39: Why Taking Calculated Risks is a Career Asset With Provash Budden, Mercy Corps [Main T4C Episode]

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Provash Budden is Regional Director for the Americas at Mercy Corps, with 20 years of experience in international development, leading programs on land rights, access to education, economic development, violence prevention, natural resource management and support to displaced communities affected by conflict. Provash has designed and implemented programs for Mercy Corps in Colombia and Sudan as a Country Director and Chief of Party, respectively, in governance, economic recovery programs and education. He has completed long and short-term assignments in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia for UN, US, international donors and NGOs with over thirteen years of senior management experience.  He holds a Master of International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University and currently resides in Bogotá, Colombia.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE:

• What the difference is between the role of a Country Director versus that of a Regional Director (8:02)
• Why being self aware is a huge asset (9:37)
• What are the fundamental skills needed to work in international development (13:55)
• Why what you major in as an undergraduate does not dictate your future (15:30)
• Why learning a foreign language in school is crucial to career success in the 21st century (15:49)
• Why having a hobby or extracurricular activity in college is important for a well-rounded experience (18:22)
• What the most difficult parts of the job are and how a seasoned professional perseveres (30:24)