1. Programme manager
LinkedIn: Working closely with cross-functional teams to design and implement scalable interventions that drive lasting impact at the grassroots and enable systems change.
Reality: Everything feels like a pilot of a pilot. Tell the Founder/CEO why the ‘vision’ has not translated into the exact action they envisioned, adjust sleep cycles and phone alarms to the schedule of district officials, teach people how to use a Zoom link.
2. Monitoring and evaluation specialist
LinkedIn: Leveraging data systems and feedback loops to assess impact and inform adaptive programme design.
Reality: Setting up questions in Google forms that I will chase people to answer. Wondering if “Good training, food was nice” counts as qualitative insight. Finish all my sentences with – ‘’But is it really impact?”
3. Marketing lead
LinkedIn: Crafting narratives that amplify community voices and build organisational visibility across platforms.
Reality: I lead a team of social media associates across platforms to amplify content. Lol, JK. I am the team, I am also the associate and sometimes I am the content.
4. Fundraising associate
LinkedIn: Driving institutional partnerships and donor engagement to enhance revenue generation and mobilise resources.
Reality: Drinking hot coffee while cold calling. Ability to rephrase “Just following up” in 17 different ways. Requesting founders to get LinkedIn Sales Navigator and a CRM, knowing fully well that this month’s coffee and snacks budget has been reduced.
5. Operations Head
LinkedIn: Leading cross-functional coordination, procurement, and compliance to optimise organisational efficiency.
Reality: Wondering how everybody thinks I’m in charge of the chai and snacks, when in reality, I keep the organisation running.
