November/December 2025
By Sora H. Friedman
As international educators, we start our careers thinking we will be in this field for decades. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the number of international education (IE) professionals considering a shift in career has increased. Whether such change is by personal choice or is informed by outside circumstances, it is wise to envision your future and the possible spaces in which you can continue to make the kind of impact that is most important to you.
Working with mid-level and advanced professionals in various NAFSA training programs, and as a doctoral adviser and career coach, I always ask my participants, students, and clients to envision their “North Star,” the core of what they want to contribute professionally and personally. In advising master’s students at SIT Graduate Institute, I helped them envision a professional development plan for the next few years of their careers—reflecting on their professional and personal experiences to date and identifying helpful resources detailing related skills, knowledge, and awareness. These resources ranged from NAFSA’s International Education Professional Competencies 2.0 (2022) to assessments for deepened self-awareness to related professional associations and conferences to present at, and more. Oftentimes, reflections from colleagues can be incredibly invaluable, such as the insights I gleaned on professional development from conversations with other IE professionals for this piece.
Awakening a New Vigor
In a LinkedIn post this past spring amid the myriad changes impacting the field of IE, NAFSA CEO and Executive Director Fanta Aw wrote, “Yes, we are tired. But we will not waver. The why remains, and so does the hope. This work is never done alone—it is always fueled by community, collaboration, and our shared belief in what’s possible” (Aw 2025). Aw continued those rallying calls throughout NAFSA’s 2025 Annual Conference & Expo in San Diego where on the final day, Intead CEO Benjamin Waxman shared the wisdom of his colleague Angel Ahmed, who said, “Now is not the time to get angry, now is the time to get focused” (Waxman 2025).
Both Aw and Waxman were striving to uplift and inspire international educators to keep doing their good work at a time when IE professionals and the field at large are under attack. But ultimately, at any point in one’s career and especially during times of challenge, each individual needs to contemplate how to maintain their energy and passion for themself. This may include maintaining one’s focus on serving students and programs even as we fear new layoffs and program closings, navigate misinformed policy changes, and bear so much unknown. The need to dig deep is real, both to maintain our own sanity and also to stay strong for our students, colleagues, and staff.
Some IE professionals choose to stand their ground by continuing to deliver outstanding programs; diving into their advising with continued intention and compassion; seeking new training; or by advocating at the institutional, state, or federal levels and participating in sector-general protests in their communities. Others consider more personal options such as taking a sabbatical if feasible, changing roles within the field of IE, and even identifying transferable skills appropriate for a complete career shift.
I was thinking about this especially after a chance meeting with Todd Lee Goen, founder and principal of Global Puzzles, LLC, who—as often happens during the NAFSA annual conference—I ran into while crossing the street near my hotel. Goen’s face was glowing, as he had just completed a day of training NAFSA’s Management Development Program (MDP) participants and was feeling inspired by the level of deep engagement. When I inquired, Goen shared that the individuals in the cohort were a mix of domestic and international participants and many also had significant leadership experience, more than 20 years in management in some cases. Goen continued:
From my perspective, it seemed there were two drivers for this cohort's participation. [The] first was a serious commitment to improving their management skills. I heard from more than one participant that they had minimal leadership or management training throughout their careers, and participating in MDP helped rectify that. Second was a desire to address specific institutional and unit challenges. Increased global volatility, enrollment shifts, and economic concerns are shifting priorities in international education, and managers at all levels need to be able to respond. . . . The number, nature, and rapidity of these challenges are new for most international educators who have concerns about how to navigate this emerging world order—professional development (especially professional development that builds in space for networking) is a major part of the solution.
Thinking Entrepreneurially About Next Steps
As Goen shared, this is clearly a time for IE professionals to consider their professional next steps. One approach is to consider new possibilities for continued work in the field, which for many of us is deeply tied to our identity. This past spring, I had the honor of participating in a workshop session led by Lesley Robinson, founder of Embolden Education, about how international educators can apply an entrepreneurial mindset to their own professional development at this time, where she shared:
When international educators face the need to pivot—whether by choice or by challenge—entrepreneurial thinking offers a powerful compass. It’s not just about launching start-ups; it’s about recognizing opportunities, embracing uncertainty, and taking bold, purpose-driven action. That might mean disrupting from within an existing organization (intrapreneurship) or translating your skills into new sectors or initiatives. In these moments, knowing your strengths isn’t just self-awareness—it’s a strategic advantage. When you align your work with your ikigai—what you love, what you’re great at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for—you unlock new pathways and a deeper sense of purpose. The future of international education belongs to those bold enough to reimagine it, and that journey often begins by reimagining ourselves.
Robinson’s comments reminded me of the path of my former student and now co-trainer Anna Kelly, civic engagement and partnership manager at Minerva University. Kelly practiced entrepreneurial thinking in pivoting the direction of her career upon completing her doctorate. Up until that time, most of Kelly’s career had been with short-term exchange programs for high school students. Though she carries deep love and respect for this age group and initially focused her post-graduate job search within this sector, Kelly recognized the value of thinking creatively about her next step and she cast a wide net. She ended up accepting a position in which she supports first-year international students in project-based learning opportunities with San Francisco businesses and NGOs. Kelly recently reflected:
I am [constantly] surprised by how well I feel like my skills match what I’m doing. I don’t feel like I sold out, just that I’m away from “home” [in education abroad] at times. Maybe I’ll make my way back to education abroad as my heart is there, and as a scholar-practitioner, my research is still rooted [there]. . . . People have multiple careers now, and I’ve signed up for an adventure that works at this time. Sometimes, all you can do is the next right thing, and it may not be what you expected. I’ve used this approach since I started college, and it’s landed me in some surprising places. Even though it’s been unexpected, it’s served me very well.
