Ernesto Diaz

Meet Ernesto

Ernesto began his career as an agricultural engineer in Spain, with a minor in finance, before moving to Sweden in 2016. His deep interest in sustainability led him to focus on food production and urban agriculture as pathways to advocate for healthier, more resilient food systems. He started to work as a project manager in an NGO and, over time, he took on additional responsibilities, particularly in administration and finance, where he discovered both a comparative advantage and personal satisfaction in these areas.

Interactions with EA and how EA has affected Ernesto’s career

In early 2020, Ernesto’s concerns about existential risks began to grow. Inspired by thinkers like Toby Ord and Will MacAskill, he felt a moral imperative to contribute more effectively to mitigating these risks. This led him to explore how he could pivot his career to contribute to addressing global challenges that mattered most to him.

With young children and a fair share of uncertainties, Ernesto approached this career transition cautiously. He began by seeking advice on career planning and coaching, including from EA Sweden. After months of reflection and planning, he connected with like-minded individuals at the EA Sweden summer retreat in 2023. This gave him the confidence to take the leap and leave his job to fully commit to this transition.

Through this process, he identified operations as a field where he could quickly find a role, leveraging his experience in running a non-profit and aptitude for operations related tasks. Within a few months, he received two job offers and accepted a position at Future Matters, a think tank and non-profit strategy consultancy focused on reducing major global threats. This includes those related to climate, AI development, and biosecurity. “The support from EA Sweden and people from the community were instrumental in helping me make this transition”, Ernesto says. 

Why he think what he works on is important

Ernesto believes that the work Future Matters does is essential for addressing some of the most significant challenges facing our world today. While his role in operations is behind the scenes, it’s crucial for ensuring that our organization runs smoothly. This, in turn, allows his colleagues to focus on their core work, whether it's providing consulting services or advocating for policies that protect the world from these large-scale threats. Contributing to the effectiveness of the operations gives him a strong sense of purpose, knowing that he’s helping to advance efforts that can make a meaningful difference.

Ernesto’s tips for people interested in a career in operations  

For those considering a career in high-impact operations, Ernesto recommends doing thorough self-reflection to identify personality traits that align well with the demands of the role. Operations work often requires a generalist skill set, a basic understanding of finance and accounting, a satisfaction in creating well-functioning systems, an improvement mindset, and a willingness to work behind the scenes to enable others to have an impact. He encourages you to explore resources that offer practical advice on operations roles, and to talk to those already in similar roles for insights. Finally, consider testing your fit by engaging in operations-related tasks or volunteering to see if this kind of work resonates with you.