United Nations Career Journey Podcast

“I came to realize that international careers require more emotional intelligence than technical skills. Listening is in fact a strategic tool in itself.” Hear from seasoned colleague Miguel Aju, Special Assistant to the Head of Mission at MINUSCA, the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic. He shares about the importance of relationships and communication in UN work, having served in Sudan, East Timor, Kenya, Somalia, Haiti, Micronesia and the United States. From childhood days in an Angolan seminary to recovering his phone from the Pacific Ocean in Micronesia, Miguel has many memorable stories to tell! Don’t miss this engaging episode! Read the full transcript here.

« [Un] conseil, ce serait vraiment d'oser sortir de sa zone de confort. Il ne faut pas avoir peur d'aller vers des domaines où on n'a pas forcément l'expérience. Il faut être volontaire pour des missions de l'organisation dont les autres ne s'y intéressent pas, parce que c'est en relevant des défis pareils qu'on se démarque et qu'on peut également progresser le plus. » Dans cet épisode, nous avons le plaisir d’entendre Serges Roberteau Tchoffo, spécialiste régional des programmes pour le hub régional de l’Afrique centrale et de l’Ouest, basé à Dakar. Serges partage son parcours et ses nombreuses expériences dans des ONG de gouvernance des ressources naturelles et de conservation de la nature. Il revient sur les facteurs clés de sa progression et explique comment le mentorat l’a aidé à se sentir confiant, apprendre de ses pair(e)s et avancer dans sa carrière. Serges évoque également les défis qu’il a rencontré lors de sa transition professionnelle d’un rôle technique vers un rôle plus stratégique de spécialiste régional de programmes. Ecoutez l’épisode complet et retrouvez la transcription ici.

“Your career doesn’t need to be linear to be meaningful. Every experience—no matter how different—can become a building block toward the leader you are becoming.” Hear from Ia Dadunashvili, a UN professional whose non-linear career spans gender equality, human rights, governance, and crisis‑response roles across multiple UN agencies and international organizations. Ia Dadunashvili is the Project Manager for the UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality at UNDP Georgia. Her journey includes work with the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), ILO (International Labor Organization), UNODC (United Nations on Drugs and Crime), IOM (International Organization for Migration) and UN missions in Kosovo—experiences that shaped her unique ability to bridge policy and practice while leading teams through complex reform and crisis environments. If you're exploring a UN career in governance, human rights, or crisis‑affected contexts, tune in to learn how has Ia done it. You can read the script here. Don’t miss this conversation!

“Do not be picky about the place where you would like to serve the UN. The closer you are to the issues you're trying to solve, the more interesting it will be.” Hear from Jonathan Lorrillard, a veteran in UN peacekeeping operations. Currently based in the DRC, he has also served in Somalia, Central African Republic, Mali and Libya. If you are considering a job in UN peace operations, tune in now! Learn about his interesting work in brokering peace while raising his young children far from home. You can read the script here. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation!

“The UN has never been more called into question, but it has never been more essential.” John has years of experience with UNRWA in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza, where he worked for a period during the recent conflict. Hear about the extreme challenges he and colleagues faced and how he coped day to day. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with a committed and passionate leader! You can read the transcript here.

Dans cet épisode inspirant du United Nations Career Journey Podcast, nous rencontrons Lolita Iranezereza, biologiste moléculaire à la Clinique des Nations Unies à Bujumbura, au Burundi. Découvrez comment Lolita a transformé son parcours — depuis la gestion de son diabète de type 1 dès l’enfance jusqu’à ses études en biologie moléculaire au Canada — en une carrière marquante au service de la santé publique. Elle nous raconte notamment comment elle a contribué à mettre en place une unité de biologie moléculaire durant la pandémie de COVID-19, équipant des laboratoires de A à Z, formant des équipes et répondant à une urgence sanitaire avec rigueur, résilience et leadership. Tout au long de la conversation, Lolita partage ses réflexions sur les défis d’une carrière scientifique en contexte contraint, l’importance de l’innovation et de l’écoute — et donne des conseils précieux à tous ceux qui aspirent à faire une différence dans les métiers de la santé. Ecoutez l'épisode complet et retrouvez la transcription ici.

