Q&A with Gloria Revanche!

Once a month, Steppingstone Alumni/ Board Members will share insights on their career journey and provide career tips and guidance for Steppingstone Scholars. For this month, Scholars will get a chance to learn more about Gloria's career journey!

Q: Tell us about yourself! Where are you from? What were your post-graduate high school plans?

My name is Gloria Revanche and my pronouns are she/her. I am writing as an Academy 6 alum who graduated in 2010. I lived most of my life in Mattapan. My mom emigrated from Haiti and she always had high hopes for me. She instilled her ambition in me, but unfortunately, I was always indecisive. I didn't have very specific plans after high school, but I always had an adventurous spirit and I knew I wanted to get out of Boston. I did not end up leaving Boston; I attended Tufts University, but I did study abroad in Ghana.

Q: What has the journey to your current role been like for you?

I began my career in workforce development. I worked at a small non-profit organization and led their recruitment efforts. As someone who thought of themselves as shy and reserved, becoming a recruiter was terrifying. Suddenly, I had to give multiple presentations a day, speak to countless individuals, both applicants to our program and community-based organizations. Also, the organization experienced many leadership transitions, so I found myself stepping into a leadership role. The skills that I learned in that position helped me land my current role in the Office of Multicultural and Multilingual Education. Throughout the different jobs I had, I’ve always worked at the intersections of policy, education, and social justice. Although my jobs seemed unrelated, each step was necessary to land me where I am today.

Q: If your plans after graduating high school involved pursuing a college degree, how did your experience or studies while in school prepare you for the roles you have been in and/or are currently in?

a. Follow-up: Did your declared major limit you to a certain career path? The journey to my current role has been a winding road. I studied International Relations in college, really because I could not make up my mind. I chose IR because it felt like a safe bet; Tufts is known for its International Relations program and it is one its most popular majors. Also, the major allowed me to mix classes from different disciplines such as Africana studies, political science, and even urban studies. Finding my first role out of college was difficult because I did not have a specific focus. However, I do find myself using the knowledge from those humanities classes because most of my jobs had missions related to creating systemic change. As the saying goes, “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” It’s important to be mutable, and pivot to places that align with your values.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your current position?

I like that there is always something new to learn at my current position. My role falls within the scope of compliance and making sure that multilingual learners are receiving the support they need in the classroom. I enjoy reading on different court cases that have led to current policies and working with a team of smart people that I am constantly learning from.

Q: What tips might you have for Scholars hoping to pursue a similar career path that you’ve taken?

I recommend doing many informational interviews during college. People are eager to help and speaking to someone doing similar work to what you want to do will give you a clearer idea of what your path can look like.

Q: What tips might you have for Scholars looking to strengthen their resume-building or interview skills?

If you are looking for resume-building or interview skills I would say that asking for help is crucial. Show your resume to as many people as possible to get feedback. Also, practice interviews with friends or mentors. Interviews are a two-way street, so it’s important to feel comfortable speaking to new people and to be confident in your answers

Q: Networking can be hard…how do you recommend Scholars connect with others in the fields they’re interested in and strengthen their relationship-building skills?

Networking can be scary. I like to think of it as planting seeds; you never know where a conversation could land you.

Q: What are some questions to ask of your future employers?

Here are some questions I would ask future employers: 1. How would you describe the work culture at your organization? 2. What challenges does your organization face?

Q: What advice would you give to Scholars hoping to strengthen their negotiation skills?

When negotiating a job offer it’s important to remember your worth. Remember, the worst thing they can say is “no.”

If you want to connect with Gloria to learn more about her experiences or for more advice, feel free to reach out to Thai Luong at tluong@steppingstone.org.