What I Learned from Christopher Bishop About Succeeding at Jobs That Don’t Exist Yet
When Christopher Bishop joined me on Impact Quantum, we were supposed to talk about quantum computing. Instead, Christopher Bishop provided me with a comprehensive overview of the future of work and encouraged me to maintain my curiosity.
Christopher’s had eight careers (yes, eight): from touring musician to IBM strategist to deep-tech emcee. His message is simple: the jobs of tomorrow will not come with clear instructions. You’ll have to write your playbook.
One of the biggest takeaways? You don’t need a physics degree to work in quantum. These companies—IBM, Xanadu, Sandbox AQ—are building markets, not just tech. That means they need marketers, UX designers, storytellers, policy thinkers, and people who know how to run businesses, not just research labs.
He even curates a public list of over 140 job pages for quantum companies. So yes, there’s room at the table. More than that: there are tables you didn’t know existed yet.
The aspect that resonated with me the most was his framework from the book Improvising Careers:
- Voice—What excites you?
- Antenna – Where are the interesting conversations happening?
- Mesh – How do you connect with the people, having them?
It’s not about being “qualified.” It’s about being curious and ready to learn. Quantum (like so many other fields) needs people who can translate, adapt, and ask the right questions.
As someone who’s neurodivergent and multipassionate, that resonated deeply. Nonlinear careers aren’t a flaw—they’re a feature.
Christopher reminded me that your skills are portable, your story is valuable, and your weird, winding path might be precisely what emerging fields need.
And when the job doesn’t exist yet?
Sometimes that means you’re ahead of schedule.
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