How do you go from project timelines and technical drawings to whiteboards and group discussions? From site inspections to science labs? That’s the journey I’ve been on over the past few years—and one that’s taught me more about people, purpose, and patience than I ever expected.

Before I became a teacher, I was an engineer. I worked across multiple countries, leading  teams and projects across multiple countries, cultures, languages and time zones. 

Engineering offered exactly what I’d always valued: structure, logic, creative problem-solving, and a sense of building things that mattered. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing a design come to life—walking around a city and knowing that your work quite literally shapes the physical world.

One part of my job, and one of my favorites, was visiting our office around the asia-pacific region and helping train our designers and engineers on our software and design workflow..
I always enjoyed the technical challenges of engineering, but I found myself increasingly drawn to mentoring junior colleagues, spending more and more time on the "people side" of the work. I loved seeing someone’s face light up when a concept clicked. That feeling stuck with me.

The switch to teaching..

I’d always considered teaching as a career option - over the years I’d been in schools helping to mentor various engineering projects, but at some point you have to commit the time to get a qualification and complete your teaching practice. 

Ironically COVID gave me that opportunity. In 2020, my wife, who is also a teacher, took a job in Zambia. I gave my notice and spent my first year in Africa getting my teaching certificate and licence. 

So I made the leap. I retrained as a teacher and stepped into the classroom full-time. It was terrifying. It was humbling, and it remains exhausting! And yet it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

People sometimes assume that teaching is a complete departure from engineering—but in reality, I use my previous career every day. Engineering taught me how to break down complex systems, work through uncertainty, and look at problems from multiple angles. It taught me resilience and how to think under pressure—skills that are just as valuable when you're managing a class of curious (and occasionally chaotic) students.

It also gave me real-world context. When I teach physics or design thinking now, I can draw from firsthand experience—not just theory. I’ve been in the field, I’ve seen what innovation looks like under pressure, and I’ve worked on teams where collaboration wasn't optional, it was survival. Sharing those experiences helps students see the relevance of what they’re learning. It makes the abstract feel real.

What’s different—and what I absolutely love—is the daily sense of connection and growth. Every class, every student, every conversation brings something new. Teaching isn’t about delivering content; it’s about building relationships and nurturing curiosity. It’s creative, challenging, and deeply human.

I’ve kept the engineering connection - I volunteer with Engineers Without Borders Zambia, since the arrival of our first child I haven’t been able to commit as much time as I would have liked to that, but it’s been amazing to see our Zambian colleagues get the chapter up and running to deliver some really life-changing projects here in Zambia. 

And while I don’t wear a hard hat anymore, I still feel like I’m building something—only now, it’s not structures. It’s confidence, skills, and self-belief.

The NexGen Connection

One thing I came to realise along the way is that while schools are deeply committed to developing young people, the same level of intentional support for educators isn’t always built into the system. That’s part of what inspired me to co-found NexGen Talent with Yael—a desire to contribute to a future where teachers are not only recognised as professionals, but also supported as individuals with their own growth journeys.

To anyone considering a career pivot—especially into teaching—my advice is simple: don’t underestimate what you bring. Every career teaches you something transferable. You’ll be surprised how often your “old” skills become your greatest assets in a new setting.

It’s not always easy. Change rarely is. But if you’re looking for work that’s meaningful, dynamic, and full of purpose—teaching has all of that in abundance.

I’m always happy to connect with others on similar paths or chat with anyone thinking about a move into education. Drop me a message or share your own story—how did you make your career switch work?