My durable skills have always far outweighed my technical skills, and I’m fortunate to have built a career around my strengths. As the founder of a nonprofit organization, my greatest asset has been my ability to think critically and solve problems creatively.
Early in my career, I often felt ill-prepared to launch and lead an organization. I lacked the breadth and depth of expertise that many of the professionals around me possessed. While I admired their technical knowledge, I relied on my creative problem-solving skills, resilience, and a strong growth mindset to bridge the gap—and a healthy dose of pretending I knew what I was doing until I actually did.
Over time, I’ve come to firmly believe that every job in the world requires a blend of technical and durable skills. While the balance may tip more heavily in one direction depending on the role, success often comes from recognizing and developing the strengths each individual brings to the table.
For me, success hasn’t been about knowing everything or being the smartest person in the room. It’s been about surrounding myself with technical experts and people who excel in areas where I don’t. That’s problem-solving in a nutshell: identifying gaps, leveraging others’ strengths, and fostering collaboration.
Durable skills like critical thinking, adaptability, and effective communication are often harder to measure than technical know-how. But they’re the glue that holds teams together and the foundation for innovation and resilience in any organization.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way, it’s that durable skills aren’t just complementary to technical expertise—they’re essential. They’ve been the cornerstone of my journey, and I’ll always champion their value in every stage of my career.