“I would say to not compromise your vision. because you willget to see it through. You will seek and you'll find a lot of people to thank along the way, so make sure you give plenty of people reasons to be thankful.” Hear from Omar Jagne, Innovation Digital PartnershipsSpecialist for UNDP in New York, whose career journey blends innovation, digital transformation, and ecosystem building. From Accelerator Labs to AI and digital giving, Omar shares how intentional pivots, mentorship, and curiosity shapedhis path across countries, portfolios, and emerging technologies. Honest, reflective, and inspiring, this conversation offers powerful insights on navigating UN careers, embracing change, and creating impact at scale. Don’t miss this thoughtful and energizing episode! Read the full transcript here.

“I started following the Arab Spring to work on youth, whichspilled over to migration, older persons…then abruptly to women, peace, andsecurity...I see my career as layers upon layers of a fantastic cake.” Hear from Raidan, who has contagious enthusiasm about hisnew role in disaster risk reduction and about UN career pivots. He has movedacross Europe and the Middle East as he grew his expertise. He makes the rideeasy and fascinating but acknowledges the pain points. Don’t miss somegreat career perspectives from this passionate colleague! Read the transcript on here.

"Do not let your mobility challenges define or limit you. Embrace your strengths, work toward your goals, and persist. Networking and continuous learning will open doors and empower you to adapt." Meet Consolata Karani, the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Resident Representatives - Programme and Operations at UNDP Kenya. From her early career in media and film production to her current role, Consolata has been a champion for inclusivity and accessibility in the workplace. As a Person with Physical Disability, she shares her experiences navigating challenges, advocating for inclusive practices, and fostering collaboration. Tune in to hear her inspiring story and practical advice for building resilience and succeeding against the odds.

“It is a key to unlocking deeper insights into people, their traditions, their perspectives, because it helps you to look at similarities between cultures while too often we focus on the differences.” From her early internship days to her current role as a Results and Reporting Specialist at UNDP in New York, Alessandra Muto, offers invaluable insights into building a career within the UN. She delves into the power of language, the importance of cultural connections, and the unique dynamics of HQ, regional, and field work. Tune in for an engaging conversation packed with inspiration and practical guidance drawn from Alessandra's extensive professional journey. Read the full transcript here.

“I would show up sleep deprived and I would know that everyone else was sleep deprived and we would just get on with it. One of the greatest lessons I learned from Ukraine was this sense of resilience.” Katalin Downing shares about the extreme stressors of working in a conflict zone – and the deep fulfilment that came with it. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with a multi-faceted UN colleague who juggles her full-time job with university lecturing and has a family story that led her to the United Nations. Tune in today! Read the transcript here.

Maria Chepurina-Deswel, External Relations Officer, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, New York “It’s a little bit like working in a startup mode where every week, every month, there is a new project with new objectives, new priorities.” Maria shares about her once-in-a-lifetime role in building partnerships for the United Nations to drive its agenda and values. Also hear her insider’s perspective on one of the most high-profile offices in the United Nations System. Tune in today! Read the full transcript here!

“Life sometimes has a way of pulling a 180-degree maneuver on you. After years of flying [in the Serbian military], I realized that my purpose could be even bigger than the cockpit.” Hear from Slavisa Vidakovic, a UN aviation expert in field missions who now oversees hundreds of operations staff at the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq. He has seen plenty of violence and destruction – and it has only solidified his belief in the United Nations. Need some positivity and wisdom? Tune in now! Read the full transcript here.

"Evaluation was not a career option when I started; there were no courses, no guidance. I had to teach myself. But today, evaluation is key—not just for accountability, but for learning. It’s about showing what works, what doesn’t, and why.” Meet Ana Rosa Soares, Senior Strategic Advisor and Strategic Plan Chief Evaluator at the Independent Evaluation Office, UNDP. With nearly two decades at the UNDP, Ana Rosa has navigated the challenges of cultural biases, carved a path as a minority woman in leadership, and developed groundbreaking evaluation methodologies. From her early days in monitoring and development to evaluating UNDP's Strategic Plans, Ana Rosa shares insights on resilience, the importance of adaptability, and how evaluation drives impactful change. Read the full transcript here.

“The experience of being in the Congo – an amazing country - remains the most amazing professional experience of my life. I was responsible for tasking 105 aircraft on a daily basis for about nine months and I've never had anything more intense in that sense in my life.” Hear from Stephen McOwan, who has served at UN peacekeeping missions across Africa and Asia, and now supports them from New York headquarters. A natural storyteller, Stephen shares some of his most memorable UN experiences and about his deep pride in the UN’s purpose. Considering a job in the field? Tune in now! Read the full transcript here.

