The Art of the Multi-Industry Career

If you’re planning to change industries with your next role, here are three points to keep in mind.

Having worked across e-commerce, music, tech, wellness, hospitality and F&B in numerous geographies and cultures, I’ve had a front-row seat to the evolution of the multi-industry career. Until a few years ago, it was a 50/50 chance - your resume was either met with high enthusiasm or slight suspicion. But I am glad that the tide is finally turning. We have entered a period in the corporate hemisphere where you can create your own path, sometimes by necessity but oftentimes by design.

Think Pharrell Williams as Creative Director of Louis Vuitton. Or Leena Nair, a CPG veteran who made the leap from Unilever to head Chanel. And it’s not limited just to fashion; The rise of venture capital and angel investing has accelerated this shift, where success depends on a well-rounded career that spans diverse industries and interests.

If you’re looking to switch industries with your next role, here are three points to keep in mind:

• Skills are transferable, and so are frameworks. The way you promote a new playlist in a subscription music app is remarkably similar to how you plan your menu in a new restaurant. The mental models you’ve built for solving problems, extracting consumer insights, and navigating ambiguity cross over.

  
  

• There is a learning curve, but chances are that you will learn to adapt quickly. You will not know everything, and you will not get everything right. That shouldn’t stop you. Having a beginner’s mindset, backed by a belief in your new team, will go a long way. The world is changing, and it needs people who are open to learning new things and integrating them into their daily lives.

  
  

• Focus on those who support you. There will be naysayers and people who struggle to place you. Instead of trying to prove them wrong, shift your attention to the ones who celebrate your unique skill set. Also, learn to ask questions, and don’t be afraid to rely on your network for the answers.

The beautiful Doodhpathri valley near Srinagar

I was once told that the path to success is not linear; it is a meandering course of fascinating detours, and I wholeheartedly believe that.

Over to you. What are examples of successful “industry switchers” that you can think of? Comment below.

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