Work That's Worth It
You are rich in hours—around 90,000 of them! For many of you, repeating the professional paths of your parents is not appealing. Particularly because their career choices often lacked purpose and put our planet in danger. Or they devoted their lives to a great cause, but money was scarce. You are craving a broader definition of “success” and need inspiration and role models to show you a different way. That much is clear.
Thankfully many young professionals like you want careers that provide income along with impact. More importantly, you are looking for work worth your valuable time, allowing you to be part of something bigger. However, finding real examples across various industries to achieve this balance is challenging. Fortunately, the Work That’s Worth It podcast connects those dots for you.
Each episode features an inspiring ‘Disruptor for Good’ who has transformed their career hours into a powerful force for positive change. Join host Georgi Enthoven for casual, insightful interviews featuring extraordinary role models from around the globe. The hand-picked guests demonstrate how they aligned their ambitious contributions to the world with matching compensation. They will show you that it is possible to combine a worthwhile contribution with meaningful compensation by investing in yourself and making intentional choices.
Whether you're a recent graduate or an ambitious young professional eager to make a difference, Work That’s Worth It offers a roadmap to turn your career into a vehicle for personal growth and a positive impact. Don’t wait for your ‘second act’ in your career. Tune in now to unlock your potential and start creating the change you wish to see in the world from the get-go.
Work That's Worth It
S1E6: Breaking South Africa's Youth Unemployment Crisis
In this episode of Work That's Worth It, Evan Jones takes us on a journey from corporate climber to impact-driven leader, revealing how solving South Africa's youth unemployment crisis became more than just a job—it became his calling. Far from a typical career pivot, Evan's story is a lesson in finding purpose, with a twist: the most rewarding work isn't just about what you achieve, but about the complexity of the problems you're brave enough to tackle.
**Ready to love your Mondays? Buy 'Work That's Worth It' now - Amazon, B&N, Bookshop.org. OR, need more convincing? Get the first chapters FREE here.**
Imagine transitioning from chasing bonuses to changing lives, where your daily work means helping young people move from unemployment to thriving, and where the real compensation is the pride of knowing you're creating meaningful systemic change. This isn't just another career conversation—it's a blueprint for how ambitious professionals can redirect their talents toward solving the world's most pressing challenges.
Highlights:
Evan transitioned from a corporate career chasing money to finding purpose in solving youth unemployment in South Africa.
South Africa faces a critical youth unemployment rate of around 65% for people aged 18-35.
Evan discovered that impact work attracts some of the smartest, most talented professionals across industries.
The social impact space requires comfort with uncertainty, messiness, and continuous problem-solving.
Stakeholder management became a crucial skill, requiring the ability to engage with government, business, and civil society.
Evan learned to set aside his corporate ego and embrace a more collaborative, purpose-driven approach.
He found that purpose-led work provides fulfillment that traditional career pathways cannot match.
The Collective X, Evan's current organization, aims to double South Africa's output of high-demand digital jobs in three years.
Evan's work goes beyond job creation, focusing on transforming individual lives like Inga's, who was able to support her entire family after finding employment.
He recommends the book "Lean Impact" by Mei Chang for those interested in understanding innovative approaches to social impact work.
Resources mentioned
Lean Impact by Mei Chang