After months of turmoil in the international development sector—driven by shifting funding priorities and waning political will—many professionals are grappling with uncertainty. As job opportunities shrink and career transitions seem increasingly overwhelming, the need for structured guidance and community support has never been greater. To meet this moment, the Society for International Development (SID-US) hosted a special in-person event, Designing Your Life: Navigating Career Transitions with Purpose, on July 10, 2025.
This dynamic three-hour workshop was tailored for professionals at all stages of their career in global development. It provided tools for reimagining career trajectories, navigating new paths forward, and regaining confidence during difficult times. But at its core, the event championed one central idea: learning to find a new path during uncertain times.
The event was led by Susan Riker, a Georgetown-trained Leadership Coach certified in the Designing Your Life Program based on the best-selling book of the same name. An experienced career strategist, Riker’s workshop invited participants to approach life and work challenges through the lens of design thinking—a creative, non-linear, and human-centered problem-solving method.
Riker, whose international background spans finance, media, coaching, and leadership development, guided attendees through five interactive exercises that formed the heart of the session:
- Life Dashboard – Assessing satisfaction across four key life areas: Health, Work, Relationships, and Play – an important starting point
- Building a Compass – Reflecting on core values around life and work to find alignment as a foundation for career exploration and transition
- Activity Journal – Identifying energy-giving and draining daily activities to understand when we are truly engaged and “in flow”
- Mind Mapping – Identifying new possible directions forward by generating new ideas from one central energizing activity
- Odyssey Plans – Visualizing three possible five-year futures, based on all the previous exercises, including bold and unconventional paths
Key Takeaways:
- Prototyping: Instead of waiting for certainty, test ideas in small, low-risk ways to uncover new directions and test your assumptions
- Reframing Limiting Beliefs: Replace “It’s too late to change careers” with “It’s never too late to design a life you love.”
- Adopting a Designer's Mindset: Embrace Curiosity, Collaboration, Action, and Resilience.
- Building a Life Design Team: Surround yourself with 3–5 trusted allies—friends, mentors, or colleagues—to support your journey and offer honest feedback.
The session concluded with a networking reception and a powerful reminder: your next step doesn’t have to be perfect—just purposeful. Anyone interested in learning more about navigating career transitions and the Designing Your Life program can reach out to Susan Riker.
Aim for purpose, not perfection!