In Denmark, I realized that half of the battle was skill-transitioning, and half was culture navigation. I’d never seen any work culture like this, so I had to dive in, because it had an impact on my success in the job market.
A new world opens up
Matthew was able to ease into life in Denmark — he was on parental leave when he got here, and then he was enrolled part-time at Oxford University — but eventually the time came to start working. Matthew’s goal when he set out was clear: leave aid sector and find a job in the private sector. His first step, however, was to start with what he knew.
“I started in my comfort zone and found work with two Danish NGOs. From there I had a good foundation to know Danish work culture to position for a corporate shift. I was promoted to an Executive Role which gave me more C-level exposure (boards, strategic planning, Danish stakeholder navigation), though ultimately, it only convinced me that global change was with the Corporates.”
“In Denmark, I realized that half of the battle was skill-transitioning, and half was culture navigation. I’d never seen any work culture like this, so I had to dive in, because it had an impact on my success in the job market.”