April 2026
Brief
Headlines
Updates from the frontiers of global health, security, and wellbeing
One year after USAID's dissolution, researchers estimate over 780,000 deaths linked to the funding cuts and project 22.6 million more by 2030 -Health Law & Policy Brief
Anthropic accidentally revealed internal source code from its AI coding tool in a routine software update, highlighting the need for stronger safeguards -WSJ archive
The CDC has paused diagnostic testing for rabies, monkeypox, and over two dozen other infectious diseases amid staffing losses of 20-25% agency-wide -NBC News
To close talent gaps in urgent global problems, Coefficient Giving is looking to fund organizations dedicated to biosecurity or career support* -Coefficient Giving (*Disclaimer: they help fund Consultants for Impact)
After losing a third of its revenue to the USAID freeze, GiveWell top-rated charity Helen Keller International kept every country office open and raised $13 million through a single fundraising campaign -The Business of Giving
Quick wins
Tools and resources to support your career growth
Navigate questions around digital minds and prepare for impactful work in this field in this free 8 week course (Apply by April 15) -Cambridge Digital Minds
Put your consulting skills toward food system reform with fellowships in the US or EU (Apply by April 27) -The School for Moral Ambition
Help build animal welfare forward AI training data with $5k in prizes (Submissions due May 5) -Sentient Futures
Explore your fit for AI safety with this guide to cheap tests, portfolio-building, and curated resources -80,000 Hours advisor Sudhanshu Kasewa
An essential guide for Christians looking to maximize their impact: All the Lives You Can Change. Request a free copy here. -Christians for Impact
Deep reads
Nuanced takes worth your time
The AI book freaking out national security advisors, explained-AI In Context by 80,000 Hours
When USAID was cut, a small team of consultants and global health pros decided to find and fix its most critical projects-Project Resource Optimization
Our CEO Sarah Pomeranz on how to test your career pivot without quitting your job -5 Minute Career Hack
To get a job, make things and tell people-Network member (and Deloitte alum) Abigail Haddad
Your work will change you whether you like it or not-That Vast Variety
What our members are watching: "The AI Doc is one of the fastest ways to catch up on what's happening in the AI conversation. The most telling moments are what the optimistic tech CEOs aren't saying." -Kelsie Flanigan, Security Strategy Manager, Accenture
Coming up
Events worth changing your Slack status to OOO for
April
- TED Vancouver, April 13-17
- Engage for Good Palm Springs, April 21-24
- Skoll World Forum (virtual), April 21-24 (Register by April 20)
- EAGxNordics, April 24-26
May
- EAGxDC, May 2-3 (Apply by April 16)
- Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit Canada, May 21-24
- EA Global London, May 29-31 (Apply by May 10)
Meet the member
Max Farrens left Bain after one year and wrote an essay about it that went semi-viral. Today, he's the General Manager of the Dwarkesh Podcast, a show whose guests range from historians to top AI CEOs, where he oversees monetization, strategy, and operations.
A lot of consultants seem to underestimate the value of operational thinking. What changed your mind? I used to assume that because operational work came easily to me, it must not be that valuable. Since working with Dwarkesh, someone I look up to an incredible amount, my take has totally changed. There are a bunch of basic aspects of building an organization where I've been able to really help him. When I showed up, there was no clear process for releasing episodes, and a huge backlog of sponsors with no structure. I had no expertise in media, but I could do the basics. I've gained a lot of respect for the COOs of the world.
You almost didn't take this role. What changed? One of my other options was a product management role in big tech, which I justified as a chance to gain career capital and figure everything else out later. When I talked to Consultants for Impact, my advisor Sarah Pomeranz told me, literally, "No. That's cope. You've already gained enough." She didn't hedge. That was a pretty pivotal moment. Plus, I knew there was no way being a PM in big tech would get me out of bed in the morning.
Jobs
Get paid to help solve the world's worst problems!
- Operations Manager / Associate - Encode (Apply by April 19)
- Managing Director - The Humane League (Apply by April 19)
- Field Building and Operations Coordinator - Partnership for Research into Sentient Machines (Apply by April 22)
- Project Manager, Respiratory Viruses - Imperial College London, National Heart and Lung Institute (Apply by April 27)
- Principal, Special Projects; Program Manager - Center for AI Safety (Rolling)
- Operations Coordinator / Associate - Coefficient Giving (Rolling)
- Chief of Staff - New Roots Institute (Rolling)
- Head of Operations - Active Site(Rolling)
- Talent Specialist; Placements Specialist - BlueDot Impact(Rolling)
- Senior Recruiter - GiveWell (Rolling)
Want career guidance?
With 23+ years of consulting experience and hundreds of professionals advised, our team can help you chart your path forward. Apply for a 1:1 Career Conversation to speak with one of our advisors.
