As the only Latina in a microbiology department dominated by white men, Jessica De Anda struggled to find empathetic staff that could meet her needs. This experience inspired Jessica to dedicate her career to uplifting students of color in higher education. She shares her lived experience to help students harness their culture and pursue their aspirations.
Jessica is passionate about building a pipeline of underrepresented students, and works as a career advisor and program manager at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.
There's an aspect of belonging that comes from sharing your story. It makes others feel seen, heard, and like they belong in the room (because they do.)

We discussed:
[02:53] Why Jessica’s parents changed her name when she was a baby
[06:44] Sharing your lived experience with courage and vulnerability
[12:40] Finding mentors that can guide you through your journey
[16:39] Making value-aligned decisions as visibility opportunities appear
[19:36] How we can foster belonging and build relationships
[24:16] Becoming a confident public speaker
[27:26] Jessica’s big vision for our world's future

Resources from this episode:

Connect with Jessica De Anda:
LinkedIn: Jessica De Anda

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Connect with Tania Bhattacharyya:
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Website: lumosmarketing.co

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