organisation. If you’re taking an entrepreneurial route, Sheena suggests:
- Create a detailed and strategic business plan to guide the growth and development of your business.
- Develop robust systems and processes to ensure the smooth operation and scalability of your business.
- Scale your business rapidly to meet evolving needs and opportunities in the market.
- Be adaptable and resilient to manage and navigate the challenges of building a business in the social impact sector.
The Essential Role of Soft Skills
Authenticity, a genuine passion for change, collaboration, inclusivity, and agility are paramount in the social impact sector. Unlike many competitive corporate environments, impact organisations value respect for diverse skills and open communication. Sheena advises that you bring your whole self to work, foster an inclusive mindset, and contribute creatively to your organisation. According to Sheena, some of the top soft skills to nurture are:
- Authenticity is critical for long-term success and satisfaction in impact organisations. Being genuine and true to yourself will make decision-making easier if you always have a north star to follow that represents your values.
- Having a genuine passion for social and environmental change will drive commitment and longevity in the sector.
- Impact organisations thrive on collaboration rather than competition. Being a team player and working well with others is essential to maximise impact.
- Keeping an inclusive mindset and respecting and valuing diverse perspectives and contributions at all levels of the organisation is key to getting the most out of teams and individuals. Everyone is more likely to thrive if their unique abilities and perspectives are celebrated. Our article, Empowering Change: strategies for fostering inclusivity in impact investing, is a helpful guide for this journey.
- Impact organisations often change direction and require team members who can adapt quickly and provide innovative solutions. Being flexible and open to change is crucial.
- Clear and open communication is vital. Express your ideas honestly and listen to others effectively.
Preparing for a Career in Impact Finance
Integrating into communities that will help you gain relevant experience and understand the sector better is an important step towards your social impact career. For gaining hands-on experience in the sector, Sheena suggests:
- Volunteer or become a trustee at a charity.
- Networking and ongoing education will give you an edge in your field and deepen your understanding. Engage with social impact communities, attend events, and pursue relevant courses and certifications, such as the CFA Impact Investing Certificate and programmes at Cambridge Judge Business School, Oxford Saïd Business School and IE Business School.
- Explore various areas within the impact finance sector to identify where your skills and passions best align.
Trends and Future Directions
Discussing broader trends in recruitment, Sheena noted the increasing interest in impact finance among the next generation of professionals. There’s a growing appreciation of the power of considering social impact with financial return where investment is concerned including within family offices and established social investment businesses. Many graduates seeking employment are beginning to prioritise the impact on the community and environment over traditional metrics like salary and promotions. This shift is also creating more opportunities for professionals with diverse skill sets to enter the sector.
A number of companies are now bringing in disciplines previously limited to commercial industries, such as marketing and HR roles. This development offers new opportunities for professionals from traditional sectors to transition into impact finance.
Advice for Aspiring Impact Professionals
Sheena stressed the importance of articulating a passion for change and understanding the specific impact focus of potential employers. Prepare thoroughly for interviews, showcase both technical skills and a commitment to social impact, and be resilient in the face of challenges.
Think deeply about your motivations and the type of impact you want to make. The Ikigai framework involves asking yourself three key questions: What are you meant to do? What do you love to do? What work needs to be done? This introspective approach helps you align your skills, passions, and desired impact, providing a clear direction for your career transitions.
Resources and Recommendations
For those seeking further information, Sheena recommends the following resources:
- LinkedIn groups like Changemaker Capitalism.
- The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG)
- Books includingImpact by Sir Ronald Cohen, Donut Economicsby Kate Raworth, Green Swans by John Elkington, and Girls Just Want to Have Funds: A Feminist Guide to Investing by Emma Due Bitz, Camilla Falkenberg, Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen
- Divercity, a podcast by Julia Streets
- Programmes like On Purpose and Social Starters, which offer placements in impact organisations.
- Servane Mouazan, a career coach who supports individuals in bringing their whole selves to work and fostering conscious innovation.
At Careers4Change, we hope for a future where impact and financial returns are naturally integrated into every conversation and where you can seamlessly align your professional and personal values. As Sheena expressed in the podcast episode, our goal is for as many people as possible to pursue careers they love and continuously seek opportunities to make a meaningful impact.
