Do you know that feeling when you get a new thing (car, backpack, glasses), and you start seeing it everywhere?
That’s called a frequency illusion and it happens when a person notices a new concept, object or idea frequently, soon after learning about it for the first time.
Well, this is me with the concept of moral ambition.
Ever since I read Rutger Bregman’s latest book and went to the first meetup for the The School for Moral Ambition community members in Berlin, I’ve been hooked. I keep observing it in so many of the people I talk to, and especially in my clients. The desire for more meaningful, impactful work is one of the biggest drivers for career transition, for people who are deeply uncomfortable with operating within our hypercapitalistic and destructive system.
So what is moral ambition?
In Rutger Bregman’s definition, moral ambition is the desire to be one of the best, but measured by different standards of success — not motivated by big paychecks, fancy honorifics or a huge corner office, but pursuing a career dedicated to finding the best solutions to the biggest problems the world is facing now.
The idea of moral ambition connects the dots of everything I’m doing in May. Let me take you into this world with me.
Workaround Episode #2
Episode #2 of my podcast, Workaround, is here 🎉
In this one I speak to Olivia Stamp about her transition from tech and VC into the social sector.
Olivia is incredibly generous with her insights, and very open and honest about her journey.
What we cover:
Olivia's career path from recruitment, startups, and VC into the social sector
the polycrisis as a catalyst for rethinking what meaningful work looks like
the unfiltered reality of navigating uncertainty, moving cities, and starting to freelance
why she's hopeful (and why you might be too)
We capture her journey that goes from:
The world did not work in the way that I thought it did. I felt a lot of guilt and shame, for not having realised it sooner. But I also started to feel a sense of “Ok, maybe it's time for me to live in the world quite differently”.
To:
It's an exciting, amazing, incredible world, when you let yourself get into it. Don't spend all that time thinking it's all doom and gloom.
Listen to the full episode 👇
SMA Berlin Community Meetup
Naturally, I could not resist joining the local meetup organizing team for The School for Moral Ambition. After all, I love bringing people together, and I feel more at ease as a host, rather than a guest, in large groups. And in a time when I feel many people around me are filled with fear and anxiety about the world of work, I needed an oasis of idealism to invite people into.
Next Tuesday, we’re back with another member meet-up at The Social Hub (B Corp™) .
If you’re in Berlin, come join us for an evening of connection, good conversations with other idealists, and an opportunity to take the stage and share what you’re building and what you need to move forward.
If you’re planning on dropping by, let me know!
Tempelhofer Feld walk: I want out of tech
According to the latest Berlin Salary Trends Report published by Handpicked Berlin, 33% of tech workers are likely or very likely to change jobs in 2026.
The main driver to want to switch is by far higher compensation, cited by 45%, followed by seeking a stronger career growth path and more interesting work or technology. No surprises there, given that 45% of respondents received no pay raise in the past year.
If you (or someone you know) is among those 33% in Berlin, I have an invitation for you!
On Wednesday, the 20th of May, I’m hosting a group walk in Tempelhofer Feld, for people who are thinking about leaving tech, and want to start exploring what might come next.
Yes, there will be some venting and commiseration. But I also dare you to talk about the alternative: what would you actually want to do if not this?
I’m making sure you won’t run into colleagues at this walk if you don’t want to 😉
If you’re considering a change in your career and would like some 1:1 support, I invite you to explore working with me.
It all starts with a free call, where we get to know each other and dive deeper into what you need help with. At the end of the call, we'll know if it's a match and how to move forward.
