From Finance to Nonprofits: Kyla Carlsen

Kyla had a successful start to her career in a leading global financial institution but found herself feeling like something is missing. A move to a new city and a lot of self-exploration led her to her current role that fits her personality, passions, and skillset. In this interview, she shares about her personal and professional growth, and how sometimes the perfect roles for us are those we never even knew existed.

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Q: Tell us about your current work roles.

I’m the Director of Programs for a nonprofit accelerator and resource hub in Detroit. I work with a talented team to design a multitude of nonprofit capacity building programs that meet nonprofits where they are. In my role I also oversaw the development and implementation of a $1.5mm grant fund supporting social impact in Southeast Michigan. 

Q: what led you to that career?

A lot of self-exploration! I started my career in a corporate development program for a leading global financial institution working in wealth management. I found instant success in the corporate world with regular raises and promotions climbing the corporate ladder, but I started to get really burned out and felt like something was missing. I hadn’t chosen this career path; after graduating on the cusp of the great recession with student loans, I took the best offer I got out of college and I wasn’t passionate about what I was doing.

After five years in banking, personal circumstances took me from Chicago to Detroit. Because of the move, I had to leave my role and felt that was as good a time as any to figure out what I really wanted to do next rather than find a new role in the bank or in the same industry. I was accepted into a fellowship program for emerging leaders doing consulting for nonprofits on social impact projects. I took a 60% pay-cut, but this experience opened me up to social change work, helped me establish a broad professional network as a new resident to the city, and provided community grassroots experience that is foundational for mission-driven careers.

After the fellowship, I took a position in economic development and entrepreneurship, working for a public-private corporation overseeing small business grant programs with a budget of $8mm annually. I was able to leverage my banking and finance skills to help minority and women-owned small businesses increase their access to capital and financial readiness. Coming from my experience living in Chicago, I wanted Detroit residents to have the same access to goods and services as any other city. My work was centered on activating vacant and blighted spaces through equitable entrepreneurship and increasing retail access to promote healthy and vibrant neighborhoods while supporting economic mobility.

In many ways, this work was my dream job and the ideal position for my skillset and passion. But after several years I again found myself really burned out. I had also hit a plateau in my professional growth opportunities within the relatively small organization. I learned too that I really disliked the political nature of working for a public-private entity. A former co-worker shared the job posting for my current position and it fit like a glove.

My new role provided me the professional growth I was seeking and the ability to continue using my skills designing and overseeing programs and grant-making. I’ve always been a creative person, I’m passionate about art and love to paint. Now I get to use my creativity to design world-class programs for other social change-makers. My organization is also committed to self-care, disrupting our sector’s status quo through radical collaboration and transforming organizational culture, a mission that really resonates with me after working several years in non-profit and first-hand experience with burnout, organizational dysfunction, and toxic culture.

Through all of these changes, I never could have imagined these roles existed before I found them.

I used to think of career planning as identifying my dream job and crafting a path with milestones to get there. In reality, my experience has been completely internally focused.

Figuring out what I’m passionate about, what qualities I need in a job for my happiness and fulfillment – not just compensation but work-life balance, team culture, professional growth opportunities, value-oriented and mission-driven, and knowing myself enough to listen when it’s time to move on from my current role.

Q: what is your educational background?

I attended business school with a double-major in marketing and management at a state university. When I was in high school I wanted to be a fashion designer; I attended weekend classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology and I dreamed of owning my own boutique. I chose business school to learn how to run my own business, but over time I’ve realized I don’t have the financial risk tolerance. Instead I support other entrepreneurs and get to use my own entrepreneurial spirit within my role in a job where I feel stable and secure.

Q: Did you have any life-changing experiences that led you to what you’re doing today?

Moving from Detroit to Chicago was the push I needed to leave banking. If I hadn’t moved for personal circumstances, I may never have made that switch.

I also had a life coach during my fellowship, the most pivotal time in my career thus far. This relationship was crucial to my personal development and helping me take control over my career path to identify and navigate where I wanted to go. 

