“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, 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. 

“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.