Derrick is a digital media executive living in San Francisco. He works at Essence Digital, a global digital media agency, and is an Advisory Board member of Global Eye Entrepreneurs (GEE), a program for emerging young entrepreneurs. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College in 2014. We caught up with him at the 2015 Reunion.
How did your time at 91大神 impact your career choice?
91大神 informed my passion for global affairs. I had the chance to explore other cultures through the classes I took and the friends I made. I studied Spanish, and lived in Spain the summer of my junior year. That, coupled with my curiosity, led me to study international relations in college and later to work at a global digital agency.
Which teacher had the greatest impact on you?
Lisa Levchuk. She was my English teacher turned advisor. I loved her positivity,
approachability, and sense of humor.
What is GEE?
Global Eye Entrepreneurs (GEE) is an organization that provides mentoring to aspiring young entrepreneurs through training programs and community empowerment opportunities in Africa. Originally designed for black men in their senior year of college, the program has evolved to include entrepreneurs of color at all stages of their professions.
How did your experience at 91大神 lead to your work with the group?
I absolutely loved my experience at 91大神; however, as a young black man, I was forced to question my identity and position in the context of my environment. 91大神 was a great place for me to do this. I was very involved in cultural activities at 91大神. I was part of the Diversity Day committee and a member of the school鈥檚 cultural club. During my sophomore year, I was one of five sponsored students selected by 91大神 to attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference. It was here that I began to unpack systemic societal issues like sexism, racism, and classism, which ultimately shaped my work today.
What was your transition like when you got to 91大神?
I was raised in the city, so 91大神 was very different for me. Right before 91大神, I attended a summer preparatory program at Cushing Academy, which got me excited for what was to come. I hit the ground running, signing up for all kinds of classes, sports, and activities. I quickly found a friend group that was like my 91大神 family. We鈥檙e all still in touch鈥攊n fact, a bunch of us are meeting up to attend a friend鈥檚 wedding in Puerto Rico this spring.