How to Turn Your Passion into a Career in Development?

Was it when I led community initiatives in my hometown in Peru? 

Was it when I first learned about climate justice and realized it was not just about science, but about people as well? 

Was it when I saw how invisible Indigenous voices were in policy spaces and decided I wanted to help change that? 

In truth, it was all of those moments. Because a career in development does not start with a job posting, it starts with a sense of purpose. 

The field of “development” is vast. It can mean international cooperation, humanitarian aid, climate justice, social entrepreneurship, public health, education, human rights, infrastructure, gender equity, and so much more. It touches nearly every aspect of how societies grow, adapt, and care for their people and ecosystems. That is why it is so important to pause and reflect: What issues break your heart or spark your fire? Who do you want to work with or for? Do you see yourself influencing policy, working directly with communities, managing projects, or innovating from within institutions? These questions won’t always have immediate answers, but asking them helps you understand your “why.” 

Your passion becomes a path only when you give it direction. Your degree gives you tools, but do not let your major define or limit you. I study Water and Environmental Engineering, yet my thesis explores Indigenous climate governance and knowledge systems. I have worked on social inclusion, Indigenous rights, and sustainability, not because they were part of the course syllabus, but because I made intentional choices to center them in my learning. You are allowed to make your academic experience your own.  

Seek out ways to connect your studies to what matters to you. Choose research questions that align with your values. Take courses or minors that challenge you to think differently. Collaborate with professors, mentors, or peers whose work excites you. Development is not just about theories on paper; it is about people, power, relationships, and responsibility, and that cannot be learned by coursework alone. 

My journey to the World Bank did not begin with an application; it began years earlier with grassroots organizing, participation in regional dialogues, and showing up for causes I believed in, even when no one was watching. I have navigated systems as both a beneficiary and a contributor, an outsider and now, gradually, an insider. Every small experience adds up. Never underestimate the value of volunteering, speaking up in class, or writing that one extra email. Passion shows, and people notice. 

Still, let’s be honest, the development field can feel overwhelming and sometimes exclusionary. It is not always easy to find your way in, especially if you come from historically underrepresented backgrounds. That is why mentorship is crucial. Finding mentors who share your values or your lived experience can open doors you did not even know existed. They can help you not only navigate professional systems but also remain grounded in your purpose along the way.