Open thread: 2026 Q4 (October - December)

Hi everyone! 😊

I'm Oriyomi, based in Lagos, Nigeria.

I'm relatively new to the Effective Altruism community and have just completed the CEA Career Bootcamp. The experience has helped me think more intentionally about how to apply my professional skills to work that can make a meaningful difference.

My background spans marketing communications, broadcasting, education and digital projects. More recently, I've been involved in volunteer operations, workflow development and independent digital implementation projects.

I'm particularly interested in how effective organisational systems, thoughtful programme design and practical digital tools can help impact-focused organisations work more efficiently and serve people better.

At the moment, I'm exploring opportunities in operations, programme and project support, while continuing to develop my skills in digital workflows, research and process improvement.

I'm also interested in learning more about the different cause areas within effective altruism and understanding where my existing capabilities could be most useful.

I'd love to connect with people working in operations, programme delivery, organisational development or related areas, particularly those who have successfully transitioned into impact-focused work.

I'm happy to exchange ideas, share resources and contribute wherever my experience might be useful.

Looking forward to learning from this community!

Hi everyone, I'm Ryan and I've lingered around EA for a while. Some local group meetings here in Chicago. Some related/adjacent groups (Chicago Skeptics, Chicago Freethinkers).  Supporting GiveWell. I've never made much use of the online forums though.

Last year I restarted writing, which has ended up on Substack https://substack.norabble.com/. I'm trying to grow that audience while writing things I find interesting. Unsurprisingly, I got pulled into the AI orbit, even though I started out thinking I'd focus more on economics and economic development. 

My legible background is a tech one. Started with computers early (TRS-80 hand me down from a beloved Grandfather in 4th grade), skipped college while building software for a startup.  Columbus Ohio type startup, not SV type startup, so no billions. Have kept going through the tech path for another 30 years, I'll spare the details, and ended up with a systems thinking mindset that I apply where my interests take me. 

I tried cross-posting a piece (https://substack.norabble.com/p/enough-reason-to-act) to the EA forum, but got downvoted so hard I figure I made a mistake in forum rules, deleted it and trying to figure out what was wrong.

I don't aspire to being the "news" writer, but more introducing a novel perspective or two. Not the "spicy" perspective.. I'm quite comfortable being "moderate", though a bit resentful at how that label contains multitudes. For me, it's more about problem solving, and solving a problem often involves seeing how things fit together in addition to how they fall apart. 

It's predictable that it's easier to communicate one of those stories at a time, usually the falling apart one, but it's a bit hard not to resent the ease at which extreme views can find and sustain followings. 

Hi everyone! I’m Priya, based in London, UK.

I’ve spent the last 10 years working in policy and strategy roles within and alongside UK central and local government. My career to date has been focused on helping public sector organisations navigate complex, politically challenges rooted in policy issues, and building institutional capability.

My formal background is in policy but my favourite work involves systems and service design. I like asking “why are institutions behaving this way, and what would incentivise them to change?” For example, I recently designed a novel intermediate housing product; the aim was to help address the regulatory and financial barriers to using high-quality homes as permanent (rather than temporary) homes for homeless households.

I’m looking to pivot my career toward high-impact organisations, especially in the farmed animal welfare sector (demand-side meat reduction) or institutional decision-making. I want to move away from traditional campaigning or lobbying and instead leverage my Master’s in Behavioural Economics and Service Design certification to work more in the design space, e.g. as a policy designer or choice architect.

I'd like to explore where the demand is for intervention design v.s traditional advocacy within EA cause areas. I’m also keen to connect with other mid-career professionals who have successfully transferred non-technical public sector capital into high-impact roles. 

Likewise, always happy to chat and share what I know about the machinery of the British government (including and especially local government).

If any of this interests you then please reach out!

Hi everyone!

I’m validating my idea of a club/community where people would meet every week to have a deep conversation.

So I'm looking to interview people who, in the past three months, have actively tried to discuss an idea, book, podcast, or personal question with. Whether through a meetup, discussion group, online community, or a one-to-one convo. Doesn't matter if the attempt was successful or not.

If anyone would be open to a +-40-minute online interview, you can send me a message or email me: alx.tkach7@gmail.com

Suggestions for other places to find participants would also be appreciated!

Thanks!