“The UN has never been more called into question, but it has never been more essential.”

John Whyte is the Acting Senior Deputy Director at UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Dublin.

He 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 Partnerships Specialist for United Nations Development Programme 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 shaped his 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, which spilled over to migration, older persons…then abruptly to women, peace, and security...I see my career as layers upon layers of a fantastic cake.”

Hear from Raidan Alsaqqaf, who has contagious enthusiasm about his new role in disaster risk reduction and about UN career pivots.

Raidan is the Deputy Chief, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Regional Office for Arab States in Cairo.

He has moved across Europe and the Middle East as he grew his expertise. He makes the ride easy and fascinating but acknowledges the pain points.  Don’t miss some great 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 a 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 is the Administrative Officer at the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in Kyiv, Ukraine. She 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 Chepurina-Deswel is the External Relations Officer at the Executive Office of the Secretary-General in New York. She 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.” 

Slavisa Vidakovic is the Chief, Supply Chain Management and Service Delivery at UNAMI (United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq) in Baghdad. He is 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.