From Investment Banker to Purpose-Led Career: Priya's Story

I had a successful career in investment banking. It checked all the boxes of what I had understood success to mean: a prestigious and competitive job, financial wealth, and a clear path forward. Now all I had to do was follow it. 

The only problem was this nagging whisper that there had to be more than this. But to succeed in investment banking meant picking a track and dedicating myself fully to it — the things that truly gave me a sense of meaning would have to take a backseat. I had that typical mindset of, ‘once I have savings or some kind of livelihood set up, then I can do what I’m more interested in,’ which for me was contributing to the community and being an active part of it.

Between a global pandemic, subsequent economic collapse, and worsening social and climate crises, that inner whisper was getting louder.

Taking the leap

After much research and speaking to family and friends about a potential path, I was led to MovingWorlds where I discovered the whole world of social finance. Learning about the transformational power of impact investing is what really helped me see this as something I can truly see myself doing and being part of. I couldn’t stop thinking about the Fellowship, so a week later, I applied.

The Institute followed up with me with additional questions. I think that was the moment that I really knew I had to do this. Based on their line of questioning, I saw that this program was going to challenge me in a way that I wasn’t being challenged before. I realised that being pushed outside of my comfort zone was the only way I could see what I was truly capable of.

When the acceptance letter arrived a few days later, I was as excited as I was nervous. I had typically been a very guarded person, sticking to predictability and order. The fact that I had no idea what was going to happen next, but was opening myself up to the possibilities, was exhilarating.

What attracted me to MovingWorlds was that it takes an inside-out approach to career development, starting first with understanding who you authentically are and then using that as a compass to figure out where you want to go.

At the kickoff weekend, the assessments and exercises around strengths and purpose helped me shift my perspective. The results reconfirmed what I had known deep down but had a hard time articulating, and it was really validating to go through the exercise of saying them out loud in this space where it was safe to be vulnerable. That experience will hold with me for a long time. It was one of the first times in my career – and maybe my life? – that I’ve been that open and vulnerable with people, especially with people I had just met!

Being rooted in a supportive community of other professionals navigating something similar helped me start to befriend the unknown. It was a bit intimidating at first when I realised that I could take ownership of my own learning process to dig deeper into the areas that piqued my interest. We were going through this experience as a cohort, but at the same time having completely different experiences based on our individual needs and interests.

That combination of flexibility and structure helped me push beyond my comfort zone. It makes such a difference going through this process with a close-knit group of people who really believe in me, and for that reason aren’t afraid to challenge me.

Translating personal growth into career growth

By stepping boldly into the unknown and doing the work to meaningfully introspect, I was able to translate my goals into reality. Not long after the program kickoff, I landed an interview with Stand Together, a philanthropic community that identifies, vets, and creates organisations with innovative ways to remove barriers in education, business, communities, and government so every person can rise. 

I was able to leverage my learnings from the Fellowship to stand out from the crowd. The way we went through purpose drivers and strengths in the kickoff helped me more effectively communicate how I could add value to the organisation.

When I got the offer, I actually set up a time with the MovingWorlds Institute Director, Cole, to make sure it lined up with what I had uncovered about myself so far. Having someone who is willing to listen and talk through things with you, who knows you on such a deep level and has your best interest at heart, really helped me confidently take the next step of saying yes.

Coming from a non-social impact background, it’s made me more mindful about taking a human-centred design approach to keep the people we’re serving at the centre of my work. I now have more intention in the type of work I’m creating, rather than just going through the motions to develop an end product. I’m now able to take a step back and think through the approach that will best serve the community, rather than solely focusing on the execution. That’s been a big shift for me, especially coming from investment banking!

For the longest time, I suppressed that inner whisper that something more was out there and continued on autopilot in the industry I thought I ‘should’ be in. This experience has helped me wake up to the fact that I’m in the driver’s seat, and am capable of more than I ever thought possible. I am the one who gets to decide what success means for my work and life. And that is incredibly empowering.

If you’re ready to push beyond your comfort zone to merge your profession with your purpose, take the first step by apply for Escape the City's Career Change Accelerator programme.