Pros
You’ll become a master of navigating ambiguity and changes, not because the work is complex, but because the guidance isn’t there. Unlimited learning opportunities, especially in patience, resilience, and how to self-manage when leadership is on an extended sabbatical (mentally). Colleagues are the best; they are intelligent, supportive, and often united in shared disbelief. The mission looks great on slides. And tote bags and notebooks. Fantastic prep if you ever want to work for the UN or in politics, or survive it.
Cons
Leadership philosophy seems to be: 'We support the mission. People? Optional.' Strategic priorities change faster than the seasons, and usually by Monday. Burnout is common, but don’t worry - you can use your generous annual leave to recover from the job you’ll return to. Performance reviews have been “under review” for so long, they might qualify for heritage status. Management presence is mostly symbolic. Decisions are made, then unmade, then handed off to someone who just joined. You’ll hear a lot about impact, values, and transformation. Just not in your day-to-day work.
