Learning, relationships and purpose: Three legs of a stable career

How do you navigate a diverse and adventurous career path from finance to education to AI? Today on “Rewrite the Rules,” we’re joined by Patricia Feria Lim, Vice President of Operations at Thinking Machines Data Science in the Philippines. From an early desire to study abroad to making significant career shifts, Patricia’s journey is a testament to embracing change and seeking growth. She shares insights from her transitions across continents and industries, illustrating how each step has prepared her for the next. Tune in to discover how curiosity and resilience can shape your career path in unexpected and fulfilling ways!

Discussion Topics: Learning, relationships and purpose

• How did early decisions shape Patricia’s career trajectory? Patricia reflects on her early desire to study abroad and how family expectations influenced her initial educational choices.
• What drove Patricia to switch from finance to education? Patricia discusses her transition from working in finance in New York to founding a non-profit education initiative in the Philippines, and the personal motivations behind such a significant change.
• How can embracing uncertainty lead to unexpected opportunities? Patricia shares insights on the benefits of stepping into the unknown and how this mindset helped her navigate her career path.
• What is the role of a support system in navigating career changes? Explore how Patricia’s family and professional mentors influenced her decisions and supported her through transitions across different industries.
• How does a global perspective influence personal and professional growth? Learn how Patricia’s experiences abroad shaped her approach to business operations in a fast-growing tech environment.
• What are the long-term benefits of taking career breaks or sabbaticals? Patricia talks about the rationale behind taking sabbaticals every few years and how these breaks have helped her maintain passion and energy in her career.

Our Guest: Patricia Feria Lim

Patricia Feria Lim has a diverse work experience history. Patricia started their career as an Analyst and later became an Associate at Citi, working in the Power and Utilities Banking sector from 2006 to 2010. Patricia then joined Bridgewater Associates as a Global Macro Analyst from 2010 to 2012. Patricia went on to work at Teach for the Philippines, where they held various roles including Director of Admissions and Interim Director of Finance, Chief Strategy Officer, and Board Member from 2012 to 2019. Patricia also worked as a Culture Consultant at Thinking Machines Data Science from 2020 to 2021 and currently holds the position of VP of Operations at the same company. Additionally, Patricia is an Advisory Board member at Habi Education Lab starting from 2022.

Your Host: Ritu Gupta Mehrish

Ritu Gupta Mehrish is a speaker, executive coach and author, with 20 years of corporate experience working in companies such as P&G, GE Capital and GE spin-off Genpact. In her last role, Ritu ran a multimillion-dollar business vertical with 1000 people across eight countries and five continents. Throughout her extensive career, Ritu has had the opportunity to work, coach and converse with leaders across the globe from diverse industries. Her business and leadership experience has enabled her to bring in a pragmatic approach to leadership development. Her client list of Google, PayPal, Swiss Re, JP Morgan, Applied Materials, Intel, Knight Frank, Johnson & Johnson, AIA, Medtronic, Wharton Executive Education highlights the level of expertise she brings to the leadership topic.

Rajita Saxena is a leader and people manager with over 20 years of business experience in sales, sales support, strategic operations, and learning & development. She builds strong, high-performing teams and believes in being a Level 5 leader to unleash the potential and performance of teams. She thrives in an environment that provides an opportunity to problem solve or create impact, whether it is a situation that is full of change and ambiguity or one that requires creating a strategy.