be defined by who you are, not what you studied
Its tough for a philosopher to get a job
I remember being in my mother’s car when I first told her the news: “Mom, I want to study Philosophy”. Her response was difficult to forget. In her usual agitated, shrill voice she let out what was akin to a half-scream: “Then we eat what?”
I almost wanted to reply “I heard MacDonalds gives really good staff discounts” as a form of cavalier deflection but the genuine concern on her face made me bite my tongue. That night, I realized that the mindset of education being a linear path was deeply entrenched in our society. It could deviate slightly, like how an accountant could become a banker and vice versa, but a Philosophy graduate? Forget about it.
There’s nothing wrong with that; this was a product of the circumstances our parents grew up with. They faced a more immediate struggle whereas we have the privilege of choosing our own paths. That is a privilege I never forgot. But my mom knew one thing from raising me: you could never change my mind once I had made a decision. Even before studying Philosophy, I told myself I would have to answer for my own decisions in the future when it was time to give back. At the age of 20, those were some pretty difficult commitments to make.
Fast forward 8 years since, I’ve decided to do something that I believe in: that everyone can and should use their 4 years of University to figure out where they want to go, especially for the non-business undergraduates who are unable to see the possibilities of their own potential. There is truly no limitation other than the more specialized roles in society like Law or Medicine.
But there is no easy path for this: you, as an individual, have to take the time to build the path you want: your own path, not a generic road that many follow. I am merely the guide teaching you how to build those roads through my frameworks and experience, the rest is up to you. I will give you the tools to do so: you could end up with a brilliant road or a really scrappy dirt path. Either way, it will be your creation borne out of your own hands. How exciting!
Socrates was one of the very first few Philosophers that inspired me through his unique teaching method: the Socratic method (gasp, would never have guessed the name). I hope to help you discover the answers to these difficult questions on your own.
What I enjoy doing
Playing guitar and singing
Making and studying coffee
Playing strategy games
Reading and thinking about random ideas
Teaching others!
‘Career’ milestones
Various forms of teaching since 2011
Studied Philosophy and learned about business on the side
Started up my first company Mooziq
Did internships in investor relations consulting and consumer card strategy
Broke into Private Banking as a Graduate Analyst - rotated in trading, operations and client management
Currently a Regional Market Development Analyst in Mastercard