Work on Purpose

Katya Andresen’s career path has taken her from editing garbage trade magazines, through a stint as a Journalist in Cambodia and finally to her current work, making a difference for small changemaking nonprofits. Read the real-life story of this journalist turned marketing blogger and Chief Strategy Officer of Network for Good, as she finds her Work on Purpose.

Seven billion people calls for new design thinking, a conscious understanding of the majority cultures in the world, and a shift in how and where we look for innovation.

How do you create a movement? How do you galvanize a community to come together for a common cause, especially when they are killing each other? Start with women.

Susan McPherson’s career path has taken her from dreams of being an astronaut, to the newsroom at USA Today, and all the way to the media business in China. Read the real-life story of this corporate social responsibility superstar and senior vice president at public interest communications firm, Fenton, as she finds her Work on Purpose.

Few people can say they graced the hallowed halls of Federal Government, MTV’s hopping studios, and Teach For America’s first scrappy office. Meet Ian Rowe, CEO of Public Prep—and soak up how multi-sector work can result in a purpose-driven path.

Steve Jobs is an awe-inspiring failure. Truly, an inspiration to failures everywhere. Because when Steve Jobs fails, his success is undeniable.

As Jobs retires from his position as the CEO of Apple, I am reminded of his 2005 commencement address at Stanford University. That day, Jobs listed some of his favorite failures—dropping out of college, being fired from Apple at the age of 30, and the apparent failure of his body in the face of a terrifying cancer diagnosis.

Meet John Cary, who has pioneered a career at the intersection of design and social innovation.

Meet Courtney E. Martin, who graced the TED stage to talk about feminism and wanted to be a part-time doctor, part-time waitress when she grew up. In the spirit of big q’s, ask yourself some of the questions Courtney answered, and tell us how you are working on purpose.

Making a difference is not an accidental career path, as implied in a front page article of yesterday’s The New York Times business section.