31 October 2025
“Part of being a leader and senior in your industry, is passing on your knowledge to the next generation of leaders who can take up the baton and deepen your work” Panelist, Belisa Rodrigues
On 31 October, I had the privilege of joining the AL for Governance Community Call as a panelist. Speaking to a group of 40 vibrant young leaders, we explored a theme that is close to my heart: “Building a Career of Impact.”
The path to meaningful work in public service and policy is rarely a straight line. During our session, I shared the “inflection points” that defined my own journey – proving that a career in policy can be as diverse and exciting as any creative field.
Three Pillars of an Impactful Career
Reflecting on my experiences, I shared three key strategies that helped me navigate the governance landscape:
- The Power of Volunteering: Impact often starts with a “yes” to roles that prioritize experience over immediate gain. It is the fastest way to build skills and prove your commitment to a cause.
- Building a Pan-African Network: Whether through my work with Arterial Network (advocating for artists and activists) or my current role at the Innovation for Policy Foundation (i4Policy), I’ve learned that our collective strength lies in cross-border collaboration.
- Following the “North Star”: In a field as demanding as policy, your passion and purpose act as your compass. When you align your work with your values, “work” becomes a mission.
A New Narrative for Policy Careers
Many young leaders view policy as rigid or purely bureaucratic. However, my work as an Instructional Designer shows the opposite. By merging education, innovation, and advocacy, we are redefining what it means to be a “policy professional.”
The enthusiasm from the 40 young leaders on the call showed that the future of African governance is in capable, passionate hands.
The Takeaway: As long as you follow your passion and purpose, your career can be a canvas for genuine change.
More about the African Leadership Academy
African Leadership Academy seeks to transform Africa by developing a powerful network of young leaders who will work together to address Africa’s greatest challenges, achieve extraordinary social impact, and accelerate the continent’s growth trajectory.
AL for Governance is a network that aims to address Africa’s governance and development challenges by developing a new generation of ethical public leaders. The network facilitates diverse career pathways into the governance sector for young leaders, catalyzes connections between members, and fosters powerful intergenerational mentorship relationships to drive lasting change. It strengthens the professional development of its young network members by facilitating internship and job opportunities, promotes dialogue and inclusivity as key success factors to fostering a thriving culture of effective governance, and builds a community that collaborates between network members to solve complex public policy and governance challenges.
