Managing Career Transitions - Look to Ikigai

Many finance and technology professionals find themselves at a career crossroads due to the rapid advancement of technology and shifting macroeconomic forces. Digital transformation, automation, artificial intelligence, and the relentless focus on efficiency is reshaping industries, rendering some skills obsolete while creating demand for new ones. Concurrently, global economic fluctuations, such as inflation, trade tensions, and shifts in labor markets, further complicate career stability and increase stress levels even for those gainfully employed. 

As a result, investment and technology professionals must continuously adapt, upskill, and may even have to pivot to new roles or sectors to remain relevant and resilient in this dynamic landscape.

If you find yourself in the middle of a career transition or are considering initiating one, a framework based on a Japanese concept called Ikigai, which simply means “A Reason for Being” could provide a useful roadmap to effectively navigate career transitions.