Gather & Grow #11
Building connections in your backyard and across the globe
Welcome to April! If you’ve been feeling like you’re still finding your rhythm after everything that’s shifted in the public sector, you’re not alone. So many in our community are in the same boat but the good news is that it seems like the momentum is starting to build.
Here’s your roundup of events for the month which has some great opportunities to connect, get practical career support, and keep moving forward.
Our New Mission: Getting You Back On Your Feet
The Career Pivot team is dedicated to connecting you with resources, guidance, and whatever else you need to make it through this transition. Help us continue this vital work!
Now through Wednesday, April 29
DC Area | Remembering USAID Through the Arts Exhibition Part 2
The second installment of this exhibition continues at the Compass Atelier. For our community, this isn’t just an art gallery; it is a vital, necessary sanctuary to bear witness to the shared global service and collective grief of the past year. Take a quiet morning to explore works created by former USAID staff and contractors navigating this transition alongside you. It’s a space to feel seen when the world outside feels indifferent. Learn more here
Monday, April 6 Global
Virtual | Public Health & Misinformation Forum
In a climate where truth feels increasingly fragile, this forum offers a deep dive into the strategies required to anchor public health in reality. For the mission-driven professional, this is a prime opportunity for a “soft landing” in skills translation. Use this to identify how your policy and communication expertise fits into the domestic health sector’s shifting landscape. Learn more here
Tuesday, April 7 (1:00 AM PDT / 4:00 AM EDT)
Global Virtual | The Grounded Entrepreneur: Mindset & Purpose
For those considering starting their own venture after leaving government, this is where you start. Hosted by Grounded Idealist, this session skips the toxic productivity and focuses on the internal shift required to move from “employee” to “owner” while keeping your mission intact. Learn more here
Tuesday, April 7 (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EDT)
DC Area | For the People: A Celebration of Public Service
Co-hosted by our partners at Former Gov, this event is designed for the tactical pivot. It balances the heavy emotional weight of departing federal service with the grit of what comes next. You’ll find honest conversations on identity and direct access to employers who are specifically looking for the unique resilience and dedication that only former public servants bring to the table. Learn more here
Wednesday, April 8 to Friday, April 10
Nairobi, Kenya | Africa Urban Forum (AUF2)
A critical anchor for our international cohort. As the sector shifts toward locally-led development, this forum in Nairobi serves as a strategic pivot point. Spend these few days engaging with the innovators redesigning sustainable urbanization across East Africa. It’s an ideal place to find where your global experience meets local impact. Learn more here
Monday, April 13 to Thursday, April 16
Santiago, Chile | Forum on Sustainable Development (ECLAC)
A significant hub for our colleagues in the LAC region. This forum is a high-level deep dive into the 2030 Agenda. If you are looking to remain in the international development sphere but are shifting toward regional bodies or NGOs, this is the place to witness the policy shifts firsthand. Learn more here
Wednesday, April 15 to Thursday, April 16
DC Area & Virtual | Devex Impact House: The Capital Summit
Running alongside the Spring Meetings in DC, this is the premier gathering for those looking at the “money” side of development. If you’re pivoting into the private sector, DFC, or regional alliances, this is where the news is made. It’s a high-energy environment for connecting with the leaders redefining how international finance actually works in 2026. Learn more here
Monday, April 20 to Friday, April 24
New York, NY | 2026 Financing for Development Forum
This is a Tier 2/Executive level event, but essential for those pivoting into the “follow the money” side of development. It focuses on domestic and international private business and finance. If your goal is to move into the private sector while still addressing systemic global issues, this forum at the UNHQ is where those two worlds collide. Learn more here
Tuesday, April 21 to Thursday, April 23
Global Virtual | Arab Forum for Sustainable Development (AFSD)
For those whose mission-driven work centers on the Arab region, this is the primary mechanism for reviewing regional implementation of the SDGs. It brings together a wide range of stakeholders, offering a rare chance to network with regional NGOs and government bodies during a time of immense change. Learn more here
Tuesday, April 21 to Friday, April 24
Oxford, UK | Skoll World Forum 2026
This is arguably the most significant global gathering for social entrepreneurs. The 2026 focus is on AI in health and creating “healthier futures for everyone.” For the pivoter, Skoll is about seeing the “soft landing” in action—witnessing how former government and NGO leaders are now scaling innovations with private capital and radical new partnerships. Learn more here
Friday, April 24 Global
Virtual | Peacebuilding & Humanitarian Virtual Summit
Designed specifically for those of us grappling with a sector that feels like it’s collapsing, the Forage Center will host At A Crossroads, a virtual seminar that focuses on exploring funding cuts to shifting global priorities. This event will examine what these changes mean for the future of the field and how we can adapt, collaborate, and continue advancing human-centered responses in times of uncertainty. Learn more here
Sunday, April 26 (Ongoing)
Global Virtual | Foundations of Trauma-Informed Compassionate Care (TICC)
Grounded Idealist is offering the TICC program to help you bring a trauma-informed lens to coaching and consulting. It teaches you to approach the work not as therapy, but as a disciplined and practical way to recognize how stress and past experiences shape leadership behavior, team dynamics, and organizational culture. Learn more here
Tuesday, April 28
DC Area | Workday Federal Forum 2026
The technical reality of the current job market is being written in code. This forum focuses on how AI is reshaping federal HR and hiring processes. To stay competitive, you need to understand the automated tools the gatekeepers are using. Think of this as a necessary tactical intelligence briefing for your job search. Learn more here
Monday, April 27 to Friday, May 1
London, UK & Global Virtual | AVCA Conference & VC Summit
For our community members in London or those looking at Africa-focused private capital, this is the largest gathering of its kind. As traditional development funding shifts, venture capital and private equity are taking a larger role. This is a strategic place to understand the new power players managing over $1.5 trillion in assets focused on the continent. Learn more here
Your Turn
We believe the job search is better in community. Every connection you make is a tactical step toward your next role. Whether you are in a digital room or at a café in Nairobi, remember that your skills haven’t disappeared—the market has just shifted.
Take one step this week: Reach out to a colleague in the same boat, or show up to one of these sessions to get some fresh intel. Let’s move forward.
 | A guest post by
|