Impactpool Career Podcast

In this episode we meet Rudy Perecin Mareño, Global Program Lead for Talent Discovery at the World Bank Group. With over 20 years of experience advancing global talent, careers, and workforce development across mission-driven organizations, including the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, and USAID-affiliated initiatives, Rudy shares practical insights into what it takes to bui...

What does it take to move the needle on diversity in a large international organisation? In this episode, we meet with Louise Carvalho, Diversity & Inclusion Programme Leader at CERN, to talk about 25 by '25, a five-year, organisation-wide diversity drive with a clear deadline and measurable targets. We discuss what worked, what didn't, and why the hardest part may still lie ahead: ensuring that d...

The Hidden Support System: How Governments Help You Land International Jobs Most international job seekers go it alone. But in many countries, government support for UN, EU, and multilateral careers exists, is free, and often completely unknown. In this episode, we meet with Anita Konijn, Dutch Ambassador and National Coordinator for International Positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, abou...

How does the Danish Refugee Council recruit for operations across 30+ countries, many in protracted conflict zones? Iosif Emmanouil Sofios, Recruitment Specialist at DRC, explains how to balance speed with safeguarding standards, what really matters beyond your CV, and why transferable skills from other sectors count more than you might think. Whether you're considering humanitarian work or curiou...

What does it really take to build a meaningful career in the UN system? Join us as Gerhard Tripp, Chief of Planning, Contracting and Reporting at UNOV, shares nearly three decades of experience spanning four continents. From breaking in through the Young Professionals Programme to navigating field assignments in challenging duty stations, Gerhard offers honest insights on career flexibility, strat...

Thinking about a career move? Before you accept that offer, there's one question you should be asking: What does onboarding look like here? In this episode, we meet with Meghan Parinussa, Director Customer Success at Appical about why onboarding isn't just something that happens TO you, it's a critical factor in YOUR success, job satisfaction, and decision to stay or leave. In this podcast you wil...

How does a year in an Ethiopian village at age 22 shape a career leading international climate finance? In this episode, Satu Santala, Managing Director of the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), shares her unplanned journey from NGO work through diplomacy and the World Bank Board to her current role. Discover what makes NDF unique in the climate finance landscape, how to build a meaningful career in d...

As the UN marks 80 years of service, Liliana Nieves shares what it really takes to build effective humanitarian teams. From recruiting during a cholera outbreak in South Sudan to achieving gender parity at UN headquarters, she reveals: ✅ Why emotional intelligence matters as much as technical skills ✅ How to tackle unconscious bias in hiring ✅ The direct link between strategic recruitment and m...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Yvonne Helle, former UNDP special representative and senior leader who climbed from entry-level P1 to D2 over 31 years in the UN system. In this candid interview, Yvonne shares her experiences navigating some of the world's most challenging contexts—Haiti, Sudan, Palestine, and Syria—while offering practical career advice for international development pr...

Think INTERPOL is just for cops chasing international criminals? Think again! Join us as we sit down with Danielle Garcia (Head of Talent Acquisition) and Magda Vigoureux (Assistant Director in Corporate Services) to reveal the surprising truth about careers at the world's largest international police organization. Discover how professionals from 138 nationalities contribute to global safety throu...

Ever wondered what it takes to reach the top at the OECD—the organization shaping global economic policy for 38 countries? Meet Daniel Fuster, Head of Human Resources at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, who transformed from a questioning young lawyer in Costa Rica to leading talent strategy at one of the world's most influential international bodies. Discover how the OECD...

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Amsterdam-based philosopher Karim Benammar, who's challenging the very foundations of how we recruit and think about talent. In this episode, Karim shares his radical ideas about hiring – from why you should consider candidates who 'hate' your company to why university degrees might be completely irrelevant. Drawing on his international background,...

Ready to make a real impact? Join Mohini Ghai-Kramer, Head of Learning and Development at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as she reveals what it really takes to break into humanitarian work. Discover the two distinct career pathways at ICRC - the specialist route for experts and the unique generalist path developed in-house. Learn about essential skills like intercultural comp...

