We’ve Pivoted: Senior-Level Career Transitions
On March 11, 2026, Adriana Hayes (Assistant Director, Partners for Public Good), Till Bruett (Senior Vice President of Business Transformation and Strategy, FINCA International), Michelle Parker (Director of AI, NetHope), and Travis Mayo (Chief Operating Officer, Housing Collaborative) explained how they were able to translate their federal experiences successfully into comparable senior-level positions with new organizations.
This session was the thirteenth in our Pivot to New Career Paths seminar series. These seminars are designed to offer attendees the opportunity to hear from colleagues who have already made these important career transitions and glean how to best embark on these changes themselves.
2025 ushered in countless new beginnings for the international development community—whether for early career professionals forced to pivot before starting their careers, mid-level professionals embracing more responsibility, or senior-level professionals who spent many years—advancing multiple causes.
In today’s job market where AI and whispers of ageism dominate, numerous experienced professionals have heard “We decided to move forward with a candidate whose qualifications more closely matched the role,” leading many to ponder if it’s truly possible to pivot with their depth of experience and expertise.
All the panelists agree that it is, indeed, possible!
Each featured speaker offered their advice, tips, and tricks with the Pivot with Purpose community to demonstrate how they were able to translate their USAID experience and where they had the most success when searching for new career opportunities. They also shared their personal stories to serve as inspiration (or lessons in what not to do) for those of us still in the job search.
Our panelists reencouraged participants, reminding them that we all possess the requisite skills, background, and knowledge that employers prioritize when hiring. No matter the specifics of your previous experience(s), there are a a wide variety of public and private institutions all across the country that can use your skillset and want to draw from your vast expertise.
Furthermore, the speakers all stressed that private companies and public organizations also prize our seniority and breadth of background knowledge. Though it can be difficult to navigate the job market (especially when ageism runs rampant), but they stressed that opportunities are out there for all of us to pursue!
Other Previous Sessions
Please feel free to browse our other previous sessions to access summaries, video content, and more information about our other events!