How Identity Has Influenced A Director Strategic Partnerships At United Way Of Greater Los Angeles's Career
Oxana's experience as a first-generation immigrant from Kazakhstan profoundly shaped their career journey; the initial struggle to overcome language barriers ("did not speak the language") fueled a powerful drive to succeed, inspired by their mother's resilience, and ultimately led to a fulfilling career in the impact space where Oxana continues to battle imposter syndrome while embracing a growth-oriented mindset.
Overcoming Challenges, Communication, Resilience, Motivation, Executive/Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Oxana Ermolova
Director, Strategic Partnerships
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
UC Santa Barbara
UCLA School of Management, Full-time MBA
Entertainment, Music & Arts, International Relations & Affairs
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Oxana's journey as a first-generation immigrant from Kazakhstan highlights the challenges and triumphs of navigating a new culture and language, ultimately leading to a career focused on communication and external representation.
2. Her experience overcoming ESL challenges and imposter syndrome offers valuable insight and inspiration for students facing similar hurdles in their own career paths.
3. Oxana's motivation to 'do right by the opportunity' emphasizes the importance of purpose-driven work and utilizing privilege to create positive impact, which is a compelling aspect for students seeking fulfilling careers.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as first-gen, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
As a first-generation immigrant, I moved from Kazakhstan when I was eight years old and did not speak the language. It took me a while to come out of my shell. It's rather ironic now that I basically communicate for a living; that's my main focus.
Being the external representative of an organization was definitely not something I was comfortable with as an ESL kid. But seeing what my mom accomplished by moving to the states and starting a new life for herself and for me created a space of possibility. It showed me that I can learn and evolve, and that these things are doable.
If she did that, I could learn to be comfortable with public speaking. There was a sense of drive that came with a desire to justify the opportunity that I didn't earn; my mom worked for it. This has been core to what has driven me to working in the impact space: the desire to do right by that opportunity and privilege.
I still get imposter syndrome. There are still spaces where I wonder if I should speak up or if I belong. But then I remind myself that these are people just like me, and I'm going to say something if I feel it's appropriate and relevant. That has kept me humble, curious, and growth-oriented throughout my career.