EMPA gives leaders confidence and insights to successfully shift from private to public sector

The public sector is increasingly willing to recruit talented leaders from the private sector, but making the shift successfully is not just about learning new skills but adapting to a public sector mindset. 

ANZSOG’s Executive Master of Public Administration brings together a cohort of public servants from across jurisdictions to broaden their skills and deepen their understanding of the ideas of public value that uniquely apply to the work of government. 

For former private sector leaders, this gives them a better understanding of the culture and expectations of the public sector, and also gives them the chance to build a vital new network and quickly make connections with fellow public servants from across jurisdictions and agencies. 

Angela Skandarajah shifted from a legal career to a public service one when she joined Development Victoria and became an EMPA student to broaden her understanding of her new environment sector. She left Development Victoria on 30 September, after five years as CEO, and says that the shift to the public sector gave her the career change she needed.

“Working in the private sector, my primary purpose was clear: it was about profit. Over time, I began to yearn for something more meaningful,” she said. 

“This desire for change aligned perfectly with a unique opportunity that arose in 2017—the creation of Development Victoria. Joining a new agency dedicated to urban renewal and housing development was a chance to apply my skills to projects that had real, tangible impacts on communities. 

She said that transitioning from the private to the public sector was a challenge which required her to change her mindset. 

“I was dealing with career public servants, and I found it really challenging to understand their drivers and how they thought about things.  These public servants were committed to addressing complex issues like urban renewal and affordable housing with a focus I hadn’t encountered before, because commercial outcomes were not the primary objective,” she said. 

“To bridge the gap, I decided to enrol in the EMPA program, to put some theory and structure around my rapid on-the-job learning. The EMPA introduced me to new leadership theories and frameworks specifically tailored to the public sector.” 

Jessica Ho, Director ICT/Digital Investment Assurance at NSW Department of Customer Service, who completed her ANZSOG EMPA in 2023, is another private-to-public sector leader who chose the EMPA to give her a deeper understanding of the public sector environment she was working in. 

Ms Ho started her career as a nurse, she moved into managing IT projects and shifted between the public and private sectors before moving in 2019 from the private sector to the NSW Government. 

She says the role involves monitoring the progress of around $7 billion of investment in ICT and digital projects in New South Wales and giving agencies timely advice to make correct decisions and have projects run on time. 

“I saw myself as an IT technologist, but when I shifted career into the New South Wales Public Service, I undertook a lot more generalist policy making, risk management, strategy, work, budgeting, investments, considerations – things that go beyond ICT,” she said. 

“So, when the opportunity came up to do the EMPA course, I leapt into it as something that would build my career profile. I’ve learned leadership, and things I had not imagined were actually part of public service administration.” 

“It never actually crossed my mind how integrated the concepts of market economies, politics and public administration are. I feel like I’m just starting to actually learn about some of these concepts and I’m a beginner in all of this. 

I would say I think I found my passion in some areas that I never thought I was passionate about, like regulation or understanding the market economy.” 

Making better decisions in a complex environment

Both women feel that the EMPA has made them more effective in the work that they do, by showing them new ways to think about the public sector. 

Ms Skandarajah said that one of the most significant lessons was around decision-making. 

“I always thought I was good at making decisions, but the EMPA taught me to broaden the inputs into our decision-making process. The way that I encourage my team to think about making decisions is asking ‘whose voices are we listening to?’” 

“Another pivotal shift in my thinking was recognising the value of lived experience. In my previous roles, I relied heavily on my expertise, often jumping to what I through were logical conclusions without considering the actual impact on people. The EMPA changed that perspective. 

“I began to think more about the value of lived experience in helping shape decisions we made. This was especially important in urban renewal and housing development, where the end-users’ experiences are crucial to the success of the projects.” 

Ms Ho said that the EMPA program had given her new insights into her work, and the capability and confidence to make a bigger impact. 

“Even before I’d completed the EMPA, my boss – who sponsored me for the course – told me that I’ve changed. He said that there’s a lot of different insights you’re bringing to work that you have never brought before, and that I was starting to look at things differently,” she said. 

“That’s the thing about the EMPA, it will help you to actually build your knowledge about the public sector, and the repertoire of skills you take back to your work. It helps you in making better decisions and having those important strategic conversations within your organisation.” 

Ms Skandarajah said the EMPA was instrumental in her development and had given her a desire to stay in the public sector. 

“It provided me with the tools and confidence to navigate the public sector,” she said. 

“This journey from the private sector to the public sector has been about finding a purpose that resonates with my values, embracing new learning opportunities, and fostering collaboration for greater public good. It’s a path that has not only enriched my professional life but also aligned my work with a deeper sense of purpose and impact.”