Kirsten Hogg on leadership in the third sector and shaping policy that changes lives

UofG Degrees: MA Politics and German (2002), MSc Public Policy (2009)

Job title: Head of Policy, Research and Campaigns at SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations )

In this episode, Kirsten shares an honest account of how tough she found her first year out of university and the knock-backs she got from job applications — happily none of which she can even remember now! Hear about the temp job that changed the course of her career, sparked her interest in working in policy and helped build her confidence, eventually leading to her first permanent role with the City of Edinburgh Council.

Join Kirsten as her passion for the third sector shines throughout this 40-minute episode. Her drive for creating positive impact for people and communities is a core tenet to her work, a strength she recognises in herself. We learn the qualities she considers important in a management role like her own, the buzz she gets from influencing policy and civil servants, and how global challenges have led her to embrace new ways of working.

This episode is jam-packed with career advice, from top tips for smashing the early recruitment stages, through to identifying skills that help leverage leadership opportunities. Plus, we learn why young people should get involved trustee roles, which Kirsten describes as super CV boosters!

Take your next steps

Search for jobs on the goodmoves, the SCVO third sector job site for Scotland