“15 Unconventional Ways I Used My Generalist Background to Transition into a High-Impact Career: My journey from School Principal to AI Safety Advisor” by Moneer

Introduction

We read countless times that AI Safety needs people from all backgrounds, but if you're not coming from a technical background, the path forward is not so clear.

Over the past year, I successfully transitioned into a full-time role in AI Safety, but if you looked at my career history, you'd struggle to know how I got here.

My Career History

1. Research Intern - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Beirut (2010)
2. School Principal - Ittihad National Private School, Abu Dhabi (2012-2022)
3. Learning & Evaluation Associate - Renaisi, London (2023-2024)
4. Impact Consultant - Freelance (2022-2025)
5. Advisor, AI Law & Policy - Successif (2025-Present)

The Key Learning

Career transitions aren't linear journeys. Some of our most valuable milestones emerge from the unique connections and unexpected intersections our background enables us to make.

What this List is Not

This list is not a comprehensive roadmap. In reality, I took more than 170 actions (I kept [...]

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Outline:

(00:17) Introduction

(00:38) My Career History

(01:16) The Key Learning

(01:30) What this List is Not

(01:53) The 15 Ways

(02:14) 1. Lightning talk

(03:05) 2. Neurodiversity advocacy

(04:05) 3. Meet-up host

(04:36) 4. Faith intersection

(05:09) 5. Pro bono consulting & Advisory Board membership

(06:14) 6. Training delivery

(06:43) 7. Alumni networking

(07:17) 8. Executive coaching

(07:59) 9. Journey documentation

(08:23) 10. Course quality support

(08:50) 11. User testing

(09:10) 12. Framework development

(09:53) 13. Program facilitation

(10:37) 14. Cross-domain research

(11:05) 15. Resource development

(11:52) Career Outcome

(12:19) Recommended Readings

(12:38) Acknowledgments

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First published:

August 19th, 2025

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/oTCzW6eAFZ6LH6K4E/15-unconventional-ways-i-used-my-generalist-background-to

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.