Monthly Public Health Consultant Spotlight: Vanessa Da Costa, MPH
Each month, I will introduce you to a public health consultant or entrepreneur and they will share their path to self-employment and outline key pieces of advice for aspiring business owners.
Today we welcome Vanessa Da Costa, joining us from South Africa!
1. Please share your educational background and business title/name.
CEO & Consultant, Chilombo Global Career Services, LLC
Career Services & Consulting Platform specializing in Public Health, Healthcare, & Global Development. (Remote Business)
I have a master of public health (MPH) degree.
2. Tell us how you entered the field of public health and what your education and work experience was prior to starting your own business.
I first became immersed in public health as an undergraduate student at UNC Chapel Hill. I became involved with an organization called the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC) as the Fundraising Chair to engage the university in raising money for a health clinic in Costa Rica. During that time, I also got my first Public Health Job as a Research Assistant at one of the University’s Research Centers. In my last two years at UNC, although I was a Psychology major, I decided to complete all the Public/Global Health courses I could take! My first full-time job after university was working at the Duke Global Health Institute as a Research Assistant. After one year I started my Peace Corps Service where I collaborated with a rural health center and secondary school in the Southern Province (Rwanda) to design and implement health and education programs. After completing my service, I worked in research in a few different capacities while pursuing my MPH in Global Epidemiology at Emory University. One of my favorite experiences was working with the Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group and with my faculty advisor Dr. Kristin Wall on a Postpartum IUD Family Planning Project. I really learned the intricacies of global health interventions from design to implementation. My time at Emory really helped me discover my niche and interest with global health programming at the intersection of streamlining data processes and incorporating health technology.
After graduate school I moved to South Africa to pursue the PHI/CDC Global Health Fellowship Program. I am currently a Global Epidemiology Fellow at CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) South Africa.
3. When did you start your business and what were your motivations for pursuing self-employment?
I launched Chilombo Global Career Services in January 2019. From my time in Rwanda through graduate school I enjoyed helping others improve their academic or job prospects through upgrading their resumes and other application documents. One day my older sister suggested that I turn it into a business since I was spending so much of my free time doing career development work, and many people were getting jobs, school acceptances or scholarships! I love having a business, not only for the secondary income, but also because I am able to use my free time to assist people with reaching their professional goals. I love creating, curating, and sharing resources that may be challenging to find or access for some. I also love being able to take on a different role, with supervising an assistant, developing products, strategizing on next steps, and partnering with amazing professionals around the world on public health and educational initiatives. I have never considered myself to be a creative but building Chilombo Careers has really allowed me to explore working and careers in a nontraditional way, which I truly appreciate. It’s definitely a challenge with balancing both my “day” job and business work, but since it’s work I truly enjoy, the long days are worth it!
4. Who is your ideal client? What services do you offer?
My ideal client is anyone who is looking to upgrade their job prospects. Most of my clients are early career professionals, however I also work with mid and executive level professionals. I’ve worked with clients in 11 countries across 3 continents. I offer the following:
Curriculum vitae revamp
2-page resume revamp
Linked In revamp
Cover letter revamp
Essay/personal statement revamp
Mock interview
Consultation calls
I also offer packages that cater to different experience levels (University Applicants, Early Career Professional, Mid-Career Professional, Executive Professional).
5. Do you have a particular product or service that you’d like to highlight? Tell us all about it!
A resume revamp goes a long way, and I recommend it to anyone who has challenges landing interviews or is reentering the job search. Resume revamps are my most popular service because they’re the foundation of any job application. I have had clients go from no interviews to multiple within 2 months, and job offers as a result of revamping their resume alongside their proactiveness in submitting job applications. Although Chilombo Careers services are for all, I specialize in Public Health resumes which is an added value for public health job seekers looking for assistance from someone who has direct experience in the field.
6. Many of our readers are considering a career as a self-employed public health consultant or entrepreneur. What is your best piece of advice for those considering or just starting out?
Reach out to the network of people who can speak to your ability in the area of your business. I assisted over 20 people for free for the years before starting my business, so I was able to reach out and compile reviews and testimonials from these colleagues, peers, friends and mentees, which really laid the foundation for being a trusted career consultant. This gesture is cost-free!
I also want to add a second piece of advice, which is don’t be afraid to seek out help. As someone who doesn’t have a business partner, that’s a critique I’ve received. However, I have sought out help in many ways ranging from hiring an assistant, consulting with a graphic designer regularly, bouncing ideas off with a close friend who is also a business owner and entrepreneur, and investing in business sessions with a professional strategist.
7. How can readers connect with you?
Readers can connect with me via my website, LinkedIn (personal and business), Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Newsletter, online courses & services, and YouTube channel.