FEBRUARY MEETING RECAP
The featured speaker was DeAndra Larkin, Group Vice President at the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce. DeAndra shared her "recipe for success" which includes education, employment opportunities, community service and things to do in order to "live a fabulous life."
Education
- DeAndra talked about failing her first semester of college at Central Michigan University and being tempted to "run away" to friends in Chicago who would have found her a job. Her father convinced her to go back to school and finish her degree. She did not think she would be able to find job in Flint & Genesee, so she moved to Atlanta after graduating to try to find employment. She hated the traffic and the high cost of living in Atlanta.
Employment Opportunities
- Fortunately, DeAndra had interviewed at a few places in Flint before she left and ITT Technical Institute called to offer her a job. She moved back to Flint and ITT supported her pursuit of a Master's Degree at CMU while she was working for them.
She transitioned to a position at Whaley Children's Center and then moved to the Chamber, where she was quickly promoted. She trusted in her colleagues and supervisors who saw her leadership potential. She did admit that she is learning a lot as she goes and sometimes feels like she is "drinking from a fire hose."
Community Service
- DeAndra advises women to "find a organization to work for whose corporate values align with their personal values" and to be "irrationally persistent" in pursuing their goals and interests.
She shared advice from her father and other mentors: "The things you did to get to where you are today are NOT the things to take you to the next level."
Things To Do
-DeAndra concluded her presentation by wishing that there was a Certified Tourism Ambassador Program when she was younger to promote about all of the wonderful things to do in Flint & Genesee County. But, the CTA Program exists now and more information is available
HERE
.
She encouraged attendees to support the women around them and
LIFT EACH OTHER UP
!
