Career path of a Self-Employed Nonprofit Consultant and Freelance Project Manager
Manaf initially aspired to a career in the entertainment industry, majoring in theater arts and developing "transferrable skills" like communication and project management through theater production and internships. These skills proved highly valuable in their current roles as a nonprofit consultant and freelance project manager, where they leverage their ability to "present to clients" and "put together a cohesive project" honed from their theatrical background.
Project Management, Communication, Leadership, Career Exploration, Transferable Skills
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Manaf Mansure
Nonprofit Consultant and Freelance Project Manager
Self-Employed
University of California, Los Angeles
Harvard University, MEd in Organizations, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship
Fine Arts, Music
Education, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Manaf initially planned a career in the entertainment industry, demonstrating that career paths can be flexible.
2. His theater arts background unexpectedly provided transferable skills valuable in his current role as a nonprofit consultant and freelance project manager.
3. Strong organizational, planning, leadership, and communication skills, honed through theater and college experiences, are directly applicable to his current work.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
Absolutely. I initially thought I would be in the entertainment industry when I went to college. I had a background in theater and theater production, and I wanted to go to film school to become a producer.
I did end up going to theater school, majoring in theater arts. However, along the way, I learned about many transferable skills from theater that I could apply to other areas. Theater is a great space to hone public speaking and communication skills, including non-verbal communication.
As an aspiring producer, I had to rely on my organizational and planning skills. I learned how to provide direction to teams, which lent itself to the leadership and management aspects of my work today.
All of these skills proved beneficial in college, not just academically but also in clubs, organizations, and internships. I learned to see a thread connecting them and leverage these skills over time.
Today, I work as a nonprofit consultant and freelance project manager. These same skills are still relevant, whether presenting to clients, creating project plans, or discussing project execution to meet deadlines. It's a parallel to launching a show, focusing on telling a cohesive story or building a cohesive project from start to finish.