"The UN targets to achieve about 18% of persons with disability employment. It’s so sad. Most of our brothers and sisters with disabilities, they don’t apply. [...] Always try to remember opportunities are not given, they are grabbed. If you don’t grab that opportunity, then we’ll be lost... Just show your ability and remove the dis in your ability." Meet Ashura Michael, Talent Development and Inclusion Associate at UNDP Kenya. Prior to her role in the UN, Ashura practiced law, was a social justice activist, worked with a variety of disability associations, as well as the government of Kenya. Ashura's fascinating career journey leads us to now, where she continues to advocate for social justice and disability inclusion. Read the full transcript here. Find the video to this episode here.

"I am humbled and grateful to have had the support of my family and the cooperation of my colleagues, who played a crucial role in helping me navigate and overcome such challenges. Ultimately, these experiences have taught me that while challenges are inevitable, they also bring growth and new opportunities. Embracing change and maintaining a positive outlook has been key to overcoming the obstacles along my career path." Meet Syed-Ali Raza, Management Analyst of BMS, Office of Human Resources at UNDP Copenhagen. Prior to his role in UN, he worked with local NGOs in his hometown of Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. After some time working back home, in 2013 he moved on to his first job with the UN in the Islamabad country office as an internal auditor. After relocating to Fiji, and now Copenhagen, Ali reflects on his support systems and provides advice on how listeners can stay on top of this competitive job market. Listen to the full episode and find the transcript here.

“I had an opportunity for a promotion in New York, but I said to myself, it will be even harder to leave later. So we packed up and moved to Bangkok. That was eight years ago. We never looked back and it has been a fascinating experience.” Meet Milica Markovic, a seasoned HR professional at the UN Secretariat who is based in Thailand with her young family. As Regional HR Focal Point for the Development Coordination Office, she supports Resident Coordinators and their teams across three continents. Before that she had trailblazing roles in creating a flagship mentoring programme and in using AI to speed HR processes. She also shares about navigating laterally and upwards in our large organization. Tune in and gain some inspiration! Listen to the full episode and find the transcript here.

“The organisation has changed quite a bit in terms of its digital transformation.[..] And what is interesting about it is that, digital transformation never ends. Technology continuously develops. And that's true for any organisation and every human being in a way. We always have to learn new skills” Tune in to hear from Dhani Spiller, Head of the Digital Capacity Building, in the Chief Digital Office at UNDP as he shares his insights and experience in driving digital transformation within the organization. Dhani discusses how digital innovation has become pivotal in shaping the organization’s evolution, and highlights the impactful work led by the Chief Digital Office in this important area. He reflects on the complexities of bringing change and innovation in such big organizations, emphasizing that while the results may not always be immediate or global, focusing on the people around you—your team and colleagues—can lead to meaningful impact, and, as in a mathematical logic, gradually expand and multiplies into a larger scale. Finally, the importance of breaking silos, fostering collaboration, and creating a “place of learning and knowledge” within the organization to drive innovation and positive change, are points discussed by Dhani in this episode. Listen to the full episode and read the transcript here.

Nous avons le plaisir d'entendre Amélie -Yann Gouiffès, experte en réduction des risques de catastrophe et en relèvement post-crise. Amélie partage son parcours de plus de 26 ans dans l'humanitaire et le développement, avec une quinzaine d'années de missions pour les Nations Unies. Elle explique comment elle a débuté sa carrière aux Nations Unies par un concours de circonstances, en commençant par le PNUD (Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement) en Inde lors d'inondations massives. Elle est ensuite devenue experte en relèvement post-crise et en réduction des risques de catastrophe, un domaine qu'elle a vu évoluer au fil du temps. Amélie souligne l'importance de comprendre son « pourquoi » afin de rester motivée et de persévérer dans un domaine aussi exigeant. Elle insiste sur l'importance du développement personnel et de la santé mentale, partageant ses propres pratiques de soins personnels pour se ressourcer après des missions intenses. Enfin, elle aborde le concept de « nexus », qui vise à mieux harmoniser le travail humanitaire et le travail de développement, et parle de son rôle actuel en tant que consultante auprès du Bureau de crise du PNUD. Ecoutez l'épisode complet et retrouvez la transcription ici.