How to Build a Successful Career in International Development: Insights from Professor Emiliana Vegas

In Let’s Change the World, Vegas identifies three essential skill sets for working in international development organizations:

1. technical expertise

2. the ability to work with diverse teams

3. the capacity to deliver projects on time and within budget

She emphasized that aspiring professionals must start by cultivating strong technical skills, particularly in data analysis and policy evaluation. "A lot of the work at these organizations has to do with analyzing a lot of information, making sense of it, and then deriving recommendations to your clients," she explained, recommending courses in evidence, data, and public policy analysis as foundational for anyone entering the field.

But success in international development is not solely about technical ability. Vegas stressed the value of collaboration, noting that working with people from different backgrounds and perspectives can lead to better outcomes. She also highlighted the discipline needed to meet deadlines, reflecting on her own experience at the World Bank where delivering a complex project on time and on budget helped her stand out early in her career.

Vegas also shared her "70% rule" for career satisfaction, advising professionals to ensure they enjoy at least 70% of their work. For her, this principle helped steer her towards her passion for education and her regional focus on Latin America. "You have to enjoy what you do most of the time," she said, adding that deep familiarity with both the local culture and the issues at hand is essential for driving meaningful change.

The discussion with Levy also touched on the benefits and trade-offs of pursuing a PhD—a degree Vegas recommends for master’s students who are interested in working at more technical international development organizations, like the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

In identifying skills needed to thrive at these global institutions, Vegas emphasized the importance of being a strong communicator. She argued that being able to articulate ideas clearly, both in writing and in meetings, is crucial for making a meaningful impact. "One of the easiest ways to make an impression is through how you communicate in team settings," she said. Mastering these skills, along with learning an additional language—preferably one that is widely spoken, can set professionals apart in global organizations, she added.

In Let’s Change the World, Vegas offers more than just a roadmap for breaking into global institutions—she provides strategies for long-term career success and making a meaningful impact. Her advice, drawn from both personal experience and practical lessons, serves as a helpful guide for anyone looking to turn their professional journey into one that can effect real change in international development.