Taking a Leap Towards Sustainability

Chrystal's decision to pursue a mid-career change was fuelled by a desire to align her career path with personal interests in sustainability.  

Besides taking online courses to learn more about the subject matter, she also reached out to experts and connected with people on LinkedIn to find out more about sustainability, which further cemented her decision to make the career switch.

Yet the transition from the public to private sector as well as to the new role presented distinct challenges in her career shift. Apart from grappling with the technicalities and complexities of sustainability, there were many new and unfamiliar concepts in the financial sector that Chrystal must learn along the way. But Chrystal remained relentless and persistent in her learning.

She added, “It is important to keep an open mind when learning and moving to a new career, and to have the courage to ask questions when unclear instead of making assumptions." She also tapped on her transferable skillsets and experience in project management and stakeholder engagement in her new job.

In her current position, Chrystal collaborates closely with stakeholders to track the progress of Prudential's sustainability targets and efforts, which culminates in the annual Sustainability Report and helps foster a strong internal sustainability culture. 

Chrystal having a discussion with her colleagues.

The CCP Journey

Chrystal’s CCP journey spanned from March 2023 to September 2024 which offered a comprehensive blend of structured training and on-the-job learning.  

The knowledge and insights gained gave Chrystal a head start in her new role and instilled in her a good understanding of the new concepts and developments in sustainability. For instance, courses on the technicalities of sustainability gave her the confidence in the subject matter and helped ease her transition.

The ongoing job- and industry-related training proved to be most valuable. She said, “The industry-recognised training is very beneficial in my career switch to a completely new job scope as it provided structure and discipline for my learning.”

Chrystal sharing about Prudential's sustainability efforts with colleagues at an upcycling workshop.

While the learning curve was rather steep at the beginning especially since sustainability is such a broad topic and relatively new to Chrystal, it became more manageable with the help of supportive colleagues and continuous discussions with her teammates. The targeted and focused training on top of Chrystal’s steadfast commitment, also better prepared Chrystal to transition into her new role.  

From Learning to Real-world Impact

Chrystal applies her CCP-acquired skills in her day-to-day work. The re-skilling and up-skilling facilitated by the CCP better prepared her for the diverse challenges inherent in her role as a Sustainability Manager.

What Chrystal enjoys most in her role is the collective passion for sustainability shared among her colleagues. Motivated by Prudential's efforts to integrate sustainability throughout the organisation and value chain, she appreciates their commitment to strive for tangible impact.

Chrystal introducing the Zero Waste corner at the Prudential Singapore Marina One office.  

Chrystal aspires to become a more competent subject matter expert in sustainability. Her commitment to continuous learning and personal development drives her to contribute meaningfully. Having benefited from the support of the CCP, Chrystal hopes to have the opportunity to mentor others in their sustainability career journeys in the future. 

Embrace Change and Be Resourceful

For mid-careerists contemplating a career shift, Chrystal advocates for courage and resourcefulness. She said, “It may be daunting to step out of your comfort zone into something totally different but programmes like the CCP are available to support the transformation of jobs – helping us to re-skill and upskill to pursue alternative career pathways while staying relevant in the workforce.”

In conclusion, Chrystal Ang's career journey exemplifies the transformative power of embracing change, leveraging learning opportunities, and passionately pursuing a field aligned with personal values. Her example serves as a beacon for mid-career professionals navigating the dynamic landscape of career transitions.

IBF administers the Career Conversion Programme (CCP) which helps mid-career individuals to reskill and successfully switch to new roles within the financial services sector. Find out more about CCP here.