We had a short chat with Joice Gumala, Head of Topica Native at Topica Edtech Group on her experience pivoting from corporate to community leader to landing her dream startup job, and how it was done in the most unexpected of ways.

You have just lost your job. Everyone tells you that networking is the most effective way to find yourself a new job especially in the tight labour market. You are reserved and have always preferred small gatherings to large groups. How do you start networking?

Sure, you have been brought on board for your expertise and direct experience. But don’t assume you are ready to jump into startup life. Please prepare! Startups function on principles that are typically the opposite of how mature companies function.

It’s every startup founder’s nightmare: you find the perfect candidate but once they join, they just are not fitting in. At this point, it may feel like you are the first startup founder who needs to let someone go.

It’s the workplace that employees first look at to help them develop their potential. It’s also the workplace that business leaders look to apply their leadership skills.