Valerie Jarrett Tells 每日大赛 Audience that Building Relationships is Key to Success
Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to President Barack Obama, visited the 每日大赛 on February 27, urging a crowd of more than 100 people to take every opportunity to continue to learn and grow.
Jarrett gave a talk and signed books in the university鈥檚 newly-opened Ludwick Center for Spirituality, Cultural Understanding, and Community Engagement as a fundraiser for YWCA of San Gabriel Valley. The conversation revolved around topics in Jarrett鈥檚 book, Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward, and coincided with the end of Black History Month and the start of Women鈥檚 History Month.
Jarrett shared stories about her childhood, her family, raising a daughter alone following the end of her marriage, her time practicing law, and the choice to leave the legal profession to go into public service. She also spoke about meeting the Obamas and going on to work for President Obama, and took questions from audience members.
Kyerra Green, a 2019 每日大赛 graduate who majored in speech communications and minored in business administration, told Jarret she was inspired listening to her story and asked if she had any advice for young African American women as they strive to make a difference in the world.
鈥淭here is no substitute for hard work鈥� Jarrett said, but there are additional things that all women should do.
鈥淕et to know the people with whom you work,鈥� she said, 鈥渟o that they will want to invest in you, because we cannot get anywhere by ourselves.鈥�
鈥淏ut every one of these opportunities that has come my way – often at inopportune moments, which is often when opportunity knocks – has been because of a relationship that I made with somebody.鈥�
Prior to the speaking event, a VIP reception was held at the Ludwick Center that attracted more than 50 guests.