Join Satomi Ogata, founder of Beyond Bias and late-diagnosed neurodivergent HR professional, as she shares 15 years of insights from international organizations. Discover why traditional DEI approaches often fail neurodivergent talent, learn practical strategies for creating truly inclusive workplaces, and get game-changing interview questions to evaluate potential employers. From Singapore to UN...

Join Fiona Brazil, Head of HR at the European Southern Observatory, for insights into careers building the world's most powerful telescopes. From 8-day shifts in Chile's Atacama Desert to engineering the "Extremely Large Telescope," discover what it's really like working for an organization that pushes the boundaries of human knowledge. Fiona shares practical advice on breaking into international...

When WHO economist Tania Cernuschi couldn't sleep through her children's coughing in January 2025, she had an audacious idea: what if one billion people each donated just one dollar to support global health? Within days of launching the One World Movement, it was raising $10,000 daily and has now generated over $500,000 from 10,000+ supporters. In this episode, Tania and WHO Foundation's Sandra So...

After 20 years at the United Nations, Amar Bokhari took a leap of faith to revitalize his family's textile business in Pakistan. In this episode, discover how he transformed a traditional rug company into a thriving social enterprise that employs 450 people, provides free education to 1,000 children, and operates on 100% solar power. Amar shares his unique perspective as a Norwegian-Pakistani entr...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Christel Adamou, HR Director at the OPEC Fund for International Development. Discover what makes this Vienna-based multilateral development bank unique, from its diverse workforce to its focus on impactful projects fighting poverty worldwide. Christel shares valuable career advice from her 20 years in international development, discusses entry pathways i...

In this episode of the Impactpool podcast series, we meet with Ines Olano, Chief of Talent Management at the Inter-American Development Bank. With 30 years of global experience at companies like Unilever, Bayer, and Honeywell, Ines shares insights on cross-cultural leadership, women's development initiatives, and her transition from corporate to development sectors. Learn about practical strategie...

In this Impactpool podcast, we sit down with Sarah Clapham, Science Policy Officer at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Sarah shares her remarkable journey from chemistry researcher to international policy expert while offering valuable insights into navigating STEM fields as both a woman and a neurodivergent professional. Discover how Sarah's neurodivergent perspect...

In this episode we meet with Scott Fitzgerald, Head of Talent Acquisition at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. We speak about how this multilateral organization is powering sustainable infrastructure across Asia, from renewable energy in Kazakhstan to satellite connectivity in Indonesia. Scott shares insights from his journey from rural Canada to Beijing, offers practical advice on interna...

In this inspiring Impactpool Podcast, Eugenia Olliaro shares her remarkable career path from working in the service industry to becoming the Manager of Data Governance at UNICEF. Music by Merlijn Angad Gaur / Musical Minutes Eugenia speaks about how her experiences across nearly ten countries shaped her perspective, from her early work with migrant communities to her roles as a UN Volunteer in Taj...

What does it take to build a career advancing sustainable development across cultures and continents? Hear Jean-Luc Marcelin, Talent Acquisition and Partnership Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) share his journey in international development and valuable insights for aspiring UN professionals! Music by Merlijn Angad Gaur / Musical Minutes

From military service to managing global talent - in this episode, we meet with Micheal Conneely, Director of Human Resources Management at UNIDO. Micheal shares his fresh perspectives on how traditional career paths are evolving in international organizations; how to ensure promoting diversity and inclusion in a global workforce; the role of AI and automation in transforming HR practices and the...

In this episode, intern Emma Nijssen takes us behind the scenes at the Green Climate Fund (GCF), sharing insights from her roles in accreditation and investment operations. From navigating project partnerships to discovering unexpected career opportunities, Emma discusses what it really takes to join this unique climate finance institution and make the most of the experience. Music by Merlijn Anga...