For months now, I’ve been standing at a crossroads, trying to figure out what I really want. After a lot of soul-searching, I’ve decided to walk away from my role at McKinsey as a JEM - a job I genuinely like - for something I love, something that feels bigger but far scarier.
The pay is fantastic. The perks are great. I’ve been rated at the top of my cohort every year, and the career path ahead of me is crystal clear. Consulting has pushed me in ways I never imagined and shaped so much of who I am today. But deep down, I know it’s not where I’m meant to be.
For years, I’ve felt a pull toward the development sector, especially healthcare. Over time, that pull has only gotten stronger. Through McK, I’ve been lucky to work on secondments - partnering with NGOs and tackling public health challenges. Those projects were different. They weren’t just about strategy decks or hitting KPIs - they were about people.
I remember one project where we worked on improving maternal health outcomes in rural areas. I sat with a healthcare worker who told me how our changes had reduced infant mortality. In that moment, I realized: This is the kind of work I want to do every single day.
So, I’ve decided to take the leap.
I’m leaving a job that I like (a lot) for something I know I’ll love more. But I’m not going to lie - it’s terrifying. The pay cut alone is enough to make me question myself. I’ll also be stepping away from a career where I know my strengths, where I’m recognized and comfortable, to start from scratch in a space where I’ll be the newbie again.
There’s also this voice in my head that won’t shut up: What if you’re romanticizing this? What if you give up everything, and it doesn’t work out?
But the alternative - staying in a role that doesn’t light me up anymore - feels like the bigger risk. I’ve spent months asking myself what truly matters to me, and the answer is clear: I want to work on something that feels personal, meaningful, and alive.
I don’t know what the future holds, and that uncertainty terrifies me. But I also feel a strange kind of hope - like I’m finally heading toward something that’s mine.
Hoping to figure things out along the way, but I know one thing for sure - I won’t regret this decision 🙏🏼
One suggestion - do not go for it if you can't handle the best and worst of humanity. Seems like you've only seen the good so far.
Development sector is filled with lip service people, scammers, white washing and even money laundering. The companies you look up to may even come to you right after a PR disaster to try and clean up their image.
The pay is barely enough to get by if you work ethically. And burnout is very real when people with big problems come to you for solutions. Many doctors question and even quit healthcare because they realise it can be overwhelming.
Speaking from experience as someone who built a startup in social impact.
There are enough good examples of folks who've built meaningful organizations here - strongly feel is something is built with the organizational discipline of a consulting firm to create something of value here, there's enough donors available to help me run ship.
Rocket Learning, Nudge Foundation, Udhyam Foundation etc are really good examples.
Why not stay in your current company and donate half the salary. You would be making a direct impact as well.
I'm not a philanthropist - money won't solve all problems, my time is more valuable to actually try and build something in this space with the rigor of an organization like McK
Please guide me I'm at initial stage of my career I wanted to know what is your tech stack how do upskill yourself everything, please be my mentor 🙏
Be here now...Read Tatwamasi philosophy of shankaracharya
Good that you found yourself, good luck
You will succeed for sure.
Just don't quit ever :)
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