Life and Work with LaDarrien Gillette

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaDarrien Gillette.

Thanks for sharing your story with us LaDarrien. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am originally from Indiana and moved to Atlanta in 2012 to attend Spelman College. While there, I studied international studies and took some time completing Fellowships in other countries. My focus during undergrad was the protection of women and girls, specifically focused on migration and human trafficking. I spent time interning at non-profits that helped survivors of trafficking and interning within governmental agencies to understand economic development. During my Sophomore year, I wrote a proposal for a program called Priceless Ambassadors which focused on educating young girls about the issue of human trafficking within Atlanta. I launched this program at Spelman as a club and applied to the Dalai Lama Fellowship program my Junior year in which I was awarded a $10,000 grant to run the program. After graduating Spelman, I attended Emory where I obtained a Master’s in International Law and Development. I am currently completing a Fellowship with UNICEF USA (United Nations Children’s Fund) and after this, I am hoping to pursue a career in social impact consulting for a global firm. Although I am striving to move into the private sector, I still want to do work to help non-profits thrive and continue doing the good work within their mission. Long term, I am hoping to eventually move back to the non-profit/foundation world as a CEO or Director.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I grew up in a single parent household, raised by my mother. My sister and I spent many years living with our grandmother in Gary, Indiana due to my mother’s addiction to drugs. I didn’t move to South Bend, Indiana with my mother until I was about five years old. My mother struggled but she did the best she could, even moving my sister and me into a homeless shelter when I was in 2nd grade. I was incredibly shy when I was younger but thrived in school and was always top of my class. During my time in high school, I had a counselor who was almost like a second mother to me. She convinced me to look into HBCU’s even though my heart was dead set on USC in California. I went to visit Spelman just for her and immediately fell in love with it. Originally, I didn’t receive any funds from Spelman to help with the cost (which is typical for HBCU’s). I put my thinking cap on and made a plan to convince the school to give me as much funding as they could spare. I collected recommendation letters from the Principal of my school, the VP of my school, one from by of my supervisors at my two jobs (Dairy Queen and Hollister), one from counselor, and one from the VP of communications at Notre Dame (he had been the director of the homeless shelter I lived in as a kid). I packaged all of these letters up and sent them directly to the President of Spelman who must have put them on the Director of Financial Aid’s desk because I received an email from her within the week. After taking a two-hour call with her along with my counselor, I was able to attend Spelman and graduate with only $40,000 in loans for the entire four years. Attending Spelman was the best decision I ever made as I learned so much at Spelman and truly have been able to grow into the person I am today.

Things got a little rockier in 2017 when my mother passes away the month before my graduation date from Emory. I was lucky enough to have a support system within my friends and family to help get myself back on my feet mentally and spiritually. Although it is a loss, I will forever deal with it has not stopped mine from chasing my dreams and becoming the person I am meant to be. My advice to other women is to never give up as cliche as it is and turn every obstacle into a learning experience.

Please tell us about your work.
I have been involved in community engagement within non-profits for the best view years. I love education and have been able to thrive within space where I am able to teach the community about something. I am known for being incredibly passionate about politics, international relations, and women’s rights. At every moment, I am always the one talking about a CNN story or the plight of Black women as it pertains to sexual assault. I have about five friends who have consistently made it known to me that they are willing to run my political campaign whenever I am ready to run for office (which is one of the most flattering things someone has said to me). I think my personal brand is all about empowerment and being aware of what is happening within the World. My ability to learn quickly within any setting and hustle to ensure I can provide for myself sets me apart. I have been employed since I was 15 and take great pride in being able to handle my finances while still growing as a young professional.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I would suggest never go looking for a mentor in terms of setting your sight on a particular person because of their title/position/financial accomplishments. if you place yourself in the right places and prove yourself to be a great worker and person in general, your mentors will find you. I have always found mentors within my workspaces because they see my work ethic. On the flip side, most of my mentors are from Spelman because they saw how seriously I took my education. Another piece of advice is to be yourself, mentors can’t help you if you are putting up a front. Be as open with them as you feel comfortable being because, in the long run, they will go out of their way for you more often if they feel you are genuine.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ladarrieng

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