Taking the leap: Is consulting right for you?

Justin leads Devex’s careers content strategy, which aims to inform and inspire those seeking purpose-driven work. He spent over 12 years as a cross-platform journalist with the New York Times, specializing in digital strategy and audience development while producing written and multimedia content on a range of topics, including travel, sports, and technology. Most recently, he was the editor of Springwise, covering sustainable and disruptive innovation across all business sectors.

Susanne Barsoum is Keylime’s proposal guru, technical writing specialist, and recognized leader in business development. She has spent her 17-year international development career leading business development teams. During her 13 years at Chemonics International, Susanne spent seven years as director of business development for the Middle East and North Africa division and held field positions in Haiti, Jordan, and Nigeria. She has led dozens of successful proposal teams and written scores of winning technical proposals, which combined have helped organizations secure more than a billion dollars of development funds. Susanne has trained and mentored professionals with her signature style that embraces creativity, discipline, and focus to produce beautiful and competitive proposals.

John is a registered psychiatric nurse and a mental health officer with the International Rescue Committee, working at the Dadaab Refugee Camp. He has worked in the mental health field for over 29 years, both for Kenya’s Ministry of Health and the IRC. Presently in charge of mental health services at the Hagadera and Kambioos refugee camps, he carries out consultations and other services for patients with mental health disorders.

Dubravka is the Chief of the Psychosocial Wellbeing Section at UNHCR, where she is responsible for developing, facilitating, and coordinating psychosocial services to colleagues worldwide. Under her leadership, the psychosocial support unit has expanded its portfolio of forward-looking programs designed to address a wide range of psychosocial challenges for the UNHCR workforce. The Section works in close collaboration with other staff support services, including medical services and human resources. Dubravka leads a global team of 19 mental health professionals – based mostly in the field – who deliver psychosocial support and interventions to individuals and teams and at the managerial and policy levels. She is one of the founding members of the UN Staff/Stress Counsellors Group (UNSSCG), serving at its Steering Committee. She is also a member of the Critical Incident Stress Working Group and collaborates with expert groups outside the UN. Dubravka holds advanced degrees in psychology and counseling and has 25 years of experience in staff counseling across the UN system.