Gather & Grow #7

Building connections in your backyard and across the globe

Sending applications into the void day after day is isolating and exhausting, especially when you’re navigating the loss of a mission-driven career. We see you on the couch, laptop in your lap, wondering if anyone else gets it.

Here’s the thing: you don’t have to do it alone.

This edition of Gather & Grow is packed with opportunities to swap the isolation for connection, from Toronto to London to our own backyard in DC. Now is the time to explore new skills, develop new relationships, and make some strategic connections that can help you create your next professional opportunity.

Before we jump in, there are a few special events that we would like to highlight:

1. As part of our Insider Insights series, we’ll be hosting a live Recruiter Discussion with Jacki Lancaster on Tuesday, Dec 9th @ 12pm. Sign up with this google form.

2. We’re helping Kathleen at Pivot Parents organize some fun Holiday Caroling events for folks in the DC area. We are still trying to figure out the best day (potentially Tuesday Dec 9, Friday Dec 12, or Sunday Dec 14) for folks so let us know what works for you by filling out this form.

3. Speaking of holiday songs, we’ll be raising our voices with Debbie & Maury from Crisis in Care and folks from Aid on the Hill at a Holiday Happy Hour and Sing Along at the Wet Dog Tavern on Wednesday, Dec 10th. The party starts @ 5pm.

4. We’re also helping facilitate conversations about the future of job searching with Missing Lnk and The Anatta Collaborative on Thursday, Dec 11 and Wednesday, Dec 17. Check out this post to learn more and register for a session.

5. We’re partnering with the Public Value Lab to co-host an entrepreneurial skills workshop for displaced and aspiring public servants on Friday, Dec 12 @ 9am. You can learn more about the workshop and register for it here.

Sunday, Dec 7

Toronto, Canada| 2025 International Conference on Climate Change & Global Sustainability

This is a fantastic opportunity to translate your international development and policy expertise into the climate space, one of the few sectors seeing massive growth. The conference is focused on “Innovative Solutions” and will bring together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders.

It’s a high-value gathering for anyone looking to foster cross-sector collaboration and jump into policy development for a sustainable, resilient future. Don’t just network; join the conversation at a global level.

Learn more and register here

Wednesday, Dec 10

London| Perspectives on ‘social value’ in the contemporary service economy

For the development and policy pros wrestling with the real impact of corporate social responsibility and ESG standards, this seminar is a must-attend. The hosts are focused on stripping back the marketing to get to a clearer understanding of how businesses can create tangible social good.

You’ll explore sustainable business models and how the service economy can actually create social externalities for the communities they impact.

Register for this Research Seminar

Wednesday, Dec 10

NYC Area| Social Impact Holiday Connector

You’ve had a tough year of obstacles and hardship. Join Be Social Change at the Impact Hub Metro New York to re-find your inspiration and connect with other incredible impact-driven professionals.

This event is explicitly for social impact professionals and job seekers making transitions toward more fulfilling work. Go, be celebrated, and re-engage a vision for a more just world.

Get your tickets here

Wednesday, Dec 10 - Saturday, Dec 13

DC Area| Techsgiving Summit 2025

If your pivot involves tech, entrepreneurship, or simply expanding your network outside the usual development circles, this four-day summit is your ticket. It’s dedicated to empowering tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and those looking to shift careers.

Connect with thousands of like-minded individuals, scale your business with cutting-edge technology, or find a new career path in a rapidly growing sector.

Register for the Summit

Thursday, Dec 11

Global Opportunity (Virtual)| Social Impact Networking + End of Year Celebration

Break up the solo job search with an energizing, fast-paced hour of virtual networking with Careers for Social Impact. You’ll expand your network of purpose-driven peers from around the country.

This is a great chance to check in on your career goals for the year and commit to next steps that will keep your momentum strong. It’s a low-cost, high-return investment in your community.

Join the End of Year Celebration

Thursday, Dec 11 - Friday, Dec 12

Global Opportunity (NYC + Virtual)| 2025 Global Humanitarian Policy Forum

The GHPF is taking on a crucial theme this year: Protecting Principles, Norms and Values. Join key voices in global forecasting and advocacy for change, focusing on humanitarian policy amid shifting geopolitics and the climate crisis. Attend virtually or in person at the UN Secretariat in NYC.

Learn more about the Forum

Friday, Dec 12

Global Opportunity (Virtual): Global #ENDTB Youth Townhall

The World Health Organization is gathering young leaders (and the young at heart!) to mobilize action for the global TB response. This is a dynamic, youth-centered platform for sharing ideas and forging new avenues for change.

If you are a public health expert, medical student, advocate, or just someone committed to ending TB, this virtual townhall provides a fantastic way to reconnect with frontline policy and community-driven action.

Register here for the Townhall

Friday, Dec12

Global Opportunity (Virtual)| Entrepreneurial Skills Workshop

Career Pivot is partnering with the Public Value Lab to co-host an entrepreneurial skills workshop for displaced and aspiring public servants.

This workshop is intended to serve people seeking new full-time roles, those considering launching their own freelance offerings, and those building new businesses for the longer haul.

We’ll provide a quick introduction to some practical skills that can help you see new possibilities, define next steps, and take action.

More importantly, you’ll have a chance to practice these skills with peers and benefit from their feedback.

Learn more and register for the Workshop

Wednesday, December 17

San Francisco| Social Impact Holiday Mixer: Celebrating Philanthropy, Partnership and Purpose

Join philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, and Bay Area changemakers for a festive evening blending celebration with civic purpose. This is a high-level networking event featuring an interactive roundtable discussion where you can share your own social impact success stories.

The program includes wine and hors d’oeuvres by Vino Godfather. Put on your best clothes and make some powerful connections that will transform your next phase.

Find out more and attend

Now – Wednesday, December 31st

DC Area: Remembering USAID Through the Arts

Lily Kak, Mihira Karra, and Clinton White are organizing a month-long art exhibition called Remembering USAID Through the Arts.

This exhibit will tell the story of a shared experience of USAID employees, implementing partners, and their families and friends who supported the USAID mission with passion, compassion, and commitment to help save lives and build a better world.

If you are an artist—or know one—who supported the mission, please consider having your work showcased. Expression of interest is requested by December 31st. The main exhibition will take place in March 2026.

Learn more about this exhibit

Your Turn

Did you make it to any of the events we highlighted in our last edition of Gather & Grow? Who did you connect with? Any key insights you think other members of the community might want to hear about?

As you know, Gather & Grow is a community effort. It’s easy for our DC based team to miss out on events happening in other places. If you know of a meetup, workshop, conference or other event that would be interesting to a part of the Career Pivot community, please send it our way.