Date: 21 October 2026
Time:13:00-14:00 BST
Format: Online
Join the Alumni UK global community for an interactive seminar exploring how to make career decisions with greater clarity, purpose and direction.
In a world of constant professional change, it can be easy to focus on the next career move without considering the bigger picture. Designing Direction introduces the Zeno Life Plan, a practical four-step framework designed to help you connect your professional choices with your values, long-term aspirations and the life you want to build.
Drawing on practical philosophy, mentoring and international professional experience, the session will help you reflect on where you are heading, what matters to you and how this can inform your career decisions.
What you will gain
By joining the session, you will:
- Explore a practical framework for career and life planning.
- Reflect on the relationship between personal values and professional choices.
- Identify meaningful long-term goals and priorities.
- Consider how to make more intentional career decisions in a changing global landscape.
- Take part in structured reflection exercises.
- Learn about the four stages of the Zeno Life Plan: Fulfilment, Assets, Objectives and Purpose.
Who is it for?
This session is particularly relevant if you are:
- Reflecting on your longer-term career or life direction.
- Navigating a career transition or international opportunity.
- Looking for greater alignment between your values and professional choices.
- Interested in making career decisions with greater clarity and purpose.
Meet the speaker
Emerson Resende, Founder, Zeno Life Plan
Emerson is a UK alumnus of the University of Edinburgh Business School. Before founding Zeno Life Plan, Emerson spent 15 years working in climate finance and policy within the United Nations system, living and working across 11 countries and leading negotiations and partnerships with governments and international institutions.
He has mentored undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Edinburgh for more than 15 years. His work combines practical philosophy, structured reflection and international mentoring experience to help people connect personal direction with professional decisions.
Zeno Life Plan has delivered seminars and programmes for organisations including the World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund and Inter-American Development Bank.
Why attend?
Career development often focuses on how to progress - from applications and networking to skills and employability. This session starts with a different question: where do you want that progress to take you?
You will have the opportunity to step back from immediate career decisions and consider the bigger picture, using a structured approach to help you move forward with greater clarity, intention and purpose.
Register to join the session and start designing your direction.