Q: How has your family and upbringing influenced your career choices?

I grew up in a single-parent household, living paycheck to paycheck. This experience is a big reason why I’m passionate about working in nonprofit/social impact.

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing?

I’m most proud of my career growth to date without having a master’s degree. Education is great but also expensive, and I’m eager to see how far I can go without pursuing higher education.

Q: What would you say motivates you most to do what you do?

My motivation is two-fold. I’m motivated by the mission of my work and genuinely believe in the importance of what my organization is building towards systemic change outcomes. I’m also motivated intrinsically, I love to work and feel a sense of accomplishment through personal growth and development. I’m constantly striving for more and have numerous side projects to pursue my various passions. 

On Making a Career Shift

Q: How did you find the courage to leap from one field to another?

I was able to save a lot and pay down my student loans when I worked in banking which really helped. People don’t always talk about the financial implications of changing careers; often times you may have to take a “step back” to learn a new industry or skill, or face uncertainty becoming an entrepreneur or freelancer.

Being financially comfortable/stable – whatever that means to you - is an important consideration.

I also work hard to cultivate my professional network. I’m not the first to say it’s all about relationships, but this has truly been a driving force behind every career and job change I’ve made. I like to do a lot of research before I make decisions. 

When changing jobs, this involves casting a wide net, re-examining what my priorities are, identifying areas I wish to grow, talking to people in different industries until I find what feels right.

I also rely on my personal relationships – my partner, my family and friends, as sounding boards before I make a big decision. I may not take their opinion, but talking it through is the point. Having those conversations gives me confidence in my choices. 

Q: What has been the greatest challenge for you when it comes to switching careers?

Change is hard, and I become emotionally attached to my work. Whether it’s the people at my job, clients, or the job and the mission itself. 

It takes me a while to realize when a job or organization isn’t serving me anymore, and in some cases causing harm to my emotional or physical wellbeing. Burnout and toxic work culture are becoming increasingly recognized and the effects are truly harmful.

If you’re crying at work or when you start talking about work, it’s time to scrutinize if you’re in the right place.

Q: What advice do you have for others who are still trying to find their passions?

Start inward. It’s okay if you don’t have it all figured out or know where you want to go. My life coach didn’t tell me what career I should pursue next, they asked me thoughtful questions so I could come to that conclusion on my own. You don’t need a life coach to do this, there are so many resources out there, often free on the internet. Spend time doing self-exploration to identify what’s really important to you, from your personal values, hobbies, interests and skills to things like work style and compensation. What are your deal-breakers? What’s most important to you in a job? What makes you come alive? 

Trust that when you know what those core pieces are, the right job or role will emerge. I couldn’t have dreamed I would be in any of my past two jobs because I didn’t know these roles existed. I couldn’t have searched for them on a job posting website. I found them through a combination of self-exploration and working my network to learn about different companies and roles. And I remained open to the process, not putting any expectations on what my next job would be.

This also helps build confidence and finding the courage to shift.

Once you’ve identified what’s important to you, you know what you are looking for even if you can’t name it.

Going through your due diligence researching and networking provides plenty of time to evaluate and make a thoughtful, intentional decision. By the time you’ve done all that, you will know if it’s the right decision for you. Trust your instincts. And patience is key. In both my major career changes, I started the process 8-10 months before actually making the switch.

Q: What’s next for you, what are you looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to continuing my leadership journey, and scaling up my current organization. We’re less than one year old and very much a startup which is fun and exciting, and providing crucial services to community organizations who need support more than ever right now.

In addition, I’m pursuing several side projects consulting on economic development and economic mobility strategies and developing a social impact fund. I’m also writing for a Medium blog and seeking additional opportunities to write and speak. Whatever the future holds I will continue to find ways to learn and grow while staying true to my core mission.

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Learn more about and connect with Kyla at:

LinkedIn: Kyla Carlsen

Instagram: @kylasc

Twitter: @kyla_sc