Lost to Found: How Uncertainty Led to Career Clarity

If I were to tear the space-time continuum and travel back to this very same time, last year, I would find myself in a less than ideal position, lost, desperate, and anxious about what the future holds ahead for me or what my next step is going to be. Nearing the end of college placement season, I had seen profligates bag offers here and there, and not only did I find myself without one, but the constant rejections were chipping away at my confidence. Coming from a small town, in a big city, looking out for an opportunity, things looked bleak.  Looking back, I realize that feeling lost was a necessary part of my journey. Maybe, you can never find yourself or set yourself on a path of discovery of what is meaningful to you without getting lost first. 

Then, an unexpected opportunity arose. Peyote Morgan, an executive search firm, was an unlikely company to start at, however, it's a great place to start. So I pack up my things and the prodigal son returns home (the joys of remote work). What was on offer was good enough for me to pursue this job, but what eventually enticed me to go ahead with it, was the promise of purpose, direction, comradery, and partaking in something much bigger than myself and making an impact. What lay in front of me was a chance to learn (about what?, around a world view) and ultimately gain more clarity, and thus helping myself construct a vision for the future.

If I am being honest, I never quite saw myself as an executive search consultant, but knowing that my work, which typically means successfully placing a senior candidate who would go on to drive an enormous project at a global corporation makes me feel as if I’m part of something big. The core of my work involves extensive research, piecing things together like a complex puzzle, but with real-world consequences! This kind of strategic thinking is actually what keeps me hooked on video games (besides the awesome storylines, of course). While many might dismiss them as frivolous, I see them as fantastic training grounds for problem-solving.  Think about it – most engaging games (except for the likes of popular titles like Call of Duty and GTA ) require players to navigate complex situations, think outside the box, and solve problems with meticulous planning and precision – just like a successful search at Peyote Morgan. 

Games like Assassin's Creed, where you meticulously gather intel to navigate historical landscapes, hone your research skills and embrace the joy of learning . Take Hitman, for example. Which is all about mastering intricate environments and adapting your strategy on the fly. Just like in executive search, where no two searches are exactly alike, Hitman trains you to be resourceful and adaptable, thinking on your feet to find the perfect solution for each unique client and candidate.

Here at Peyote Morgan, I'm not a swashbuckling pirate or an Italian Casanova, but a different kind of hero. I operate behind the scenes, strategically connecting people and driving positive change. Every successful placement is a testament to perseverance and a reminder that even the most challenging puzzles can be solved. Just like navigating intricate virtual worlds in games, the journey is filled with trial and error, but the satisfaction of finding the perfect solution is truly rewarding. This unexpected step opened my eyes to new possibilities for the future.

Given the fact that working in a boutique executive search firm allows you to gain a bird’s eye view of the entire market, the exposure is like none other. One day you are working with a FMCG company looking for someone to head their data science division and the very next day you are closely working with an insurance giant to map out the availability of actuaries across the globe. In this process, you end up interacting with many great people ranging from directors to VPs, from clients to candidates, and get a fairly good idea of what diverse career trajectories look like. In this practice, By exploring different domains and industries, I gained a much clearer vision for my own career path, allowing me to identify the steps I need to take to achieve similar success as the last person I headhunted. What I gained ultimately was far more valuable than a brand name or a big paycheck, it was clarity, knowledge and as a bonus pretty solid network. 

Sometimes to make a leap, it is necessary to take a step back. Soon enough, I will be taking a leap, pursuing my masters, however, calling my time at Peyote Morgan a step back would be unfair, rather it was a purpose-driven learning exercise ripe with problem-solving, challenges, focused on creating an  impact and  self discovery. Where I went from being lost, to ultimately being able to identify what was meaningful to me and then set out in its pursuit.