ProInspire- Developing Your Career Narrative

1. Developing Your Career Narrative
Monisha Kapila, Founder and CEO
ProInspire
April 15, 2015
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2. About ProInspire
ProInspire is a nonprofit that
develops leaders at all levels for
organizations addressing the world’s
greatest challenges. Our key
programs include:
• ProInspire Fellowship
• Managing for Success
• Thought Leadership
ProInspire was named by the
Chronicle of Philanthropy as one of 7
Nonprofits to Watch in 2015.
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3. ProInspire Partners in DC & SF Bay Area

4. Why do you need a story?
Please submit your ideas in the chat box

5. “Coherent narratives hang together in ways that feel natural and
intuitive. A coherent life story is one that suggests what we all
want to believe of ourselves and those we help or hire – that our
lives are series of unfolding linked events that make sense.”
- From “What’s Your Story?” (HBR 2005)

6. Listeners wants to know…
• Do I trust this person?
• Does the story make
sense?
• Do I think he/she is likely
to be successful?

7. It’s okay if you don’t know what you
want to do 20 years from now
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8. Connect the dots
“You can't connect the dots looking
forward; you can only connect them
looking backwards. So you have to
trust that the dots will somehow
connect in your future.”
- Steve Jobs, 2005 Stanford
Commencement Speech

9. A transition story should have
5 key elements
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Clarity
Commitment
Connection
Credibility
Convincing
What do you want?
Why do you want this?
How does this relate to who you are?
Why should I believe you?
Why should I help/hire/admit you?

10. Clarity: What do you want?
Helpful Questions:
• What kind of projects
do you want to be
working on right now?
• What do you want to be
doing 1 year from now?
• What do you want to be
doing 5 years from
now?
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11. Commitment: Why do you want this?
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Helpful Questions:
• What is your
motivation?
• Why do you believe this
is the best way for you
to spend your time and
talent?

12. Connection: How does this relate to
who you are?
Helpful Questions:
• How does this connect to
the factors that shaped
you? Family, childhood, etc.
• Can you be vulnerable to
create an authentic
connection?
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13. Credibility: Why should I believe you?
Helpful Questions:
• What is your “sound bite”
resume?
• What are three things about
your work experience that
support your narrative?
• For networking – is there a
connection that can “vouch”
for you?
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14. Convincing: Why should I
help/hire/admit you?
Helpful Questions:
• What do you want them
to remember about
you?
• How can listeners help
you?
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15. Some Tips
• You should demonstrate your honesty,
humility & personality
• Be sure to regularly update your career
narrative
• You may have different variations of your
career narrative in a job search
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16. What do you look for when someone
seeks your advice?
Please submit your ideas in the chat box
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17. My story for MBA applications
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Clarity
Commitment
Connection
Credibility
Convincing
Lead an international org that helps countries identify their
competitive advantages for business and sustainable development.
Believe society can achieve sustainable change in poverty if we
create business opportunities and jobs in low income areas
Parents from India, my pattern of taking initiative to drive social
impact (recycling, Avon Walk, Volunteer Connection)
1 – ICIC – economic development in inner cities
2 – CARE – support micro-entrepreneurs
3 – Andersen – business fundamentals
Demonstrated leadership, passion, unique for-profit/nonprofit
perspective

18. Identify how you will share it
• With whom can
you share it?
• What are
upcoming
opportunities?
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19. Next Steps
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• Find a peer/friend to practice sharing your
career narrative TODAY
• Commit to sharing it with one of the people
you identified NEXT WEEK
• Revisit and revise your story NEXT MONTH

20. email: mkapila@proinspire.org
website: www.proinspire.org
twitter: @proinspire
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