Aligning career, faith and service: Adelaide young professionals learn about leading a coherent life

A group of youth and young professionals in Adelaide is learning how to lead lives that are coherent, just and infused with a spirit of service to humanity.  

The learning process began two years ago when the group came together to explore their reality and discuss the barriers keeping them from engaging in efforts to enhance the spiritual affairs of their locality. 

Following a series of monthly sessions with this cohort of youth, a one-day seminar was held with about 80 young people who were united by a desire to reflect on the deeper purpose of their work and lives. 

Not merely a conference, the space was dedicated to learning, consultation and fellowship. According to co-organiser Nazanin Maghsoodi, it was an “expression of our collective striving to align material pursuits with spiritual purpose”.  

“We reflected on the truth that work, when performed in the spirit of service, is elevated to the station of worship,” Nazanin says. “Participants consulted deeply on why we work – not solely for livelihood or advancement, but to contribute to the progress of society and the flourishing of the human spirit.”

Featuring devotions, musical offerings and conversations, the seminar invited all to explore the interconnectedness of work, wealth and service. One discussion examined how wealth, when justly applied, became a means for social progress and collective well-being. 

Small groups also grappled with the tensions and possibilities available in one’s professional life, exploring how material success can be harmonised with justice, generosity, and unity. “The spirit of consultation – marked by attentive listening and detachment from personal opinion – allowed insights to emerge that were richer than any individual perspective,” Nazanin said. 

The seminar included a guest presentation focusing on an approach to leadership which challenged prevailing notions of authority and prestige, inviting participants instead to view leadership as service. As the Baha’i International Community states:

“This vision resonated strongly as participants shared lived experiences of striving to embody these ideals in diverse professional contexts,” Nazanin said.

A moderated panel and Q&A created further space for collective exploration, with diverse voices and experiences enriching understanding and demonstrating the power of unity in diversity. “A particularly meaningful dimension of the gathering was the panel conversation, where principle met lived experience. The questions invited honesty about the real tensions young professionals face as they strive to align career, faith, and service.” 

Nazanin said the space allowed participants to examine the forces at work in society and consider how young professionals can respond constructively, “guided by spiritual principles rather than by fear or ambition alone”. 

“There was a palpable sense that the day had not been an isolated event, but part of an ongoing process of growth. In a spirit of unity and fellowship, we departed with renewed clarity: that our careers, our resources, and our capacities are not separate from our spiritual lives, but integral to them. 

“Service shouldn’t just be a memorable chapter we look back on; it should be the lens through which we view our earthly existence. 

“It is our hope that this gathering will continue to bear fruit – in workplaces transformed by integrity and consultation, in communities strengthened by generosity and collaboration, and in hearts steadfast in their commitment to contribute to the betterment of the world.”