The passing of Jane Goodall hit me differently. I’ve always admired how she dedicated her life to people and the planet, reminding us that our choices, both personal and professional, ripple far beyond ourselves. Around the same time, I came across a World Bank blog about Bhutan that questioned whether preserving forests and prioritizing nature might limit development. It made me pause.
Here’s a country that has managed to stay carbon negative, protect more than 70% of its forest, and still find balance between progress and preservation. Yet instead of celebrating that, some are asking if it’s “enough.”
That thought stayed with me for days. Maybe because, in my own way, I’ve been asking the same question but about work. What does “progress” really mean?
What That Conflict Teaches Us About Development and Careers
When I read that blog, it reminded me of how we often chase growth for the sake of it. More clients, higher numbers, bigger roles. But at what cost? The same way development can displace nature, our obsession with career acceleration can sometimes displace what actually matters to us.
As a young professional building my own path while helping others navigate theirs, I’ve realized how similar these worlds are: how the way we treat our planet often mirrors how we treat ourselves.
Here’s what I’ve been reflecting on:
- We want meaning, not just movement. Studies show that Gen Zs (89%) and millennials (92%) now prioritize purpose over pay. Many even say they would leave a job that doesn’t align with their values (Deloitte 2024 Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey).
- Our skills need to evolve too. The future isn’t just about who can code or manage teams. It’s about who can think in systems; who can understand ecology, circular design, and sustainability. It’s about learning how to build careers that restore, not just consume.
- Institutions and organizations must also shift. We can’t keep funding models that only chase growth. We need to reward regeneration; primarily, systems that value people, planet, and progress together. Otherwise, we keep deepening the divide between profit and purpose.
In my own journey, I once thought success was simple: get a corporate job, earn well, and move up fast. I studied Business for that reason. And those skills (strategy, management, critical thinking) still serve me. But over time, I realized I wanted my work to matter beyond numbers. I wanted to help others build meaningful paths too. That’s where my own version of “career growth” started to change.
Because progress, I’ve learned, isn’t always about having more. Sometimes it’s about knowing when you already have enough.
What’s Happening Now
Bhutan continues to hold strong to its values. The World Bank recently approved $34.5 million in financing to support its natural resource sectors, which is expected to create 12,000 jobs for women and youth (World Bank Press Release).
Despite all the criticism, Bhutan’s forests still cover more than 70% of its land, and it remains one of the few carbon-negative countries in the world (Read more). Its economy continues to grow steadily too, expanding by 4.9% in FY23/24 (Read more).
So maybe growth and preservation don’t have to be opposites. Maybe they can, and should, grow together.
Where I Stand
For me, reflecting on Bhutan’s story is not about questioning the World Bank alone. It’s about asking myself, and maybe all of us, what kind of growth we really want to build.
Maybe real progress isn’t about being bigger, faster, or richer. Maybe it’s about balance. Enough to sustain, enough to thrive, enough to protect what still protects us.
So the next time we hear the word “growth,” whether it’s about economies or our own careers, maybe we should pause and ask: growth for what, and for whom?