From an outsider’s perspective, working at the United Nations or international organizations may seem prestigious and impactful. However, after years within these institutions, some begin to question: Is this work truly as meaningful as they once imagined? When ideals clash with reality, how does one make a choice?
In this episode of the Fem Renaissance Podcast, I wanted to explore this idea through the lens of my career at the UN—how these moments manifest and how we navigate them. So, I sat down for a discussion with Margaret Akullo, one of the former senior UN officials who made the bold and courageous decision of early retirement, voluntarily leaving the UN to pursue a path that truly aligns with their values.
Such decisions never come lightly, and sharing the internal struggles behind them is even harder. I’m deeply inspired and honored to have Margaret as my guest on the Fem Renaissance Podcast as she opens up about the vulnerabilities of transition and the wisdom she’s gained in shifting from leadership tied to authority and institutional power to leadership driven by impact and purpose.
Margaret’s journey is not just about career transition; it’s about redefining leadership. After stepping away from a system built on authority and bureaucracy whose constraints no longer aligned with her mission for meaningful change, how does she continue to drive change through influence rather than position? When reality fails to uphold ideals, how should we respond? When an institution’s culture and decision-making no longer align with personal convictions, what path should we take?
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