What Type Of Person Thrives In Humanitarian Work, According To A Supply Chain Coordinator At International Rescue Committee
Dustin suggests that while many are drawn to humanitarian work out of compassion and a desire for meaning, those who "persist" possess pragmatism, resilience, and adaptability to setbacks, and the individuals who "thrive long term" combine these qualities with strategic thinking and the ability to inspire others towards a shared vision for real-world impact, highlighting a necessary blend of idealism and practicality for sustained success in the field. To thrive long-term, inspirational qualities are needed "so that you can motivate other people to rally around a, a shared vision in a way that will have real world impact."
Resilience, Adaptability, Strategic Thinking, Compassion, Motivation
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Dustin Weil
Supply Chain Coordinator
International Rescue Committee
University of Minnesota
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Humanities
Manufacturing, Operations & Supply Chain, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. People drawn to nonprofit work often yearn for meaning and purpose, desiring to make a positive impact.
2. To persist in the humanitarian sector, individuals need to be pragmatic, resilient, and adaptable to change.
3. Those who thrive long-term in humanitarian work are strategic-minded, focused on results, and inspirational, motivating others towards a shared vision.
Transcript
How would you describe how people typically thrive in this industry?
Humanitarian work and work in the nonprofit sector generally is difficult. I think the people who thrive in this industry are not necessarily always the people who gravitate toward it in the first place.
People are drawn to nonprofit and humanitarian work because they yearn for meaning and purpose. They really want to make a good impact in the world. So, at entry-level positions, we often have many compassionate, wise, and unselfish people who are committed to what they believe is a just cause.
Those are all admirable qualities. However, the people who persist and survive in the humanitarian sector are pragmatic, resilient, and adaptable to change. They can roll with the punches, get up, and keep going. There's not always a lot of overlap between those two groups.
I know so many good people who feel called to humanitarian work and then just burn out. It happens a lot.
The people who truly thrive long-term in humanitarian work have a different core set of attributes. They tend to be very big-picture, long-term, strategic-minded individuals who focus on results.
There's no logic that says you cannot belong in all three groups. But at every level, many people get weeded out. To be compelled to do this work, you need compassion and a strong sense of conscience.
To stick around, you need to be resilient and able to deal with setbacks. And to thrive long-term, you also have to be, for lack of a better word, inspirational. This allows you to motivate others to rally around a shared vision that will have real-world impact.