Where are they now? One year after On Purpose with Rachel Situmorang

Can you tell us about your background and your career prior to On Purpose?

I’m originally from Indonesia and before moving to the UK and joining the Associate Programme, I worked as an energy and natural resources lawyer in Indonesia.

Being a lawyer was a formative experience, it trained me to think critically, assess and manage risk, and approach problems with contextual nuance. I learned how to manage diverse stakeholders and have a learner's mindset as I worked under pressure - skills that continued to serve me well across sectors and are absolutely transferable.

But over time I became uncomfortable with how much capital was injected into the energy and natural resources sector, particularly oil, gas and mining. Meanwhile other sectors such as agriculture or Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) stayed very much underfunded. I wanted to understand how finance flowed, and shape it towards more purpose driven initiatives that would help people and planet.

This realisation led me to move to the UK and join SOAS University in London to do a Masters in Law in Sustainable Development and Climate Policy - a pivotal moment for me. It was as if a pandora box had opened. I realised that there were so many more issues I could help solve, jobs out there that I could do, and to do good with my transferable skills.

Why did you join the On Purpose Associate Programme?

After moving to the UK from Indonesia, I had a number of interesting contract roles, such as an organised crime research project with the University of Glasgow or working on Legal Strategy & Sustainability at BP. These were valuable learning experiences, but I realised they didn’t fully reflect my aspiration or offer the kind of purpose I was seeking. I wanted to move away from the comfort box of the legal/corporate world and was looking for a structured and value aligned transition into the impact space.

The Associate Programme really appealed to me as it wasn't just about changing careers. Naturally the placements would be invaluable as they offered real world experience in values led organisations. But the Programme was also about development outside of a job. It would give me space to explore different impact models and challenge myself to think more systemically.

It's been one year since you completed the Associate Programme. What are you doing now?

I am now an Investment Associate at the Stone Family Foundation, a philanthropic foundation and impact investor.

The Foundation finances and supports water supply projects in low-income and climate vulnerable regions. As an Investment Associate I sit at the intersection of climate adaptation and inclusive finance, which is very energising.

I help design programmes, carry out due diligence on investment opportunities, and explore blended finance options - which links back to the systemic questions around finance and money flows I was so interested in even before joining the Associate Programme.

Can you tell us more about your placements?

My first placement was at the B Team, a fantastic global non-profit working on new norms of corporate leadership for businesses. Here I worked on the ‘just transition’ strategy and helped shape the private sector narrative of this transition. My placement at the B Team gave me a deep insight into the leadership and policy side of things.

My second placement was with the Stone Family Foundation, a philanthropic foundation and impact investor. As part of the team I worked on the Foundation’s water portfolio and supported the assessment of investments. Working with the Foundation helped introduce me to the ‘how to’ of building resilient infrastructure, which was fascinating.

Both placements were really different, spanning everything from macro policy and leadership to micro delivery. Learning more about the two gave me a real picture of what it takes to shift the needle.

What’s the most important thing you learnt during your year as an Associate?

The one thing I always remember learning is that the world is complex and I don't have to have the answer to all of the world's problems.

It's easy to get overwhelmed with everything that’s going on and I learnt that I need to be kind to myself and take time to understand what I can do and what I cannot.

One of the weekly Friday sessions we had with Fellow Tom Christmas was on approaching an issue not as a preacher but as a scientist - and I carry that with me to this day. It's not about having the perfect plan but having the courage to ask the hard questions and test, test, test.

What support did you get along the way?

My coach was incredible! She enabled me to work through most of the mindset shifts I went through. She also gave me the tools to reframe my thinking and helped me let go of what I thought success looked like.

My mentor was a great source of support. He helped me on the day to day work at my placement and enabled me to better navigate complexity. Working with him also gave me the confidence to tap into my skillset and use it successfully at placement.

Finally, my cohort was amazing. There is something really powerful about being surrounded by people who are on the same journey, grappling with the same questions, navigating similar uncertainties. My cohort challenged and uplifted me at the same time. We had a shared culture of learning which was very supportive throughout the year and which I still carry with me.

How did you approach finding a job after the programme?

I definitely had some anxiety about the job hunt, so I delayed it as much as possible. I also wanted to make sure I stayed present during the final months of the programme and take away as much as possible. During my second placement with Stone Family Foundation, I then realised I really wanted to extend my contract with the organisation. I had this gut feeling that I wasn’t done there, and ended up having a conversation with my manager about a month before finishing the programme. And it all worked out in the end!

What do you miss about your old career, and what don’t you miss?

I miss the clear processes and structure that my job as a lawyer entailed. I always knew what to do and what steps to follow, whereas now it can feel uncomfortable to work in a space where some processes aren't as clearly defined.

I don't miss the rigidity of solutions to problems. I don't miss the definite yes or no and the lack of creativity. In my current role there is more room to explore different options and consider different interpretations, which I appreciate.

What advice would you give to others in a similar situation?

Be brave and courageous to really listen to your gut. Tune into what drives you and listen to your inner voice - even if that means stepping off a familiar path.

Don’t sit around waiting for opportunities to land in your lap. Make it happen. If you’re serious about changing systems, most of us don’t have the privilege to wait. You have to create your own opportunities, stack the deck in your favour. Stay engaged, stay curious, and find incremental and consistent ways to move in the direction that feels right.

That’s how momentum builds.

Also, you really don't need to have a 5 year plan, instead try to live with integrity and trust yourself. Everything can be reoriented and reorganised. Keep asking yourself the important questions and have open minded conversations with different people. If you’re interested in the Associate Programme, find yourself a Fellow and ask them how they got to where they are today. And trust the process!