Kirsty sat down with Yii Petrus to talk about her transition into the not-for-profit sector. Following her recent conversation with Kate Wareham, she started thinking there might be a series in these stories, and the different pathways people take into purpose-led work.
But their conversation quickly became about much more than changing sectors.
They found ourselves talking about career breaks, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and learning that sometimes the biggest challenge isn’t changing careers – it’s backing yourself.
When I met with Yii, our conversation also started with some exciting news: “Did I tell you I’ve got a new job?”
Yii had recently accepted the role of Chief Executive of the Education Partnership & Innovation Trust (EPIT), bringing together her experience across business, philanthropy, health, education and partnerships in a role focused on creating better outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi across Aotearoa.
As we talked about the role, our conversation quickly turned to the experiences that had shaped her career along the way.
Yii had built a successful corporate career, intentionally stepped away from work for seven years to raise her three children, and then gone on to hold a number of leadership roles across the not-for-profit and philanthropic sectors.
Along the way, she found herself questioning whether she still had value to offer, challenging assumptions – including her own – about careers and purpose, and learning that readiness often looks very different from what we imagine.
Curiosity opened the door
Unlike some people who actively seek out purpose-led work, Yii’s move into the not-for-profit sector happened more organically.
After deciding to return to work, she came across an advertisement for a role at Parenting Place. On paper, she could see she had much of the practical experience they were looking for, but she didn’t have direct not-for-profit experience.
So, she did what many good leaders do when faced with something unfamiliar – she got curious!
“I started asking questions,” she told me.
She researched the sector, spoke with people who understood it, reached out to a recruiter she trusted, and eventually had a coffee with the then Chief Executive of Parenting Place.
One conversation led to another, and before long she found herself stepping into a sector she hadn’t previously considered. It’s a reminder that careers don’t always unfold according to a carefully mapped plan. Sometimes they’re shaped by curiosity and a willingness to explore something different.
You bring more with you than you realise
Looking back, Yii believes one of the reasons she stood out was that she brought the experience the organisation needed, while also being genuinely motivated by its purpose. For her, it was an opportunity to apply her skills in a different environment and contribute to a cause she cared about.
Years spent leading strategy, projects, marketing, partnerships, people and commercial decision-making all proved highly transferable.
“I knew a bit about a lot of things,” she said. “I’ve learned to pick up new information and adapt quickly.”
What she discovered was that her skills were transferable, and that the key isn’t replacing what you’ve learned, but learning how to apply it in a different context.
“I think most experiences and skills are transferable into the not-for-profit world. You need to change your approach to using them, or in other words, contextualise them to the organisation you’re working in.”
Backing yourself
One thing Yii told me she wishes she’d had when she was considering the move was hearing more stories from people who had already made the transition. In fact, that’s one of the reasons she was happy to share her own.
At the time, it wasn’t just the move into the not-for-profit sector that felt daunting. She was also returning to work after seven years at home raising her children and wasn’t entirely sure how her experience would be viewed.
Yii admits she worried that time away may have meant she needed to start over. More than that, she questioned whether the skills and experience she’d built earlier in her career were still valuable. Would employers value them the way she once had?
There were practical concerns too. Flexibility in the workplace wasn’t nearly as common then, and she worried about how employers might view her desire to be present for her family while continuing to build her career.
Interestingly, eight years after returning to the workforce, some of those same doubts resurfaced when she was considering applying for her new Chief Executive role.
“In some ways, when I was about to apply for my new role recently, similar feelings came up about my desire to be able to ask for that flexibility to balance my family and work life.”
Yet this time she approached it differently and reflected that “it was good to be able to be brave enough to ask for that up front.”
Listening to Yii talk about this made me realise how often we assume confidence comes with experience. Yet even after a successful corporate career, eight years in the not-for-profit and philanthropic sector, and ultimately securing a Chief Executive role, those doubts still crept in.
The difference wasn’t that she stopped questioning herself. It was that she didn’t let those questions stop her from putting herself forward.
I suspect many of us have wondered at some point whether we’re still enough – whether time away, a career change or a less traditional path has somehow diminished what we have to offer.
Yii’s story is a reminder that careers don’t have to be linear to lead somewhere meaningful.
Leave a Reply