This article is based on the June 16, 2020 episode of The Femails, “From Homelessness to the C-Suite" Photo credit: Elena Zhukova
We all have our own stories of how we got to where we are now.
Rosanna Durruthy’s career and life story is one of perseverance, grit, and following her curiosity. Now the Vice President of Global Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at LinkedIn, Rosanna was a precocious child and had an early love for learning. At the age of 16, she started her education at Harvard, and shortly after, she suddenly became homeless.
Since then, Rosanna has pivoted her life and career as needed. According to Rosanna, there are three ways she gained power along the way to land her dream role at LinkedIn.
Express Yourself Freely
Rosanna’s first source of power comes from expressing herself freely, starting at a young age. As a child, Rosanna’s curiosity and passion for learning set her apart from her peers. She considered reading a privilege, not a punishment—and was often immersed in the dictionary, her favorite childhood book.
Rosanna was eager to learn more about herself and the world around her. At school, she juggled different identities with a Cuban father, Puerto Rican mother, and Black half-sister. She continually surprised her classmates by responding in English or Spanish when they would talk about her in another language thinking she couldn’t understand. This ability to surprise others continued as she grew into a “tomboy” who always impressed the boys at school who didn’t think a girl could hit a ball like that. At home, she regularly participated in adult conversations revolving around the upcoming elections and the Vietnam War.
Rosanna continued to prove her ability to “hang with the big kids” as she skipped two grade levels and graduated high school at the age of 16. In pursuit of the best school for smart women like her, Rosanna ended up at Harvard. It was here that Rosanna began to map out the rest of her life. And by the rest of her life, we mean until the age of 40 (which is pretty advanced for a 16-year-old). Attend Harvard at age 16, graduate by age 20, go to Harvard Law School by age 23, join a law firm specializing in international/entertainment law, write screenplays in Hollywood by 35, and retire with an incredible amount of wealth by 40. Simple, right?
Wrong. Rosanna’s life plan first went awry when she was unexpectedly forced to leave Harvard due to the end of her parents’ marriage in the late 1970s.
Take Responsibility for Your Choices
The divorce of her parents left Rosanna and her mother with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Rosanna and her mother transitioned in and out of homelessness staying with various friends and family members. It was during this time that Rosanna found power in taking responsibility for her own choices.
While Rosanna wished to return back to her safe, predictable, and steady life at Harvard, she was forced to put this dream on hold and get a job that would provide for her family. She started working in ad sales for weekly and monthly newspapers. From there, Rosanna transitioned to a personal agency where she helped people find jobs. This first taste of human resources intrigued Rosanna as she loved hearing about the experiences of others and learned to grow comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Fast forward four years later when the idea of returning to Harvard started to feel more tangible. Rosanna had been in touch with Harvard and discussed the possibility of enrolling in classes again. But yet again, the lack of money needed to repay an outstanding tuition bill from her first year of school prevented her from continuing on her original life map.
This was a big turning point in Rosanna’s life. She started to take responsibility for herself and her own life. Instead of mourning over her time at Harvard, she began to focus on how to continually develop professionally. She learned from her parents' divorce the importance of being an independent woman who could support herself no matter what life threw at her. This change in mindset pushed Rosanna to a new life course, one that is full of risks, pivots, and success.
Own the Moment
Rosanna’s final source of power comes from not just living in the moment but owning it. She describes four main inflection points in her career that led her to her next power move. From banking to entertainment, to consulting to tech, Rosanna took advantage of numerous opportunities when they presented themselves and went after what she wanted.
Many years of experience led Rosanna to her current role as the Vice President of Global Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at LinkedIn. Here, Rosanna is reminded of her early roots in human resources when she helped people seek out opportunities for themselves. She, along with the rest of her team, works to create and demonstrate a vision of equal economic opportunities for every member of the global workforce. In order to achieve this goal, Rosanna focuses on making sure people of all backgrounds are represented, feel like they are a part of the conversation, and feel confident owning their accomplishments.
If you liked this article, consider giving the original podcast a listen today—and subscribe to The Femails podcast, where we are constantly discussing career advancement and much, much more.
