90. Career by Curiosity: Satu Santala on Climate Leadership at the NDF
About this episode
Satu Santala discusses her unconventional career path in climate finance and the importance of curiosity in building a meaningful career.
How does a year in an Ethiopian village at age 22 shape a career leading international climate finance? In this episode, Satu Santala, Managing Director of the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), shares her unplanned journey from NGO work through diplomacy and the World Bank Board to her current role. Discover what makes NDF unique in the climate finance landscape, how to build a meaningful career in development without having it all planned out, and what it's like to work at a small, impactful Nordic institution in Helsinki. Satu offers practical advice on embracing opportunities outside your job description, the importance of genuine partnerships, and why curiosity matters more than rigid career planning. Whether you're exploring opportunities in climate finance or looking for career inspiration in the impact sector, this conversation offers valuable insights into building purpose-driven work in international development. Music by Merlijn Angad Gaur / Musical Minutes
Topics covered
- climate finance
- career development
- international development
- NGO work
- diplomacy
Keywords
- Nordic Development Fund
- Ethiopian village
- World Bank Board
- meaningful career
- genuine partnerships
- impactful Nordic institution
- Helsinki
- embracing opportunities
- purpose-driven work
- climate leadership
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- 91. Why Your Onboarding Experience Matters More Than You Think!
- 89. Inside Humanitarian Recruitment at the UN with Liliana Nieves Paez
- 88. From P1 to D2: A UN Veteran's Journey Through Crisis and Change
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