Why Are People Leaving the Impact Ecosystem?: Rethinking Impact Career 2.0

 While working as a journalist, I have heard a common concern from both organizational leaders and practitioners in the impact ecosystem. Leaders often say, “People are leaving the field. It is difficult to find talent who can understand both the social mission and the business structure of the organization.” Practitioners, on the other hand, say, “I started working in the impact ecosystem because I believed in social change, but for various reasons, I am considering changing jobs or leaving the field altogether.” Although their perspectives differ, both sides seem to share a deep concern about what makes a “good workplace” within the social impact sector.

 

The “Impact Career 2.0” conference was held on May 27 at “Heyground,” a major hub for Korea’s social impact organizations. (Photo by Milly)

"rootimpact" an organization building an inclusive and sustainable future with changemakers, has operated an impact career growth community for people interested in solving social issues for the past 10 years. It has supported people who pursue meaningful work and want to build careers addressing social and environmental challenges. However, after watching many passionate people become exhausted and leave the field, the organization began searching for answers in what it described as “structural limitations,” and created a space to discuss Impact Career 2.0 together with practitioners from the field.

 

On May 27, the conference “Impact Career 2.0: Designing the System Together,” which shared the Impact Career article series, was held. Today, I would like to share some of the discussions and ideas that emerged during the conference.

 

Impact Careers: A Workplace and Playground for Changemakers🍀

 

Simply put, an impact career is work that solves social problems and contributes positively to society. Many people are working in the impact sector to create social change. However, many of them are also struggling to sustain their careers. Why is that?

 

According to the presentations at the conference, part of the reason is closely connected to the historical growth of Korea’s social impact ecosystem itself. Since the Korean social impact sector developed largely around government policies, many jobs became centered on short-term performance outcomes. As a result, it became difficult to design stable career paths based on long-term organizational structures. Many young people gain diverse experiences, but those experiences do not necessarily lead to sustainable careers.

 

The concentration of capital is another reason why impact careers are difficult to sustain. Korea’s impact investment market is still in an early-stage development phase, and investment structures tend to revolve heavily around venture capital models. Because of this, sectors with strong inclusivity or public-interest characteristics are often overlooked, since they are considered less likely to generate high investment returns.

 

Another issue discussed during the conference was the unrealistic idealism surrounding impact careers. In reality, work is still work, regardless of the organization. However, the gap between ideals and reality often creates burnout and disappointment, even among people who entered the social impact field with strong values and good intentions.

 

What Makes It Possible to Continue Doing Meaningful Work?🍃

 

During the conference, participants also discussed what makes it possible to continue doing good work in a healthy and sustainable way.

 

The social impact sector is undoubtedly an attractive field. But attraction alone is not enough to sustain a career. There needs to be more concrete discussion about the realities and challenges people face in the workplace. Participants also emphasized the importance of passing down knowledge and capabilities within the impact ecosystem. Many of these skills cannot simply be learned at a desk or through formal study. Instead, there needs to be a structure where experimentation, failure, and feedback from the field can accumulate over time.

 

There were also discussions about the importance of career design itself. In an era rapidly shaped by AI and technological change, participants suggested that people entering the field will need both fast learning capabilities and a strong sense of responsibility.

 

The Future Direction of Impact Careers from a Broader Perspective🌿

 

The definition of an impact career changes depending on the 시대 and the way societies attempt to solve social problems also changes over time. In the past, many people approached social issues by working within large ecosystem structures and established systems. Today, however, even small organizations can challenge social problems directly. At the same time, people are increasingly exposed to burnout and instability.

 

From a broader perspective, speakers argued that building stronger connections across different positions, sectors, and experiences is essential for creating a more resilient ecosystem. In other words, discussions about sustainability should not remain only within the social impact sector itself. Expanding those conversations outward and building wider connections may help transform the structure itself.

 

The attitudes and values cultivated within the impact ecosystem are becoming increasingly important skills for navigating contemporary society. Because of this, participants suggested that “impact careers” should not be understood only as a professional path, but also as a broader life attitude and social initiative. The discussion proposed that openly talking about the kinds of attitudes and ways of living needed in the future could help strengthen connections, expand the ecosystem, and improve sustainability.

 

As I listened to the presentations, I found myself nodding continuously. I, too, have been reflecting on how impact careers can expand and evolve. Although I built my own career as a journalist within the social impact field — a field I still find deeply meaningful — I also find myself at a point of pause and reconsideration for various reasons.

 

The conference venue was filled with young practitioners, middle managers, and organizational leaders working throughout the impact ecosystem. Many people at the event commented that they had not expected such a large turnout. Perhaps many young people working in — and hoping to continue working in — the impact ecosystem simply needed a space to share their concerns, experiences, and ideas together.

 

**This article was written based on presentations shared during the “Impact Career 2.0” conference.

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