Five Tips for Creating Resilient Planning Careers
summary
- At NPC26 Detroit, planners across all career stages gathered together, reinforcing that career resilience is built through connection and continuous growth.
- NPC26 speakers emphasized that the most meaningful career development often happens outside one's comfort zone or leaning into the "messy" complexities of planning rather than avoiding them.
- A strong appetite for face-to-face community emerged, particularly among mid-career planners, underscoring that planners want meaningful, lasting careers built on connection and adaptability.
There's rarely a straight line in a planning career, and right now, with federal policy shifts and funding uncertainty reshaping the profession, that ambiguity feels especially palpable. But at the American Planning Association's (APA) 2026 National Planning Conference (NPC26) Career Center in Detroit, optimism, networking, and resource sharing brought together planners at all career stages. Planners showed up ready to be honest about the disruption and focused on what they could control in their careers. The conversations that emerged across panels, workshops, and informal exchanges kept circling back to the basics: how to grow, how to lead, and how to build a career that lasts.
Here are some of my takeaways from this year's Career Center that may be helpful to anyone thinking about their own career path and career resilience.
Takeaways from the NPC26 Detroit Career Center
1. Mentorship Is Foundational at Every Career Stage
Mentorship was not just a topic; it was a throughline. From early-career professionals to seasoned leaders, planners such as Nader Afzalan, PhD, in the "From Specialist to Leader: Career Moves" panel emphasized the importance of having trusted individuals to test ideas, navigate challenges, and provide perspective.
Refreshingly, mentorship is no longer viewed as a one-directional relationship. It is dynamic, peer-based, and constantly evolving. Repeatedly, panelists talked about running new ideas, tackling hard challenges, and making career moves with their trusted colleagues and mentors. Ten APA leaders and over 70 participants attended our NPC Mentor Match Event, and watching these planners connect felt like a step in the right direction. In July, APA will host our next virtual Career Consultation event, open to planners at all career stages.
TIP: Both mentors and mentees need to continue to seek out these relationships as an integral part of career stability and advancement.
2. Expect and Embrace Nonlinear Career Paths
A recurring theme, particularly in "Public Sector Careers: Planning Directors Panel," was the value of diverse and nonlinear career experiences. Andrea Bates, AICP, interim planning director for Austin, Texas, pointed out that professionals in smaller communities often take on broader roles, gaining exposure across departments and disciplines. These experiences not only build technical capacity but also strengthen leadership readiness.
Emily Liu, FAICP, director of planning and development for Dallas, during the panel "A Match Made in Planning Heaven," pointed out that to help planners grow, matching their assigned tasks with fun, out-of-the-box projects will expand their skills and knowledge for whatever comes next. These experiences might open the door to new career paths for a planner or uncover new skills or passions.
Kyle Dost, AICP, in the session "Planner to Leader Toolkit: Mid-Career Development," put it best: there is no single "right" path in planning.
TIP: Flexibility and breadth of experience are increasingly valuable assets.
3. Leadership Development Requires Lifelong Learning
Leadership is not a destination — it is an ongoing practice. In "Public Sector Careers: Planning Directors Panel," both D.J. Harrell, director of development services in Fort Worth, Texas, and Lakisha Hull, AICP, former director of planning in Miami, gave concrete examples of how they continue to seek out learning opportunities to enhance their leadership. Hull even brought a stack of books with her that she recommends to those in leadership as a way to keep their skills evolving.
Panelists highlighted the importance of continuous growth through training, reading, and self-reflection.
TIP: Seek out professional development opportunities throughout careers, not just at entry points or transitions.
4. Growth Happens in Complexity, Not Comfort
One of the most resonant insights shared during the Career Center sessions was the importance of embracing complexity. Whether through interdepartmental initiatives, new roles, or unfamiliar challenges, growth often occurs in moments that feel uncertain or unstructured.
In "Public Sector Careers: Planning Directors Panel," Vince Bertoni, AICP, director of planning for Los Angeles, told participants to lean into the mess and noted that his most impactful learning came from navigating and problem-solving the "messy" aspects of planning work.
As a result, creating space for honest conversations about these experiences and normalizing them within the planning profession is critical.
TIP: Growth happens when we are just outside our comfort zone, and career growth is no exception.
5. Planners Seek Community and Authentic Engagement
Perhaps most encouraging was the strong desire for connection.
Despite the increasing availability of virtual tools, planners expressed a clear preference for face-to-face engagement — opportunities to build relationships, exchange ideas, and learn from one another in real time. This desire brought many planners to NPC26 and the Career Center! This was on full display in our Career Job Board Mixer, where planners who were looking for a new role and those who were hiring got a chance to talk about what opportunities exist right now and what might be the right fit. Throughout the year, planners can check APA Jobs Online for timely opportunities.
In addition, there was a strong call for community among peers, particularly at the mid-career level. To recharge, professionals are looking for spaces where they can reflect, recalibrate, and support one another as they navigate similar career challenges. I was told daily that having space for these conversations about career challenges is validating and refreshing.
TIP: Seek out opportunities for face-to-face engagement with peers.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to evolve APA's Career Services and Professional Development offerings for APA members, these insights — along with what we continue to hear and learn from planners across the profession — are directly informing new career development opportunities and shaping services that respond to the realities of planning today.
Planners are not just looking for resources — they are looking for:
- Connection
- Adaptability
- Opportunities to grow in meaningful ways over time
At APA, we continue to build programs and opportunities that support planners not just in finding jobs but in building resilient, fulfilling careers over the long term. Access career programs and support at the NPC Career Center annually and online throughout the year.
APA's Career Catalyst Webinars
Join us for Human Experience, AI Tools: Navigating the Modern Job Search on Wednesday, June 17, to explore how planners can thoughtfully engage with AI throughout the job search and application process.
Top image: Los Angeles Planning Director Vince Bertoni, AICP, (center) speaks at an NPC26 Career Center presentation about public sector careers. Photo by Hugh Anderson Photography.
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