When You Grow Your People, You Grow Your Impact: How CFYE Enables Future-Focused Talent in Building Meaningful Careers

When You Grow Your People, You Grow Your Impact: How CFYE Enables Future–Focused Talent in Building Meaningful Careers

For many young professionals, stepping beyond familiar borders in pursuit of growth is more than a career move – it requires determination. For Anurika Nwoke and Juliana Beltran, two dedicated Project and MEL Associates at CFYE, that determination took them across continents to the Netherlands where they embraced new academic and professional frontiers. Navigating cultural shifts, rigorous learning environments, and moments of personal transformation, both young women emerged with fresh perspectives and a renewed sense of purpose. Their journeys are a testament to the power of inclusive opportunities and the kind of transformation that unfolds when people who believe in positive change are supported and given the opportunity to grow – both professionally and personally.

But beneath those professional aspirations was a more personal driving force: the memory of her father, the Late High Chief T.U. Nwoke. A lifelong advocate for education, especially for girls, he had always encouraged Anurika to dream bigger and pursue opportunities beyond what felt possible. “It was his greatest dream to see me go to school, get my Master’s degree abroad, and now it’s been actualised,” she shares. “Although he’s not here to witness this milestone today, I carry his legacy with me always.”

That sense of purpose stayed with her in the months that followed, steadying her as the AMID process unfolded with more challenges than she expected.

Designed for individuals who already obtained at least one master’s degree in international development, Anurika’s first barrier was that she lacked this formal eligibility criteria. Despite this, her passion and experience spoke for themselves, and she became one of the first Nigerians accepted into the selective programme.

From a Small Village to a Global Stage: Anurika’s Journey to the Netherlands

The youngest of nine children, Anurika grew up in the small village of Ndiawa Isuochi in Abia State, but her dreams stretched far beyond its borders. Just last year, she made a bold move to the Netherlands to pursue a Master’s in International Development through the Advanced Master’s in International Development (AMID) programme at Radboud University, all while continuing her work as a Project Associate at CFYE’s central office.

Anurika had heard about the AMID programme through a former colleague and while she had a deep respect for the institutions and resilience back home, she was looking for more. Having previously studied Soil Science and Technology and spending the last ten years building expertise in international development, Anurika wanted to go back to her academic roots and fill the knowledge gap in theoretical foundations like international cooperation and the Sustainable Development Goals. The chance to experience a new educational system and broaden her global perspective only further pushed her to apply.

Bridging Theory and Practice: The AMID Approach

The dual nature of AMID – working four days a week at an organisation based in the Netherlands and attending lectures once a week – proved to be both intense and deeply rewarding. From mapping stakeholder power dynamics to drafting a policy paper on women’s employment in Egypt, Anurika applied every assignment directly into her work at CFYE. As part of the coursework, she critically evaluated CFYE’s Theory of Change (TOC), explored ways to advocate for more inclusive youth definitions in Nigerian employment programmes, and sharpened her cross-cultural leadership skills as a student representative for her peers. She also channelled her newly strengthened writing style into volunteer blog articles for the programme, publishing on topics like International Negotiations and Conflict Resolution and Epistemic Injustice. These experiences deepened her interest in project management – but also broadened her horizons towards international negotiation, conflict resolution, and systems-level change.

“Before AMID, I had only practical work experience in international development,” she says, “this programme helped me connect the dots between theory and practice. The academic exposure provided the missing puzzle piece I didn’t know I was missing. It fired me up and gave me clarity, purpose, and direction.”

From Legal Logic to Lasting Impact: Juliana’s Transformation through AMID

Juliana’s path to the AMID programme was marked by curiosity, commitment, and transformation. Originally from Manizales, Colombia, she brought with her a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a MA in Social Policy for Development from Erasmus University Rotterdam, alongside a strong desire to move from the rigidity of law to the fluid sector of social impact.

Before joining CFYE, Juliana worked for nearly five years as a lawyer. In 2018, she even represented Colombia at the International Criminal Court in a global legal competition hosted in the Hague. But soon after, she began to feel a pull in a different direction.

“When I told my colleagues I was thinking of switching careers, everyone thought I was crazy,” she says.

In law, the next step is usually an LLM (Master of Laws), but Juliana was ready for something new. Her career pivot was not easy – to enrol AMID and become an analyst at CFYE, she had to hold a Master’s degree, pass three rounds of interviews with different people, complete an assessment, and submit a video. The whole process took six months, made even more challenging by the fact that Dutch was not her mother tongue, unlike many of the other candidates. Still, she succeeded and began her social impact pursuit in the Netherlands and her second Advanced Master’s in International Development (AMID).

When she first came across the AMID programme, Juliana was actively searching for a way to bring her evolving interests to life. She was looking for more than a degree, she wanted an opportunity to translate knowledge into practice and AMID offered the perfect platform to apply academic concepts in a real-world development setting.

As a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Associate, the programme enabled Juliana to view her role through a new lens as the assignments required her to deeply engage with CFYE’s TOC and MEL framework. These modules laid the foundation for her transition into the Results, Data, and Impact (RDI) team, where she now performs as the MEL central representative for Jordan, Burkina Faso, and Sudan. “The programme challenged me to apply theoretical insights to a real program, helping me discover that MEL and data analysis is the area where I can best combine my legal background, analytical thinking, and passion for social impact,” she reflects.

Along the way, Juliana also honed both technical and soft skills, from mastering tools like Salesforce and Power BI to navigating multicultural dynamics and developing clarity around her long-term goals. Her takeaway from graduation was simple yet powerful: “My experience at CFYE has been incredibly enriching, supporting and learning from local teams and SMEs, while contributing to meaningful impact. The multicultural environment has been a constant source of energy and growth.”

The Power of Organisational Support and the Value of Investing in Talented Young People

Both Anurika and Juliana credit Palladium’s sponsorship and CFYE’s supportive environment as key enablers in their journey. “During my initial interview, I said I was drawn to Palladium because it merges the structure of the private sector with the mission-driven nature of international cooperation work. Nearly a year and a half later, that still holds true – and it’s an environment where I see myself continuing to grow professionally and personally,” Juliana says.

Anurika echoes this, “I received invaluable support from colleagues across various work streams. I conducted scheduled interviews and meetings with managers, teammates, and my team leader, all of whom graciously made time to explain their work, share resources, and help me understand complex concepts – despite their own full schedules. Initially, stepping outside of my core role in CFYE project operations felt daunting. But thanks to their guidance, patience, and follow-up support, I overcame the learning curve, produced high-quality work, and achieved strong academic results.”

Together, Anurika and Juliana’s stories highlight what becomes possible when young professionals are given the opportunity to learn, lead, and leap. They embody the spirit of CFYE’s mission – enabling youth to become drivers of inclusive, sustainable employment – and reflect the value of investing in talented young people.

As both women look toward the future, they carry with them a renewed confidence and a sharpened ability to create meaningful change. Whether it is reshaping funding mechanisms, advocating for inclusive policy reform, or managing high-impact projects, they are not only applying what they have learned, they are redefining the next generation of development and international cooperation work. Anurika looks ahead with a vision to continue growing in the field of project management, while also exploring her newfound passion for policy-strengthening debates and international negotiations. Juliana, on the other hand, is excited to deepen her path in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL). Their advice to other young professionals is clear: stay open to different perspectives, tough conversations, complex challenges, and continuous learning.