In partnership with
Apply for the Rotary Peace Fellowship (sponsored post)
Rotary awards up to 170 funded fellowships a year for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of our eight peace centers.
How 2M+ Professionals Stay Ahead on AI
AI is moving fast and most people are falling behind.
The Rundown AI is a free newsletter that keeps you ahead of the curve.
It's a free AI newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the latest AI news, and teaches you how to apply it in just 5 minutes a day.
Plus, complete the quiz after signing up and they’ll recommend the best AI tools, guides, and courses — tailored to your needs.
Tired of news that feels like noise?
Every day, 4.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news fix. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture — all in a brief 5-minute email. No spin. No slant. Just clarity.
Why Impact Careers Need Purpose-Driven Relationships (Not Just More Networking)
I’ve had great conversations at conferences and in coffee shops.
I’ve also had equally good ones walking outside with just my phone.
This post came together in a very 2026 way: WhatsApp messages and an actual phone call with Boardy — an AI connector I talk to like a real contact.
It reflects what’s been at the center of my work for years:
When purpose and curiosity come first, the right people tend to show up.
And the right people lead to better opportunities.
Not instantly.
Not magically.
But in ways that compound over time.
Impact careers are meaningful — and they’re hard
In PCDN office hours, the full spectrum shows up every week.
People job searching for months.
Others moving into second or third interviews.
Some rethinking sectors, roles, or what “impact” even means.
What helps most isn’t more networking.
It’s purpose-driven relationships — where people actually show up for each other — not transactional connections that disappear after one coffee.
Three habits that consistently work
Lead with purpose, not transactions
In impact work, people can sense pure self-interest fast.
What lands is clarity about why you care.
What are you trying to build, fix, learn, or contribute?
Starting there makes conversations real much faster.
Treat curiosity like a skill
The best connectors aren’t the loudest.
They ask better questions, like:
What’s the part of your work nobody sees?
What are you trying to do this year that’s hard to say out loud?
Make helping easy and specific
“Let me know how I can help” is kind — but vague.
What works better is offering one small, concrete thing:
I can introduce you to two people in this space — want that?
If you send a one-sentence ask, I’ll share it.
Small, repeatable help adds up.
Where LinkedIn fits (and where it doesn’t)
LinkedIn is still valuable.
Jobs, learning, real connections — all of that still happens there.
It’s also increasingly overwhelming: too much marketing, AI spam, and low-quality ads.
Real relationships still run on trust and context.
Tools like Boardy can help with this — making thoughtful connections, generating ideas, even drafting content on the go:
So can local, grounded communities.
In Medellín, there’s a growing impact community that shares, meets up, and helps each other in very real ways.
For a deeper conversation, there’s also a Social Change Career Podcast episode with Boardy:
If you’re building an impact career
PCDN Job Board
900–1200+ impact roles, updated daily
PCDN Career Campus
Courses, office hours, and community for impact careers
Social Impact News & Resources
😄 Joke of the Day
I told my to-do list we’re building a better world today.
It immediately added:
“fix capitalism,”
“reverse climate change,”
and “answer emails” — in that order of difficulty.
🌐 News
The New Humanitarian looks at the “global gag dilemma” facing aid organizations, as groups navigate the reinstated Mexico City Policy while responding to earthquakes, sexual violence, and frontline crises.
In a timely opinion piece, The New Humanitarian lays out ten ways to build a new narrative for humanitarianism — challenging old assumptions and asking what aid should look like in a world marked by impunity and fatigue.
💼 Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
EdTech.com Job Board
A large, active job board focused on education technology roles — from product and engineering to learning design, research, and impact-focused education organizations.
🎧 Podcast to Check Out
The Edtech Podcast – Bett UK 2026
A strong conversation on inclusion, real-world school realities, and what practical edtech looks like beyond hype. Topics include SEND support, ethical uses of AI in creativity, and smarter systems for diverse learners.
🔗 LinkedIn Profile to Follow
Stephanie Arrowsmith
Jakarta-based ecosystem builder and co-founder of Impact Hub Jakarta, working across Asia-Pacific to support social entrepreneurs and impact-driven innovation.
Social Impact Opportunities