Justin Hogenbirk
MSc Economy, Risk and Society (2014)
Stay open and curious about the path that unfolds before you, even if it takes turns that are at times unexpected and strange. Trust in yourself and remain true to who you are and want to be, even if your environment doesn’t (yet) understand. Stepping into the unknown is difficult, but that is where you find yourself.
Tell us about your journey since graduating from LSE?
After LSE, I returned to the Netherlands, where I briefly had a company in edible insects together with friends from uni before moving on to a traineeship. I started working at the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM). I worked on topics in fintech, strategy and international affairs and helped set up a sustainability department and include sustainability in the overall regulatory strategy. This inspired me to move into working more on sustainability and I joined KplusV as a consultant in circular economy. After a year, I switched to Metabolic to tackle sustainability from a more systemic perspective, mostly in the financial sector. During these times, unfortunately, I became burned out and had to take some time to recover, which started me on a different path.
What inspired your decision to transition into spiritual care and interfaith chaplaincy, and what draws you to this field?
While I was recovering from burnout, my father was diagnosed with bone cancer and after an intense period of caretaking, he passed away. This impacted me tremendously, as we were very close and it felt like losing my father and best friend in one. Within two years, almost the same happened to my stepfather and I had another very impactful loss. Both these losses and many other intense situations that happened in the meantime made me realise there was a different purpose to my life. Even though these times were some of the most deeply painful, there was also a lot of depth and love and truth that I felt drawn to. Thinking, feeling and working my way through finding meaning together with loved ones in these times of loss and mourning felt more genuine than many things I was involved with. Additionally, looking back, I think it's always been a character trait of mine to look for deeper connections with(in) myself, others and nature. In this sense, there is a lot of modern or secular aspects to spirituality that I would like to involve myself further in while also including the wisdom of traditional religions in providing inspiration and solace for questions of meaning.
What are you hoping to learn from your next chapter of study, and where do you hope it will lead?
I want to be present with all of the complexities and layered emotions or sensations that make up what it's like to be human. The paradoxes and inconsistencies of life that we try to force into some structure based on our understanding of what it is. Often to avoid asking how we feel about being here at all and knowing that our time is finite, losing loved ones, lacking a sense of connection or direction.
How has studying in the Department of Sociology prepared you for your future?
Learning to think in systems and networks while also being able to weave in insights from other disciplines (economics, philosophy, psychology, politics) to understand complex behavioural movements of society has been fascinating. I regularly apply the critical thinking methods and ability to incorporate outside perspectives into the way I think, work, vote, have discussions, read a newspaper, but especially when making decisions. So I can better understand the layered impact of my choices and where my motivations may come from.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received?
Stay open and curious about the path that unfolds before you, even if it takes turns that are at times unexpected and strange. Trust in yourself and remain true to who you are and want to be, even if your environment doesn’t (yet) understand. Stepping into the unknown is difficult, but that is where you find yourself.
What is your fondest memory from LSE?
Going to the public lectures and guest visits in the evening (Michael Palin’s hilarious travel stories of Brazil comes to mind), having a pint with friends at Ye Old White Horse after an exam that was particularly challenging, of course, many many hours of studying at the library and lastly the feeling of being in the heart of London was also hard to beat.
What advice would you give to current students and those who are thinking of applying to LSE?
For students who are thinking of applying, attend open days and find ways to learn about the professors who teach you. Feeling inspired by more than the material is incredibly helpful and can really shape your experience. Perhaps read more of these alumni profiles and connect if you want to get closer to finding where you align.
For current students, soak everything up like a sponge but also find ways to wring yourself out. It's all just experience, so try all the things that surprise you and don't worry too much about the results.
What challenges have you had to overcome in your career?
The biggest challenge by far was uncoiling the patterns that led me to become burned out, like trying to tackle the wicked problems of the world (climate change) and carrying that mental weight while feeling that I should be the person with the answers. I couldn’t be humble enough to ask the "dumb" questions or request help when it was obvious I took too much on my plate without clear guidance or goals. I struggled to fit into organisational systems that were not ideal for my sensitive and empathetic side that I so desperately wanted to express in my work. Looking back, I wish I had the grace then to realise these things and make the right changes in both my own acting and my environment. I had to be honest with myself and not try to be someone I’m not. On the other hand, writing this profile actually fills me with gratitude because without these experiences I wouldn’t have found my current trajectory.