Taking Action
Whether due to being pushed by current circumstances or called to envision possible next steps, international educators can and really need to think creatively about their careers. Do you want to remain in IE or are you feeling urged or led to pivot, either within the field or to a new sector? How can you contribute your skills and knowledge? How do you want to show up on a daily basis? As you consider your motivations and options, here are some exercises that may support your process:
- Think about why you do what you do. What is your North Star and why does it matter to you? Once you’ve articulated it sufficiently ask, “Why does THIS matter? What else?” to push yourself to an even deeper understanding.
- Use your networks to leverage trust and support to connect with others. This might take the form of asking a mentor for 30 minutes of their time to pick their brain or setting up an informal gathering with colleagues. Whoever you meet with, possible questions to start the conversation include: What are they seeing in the field (that you may be overlooking) amongst friends and colleagues? How are they handling current challenges? What are they doing to keep their sanity? What are they reading? What is their next step professionally?
- Use your LinkedIn network to set up informational interviews to expand your understanding of what is possible. Some questions to ask include: Tell me about your role and your organization. What does a good day look like for you? What are skills you use over and over again? What conversations are taking place in IE at this time? What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started? Hint: Ask for 30 minutes but be prepared to surpass that as rich conversations often continue past the original time commitment. Take notes and pay attention to trends and what resonates with you.
- If you are a mid-career professional considering a pivot, start by identifying two or three areas of possible new work. Once you’ve landed on those, read five to ten position descriptions to get a sense of what employers are seeking and offering. Create a composite list of the required and preferred skills and knowledge and then map that information to your resume. What skills and knowledge do you have that are transferable? List all your skills and knowledge bases, and when you think you are done, set the list aside for at least 24 hours. Then, return to it and ask yourself: What else can I do? What else do I know? This technique is effective to see what gets missed in the first round of consideration.
- Compare your list of skills with those in the role descriptions you’ve reviewed. Then map what you know and do to the new sector or position of interest. How do or can you fill in any gaps to become more competitive? How will you assure a hiring committee that not only are you capable of doing the job as advertised, but that you will also bring value-added innovation due to the additional skills and knowledge you bring?
- Lastly, whatever your mode of self-care is, practice it to ground and center yourself. Why is this important? If you are not centered, you risk taking action that you might later regret. You risk missing something that could be important for you. You risk being blown “off course.” Above all else, listen to your body as this differs for everyone. Go outside, breathe deeply, explore a new neighborhood, have fun, go for a walk, listen to music, meditate, read, plant something, call an old friend, cry, laugh, move, don’t move, breathe some more. Just be sure to make space to be—to rest. Considering pivots and possibilities can be exhausting and practicing rest can make all the difference in how you are able to show up.
Conclusion
As Aw and Waxman knew, in times of challenge, we need to dig deep to discern how to stay positive amidst upheaval and the unknown. To start, repeat your North Star to yourself regularly as a reminder of what is imperative to you. Bring yourself to center using whatever technique works for you, and even if it feels challenging, push yourself to meet with friends every so often to process this experience together.
Robinson recently affirmed in a podcast, “Leading with purpose starts from within, wherever you are” (McGrath 2025). So as your fall programs come to a close, please consider this invitation to step back and consider what is right for you at this moment. Employing that entrepreneurial mindset, where do you picture yourself one year from now? What might your own professional (and personal) development plan look like at this stage of your career? What are the steps you need to take to get there? What is the first step that you can take now? Hopefully, the answers to these questions will lead you to increased clarity about your future, whether that means remaining where you are or seeking to pivot.
References and Resources
Aw, Fanta. 2025. “Headwinds Will Always Come, and In Those Moments, It’s Natural to Question Our Why.” LinkedIn, February 22. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-fanta-aw-a225636_whynot-educationmatters-globalimpact-activity-7299045258183495680-ALmc/.
Bell, Meredith. 2025. “Take 5: Career Coaching.” International Educator, May 21. https://www.nafsa.org/ie-magazine/2025/5/21/take-5-career-coaching.
Friedman, Sora, and Amir Reza. 2019. Careers in International Education: A Guide for New Professionals. Washington, D.C. NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
García, Héctor, and Francesc Miralles. 2016. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. New York, NY. Penguin Books.
McGrath, Leanna Laskey, host. 2025. “Leading with Impact: Values Based Leadership and Growth Mindset for Working Mothers - Dr. Lesley Robinson (part 2).” The Executive Coach for Moms. Produced by Leanna Laskey McGrath. 25:46. June 12. Podcast, MP3 audio. https://podcast.coachleanna.com/values-based-leadership-and-growth-mindset-for-working-mothers-dr-lesley-robinson/.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators. 2022. NAFSA International Education Professional Competencies 2.0. Washington, D.C. NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators. 2023. Hiring Manager Questions, Second Edition. Washington, D.C. NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators. “NAFSA Career Center.” NAFSA: Association of International Educators (website). Accessed October 2, 2025. https://www.nafsa.org/professional-resources/career-center.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators, host. 2020. “Navigating Transitions: A Conversation with a Career Coach.” NAFSA’s International Educator. Produced by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. 29:16. July 1. Podcast, MP3 audio. https://www.nafsa.org/ie-magazine/2020/7/1/navigating-transitions-conversation-career-coach.
Waxman, Ben. 2025. “Connecting Dots: U.S. Institutions & International Student Career Success.” Conference presentation with Karen Fischer and Andrew Chen at the NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo, San Diego, CA.
Sora Friedman, PhD, recently retired from full-time work in international education after 41 years of teaching, advising, and program management. She is now professor emerita at SIT Graduate Institute and principal and coach at Two Rivers Coaching. In 2024, Sora received NAFSA’s International Education Award for Leadership and Collaboration in honor of her continued service to colleagues and the field at large.