School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Gabrielle Lauda '16

Job: Co-founder of a Technical Consulting/Recruiting Company at Evolve Strategies Major(s): Sociology and English

An interview with Gabrielle

What was your hometown when you came to TCNJ?

Little Falls, New Jersey

Where do you currently call your hometown?

Placerville, California

When you were studying here, where did you picture yourself after graduation?

I didn't even know IT recruiting was a career when I graduated and I certainly did not think I would end up in the tech world in San Fransisco! It is amazing how all the soft skills you gather in life through social interaction and experience lead to professional development even when it isn't intentional.

What was your first job after graduating?

Math Teacher - Through Teach for America

How do you use your Sociology degree in your current career and other activities?

My business partner and I work with IT focused candidates looking for new careers. Aside from analyzing their technical ability and the current job market, the role can be pretty personal and every day we uncover different need's in order to make sure the potentially role is a long term fit for each candidate we present to our clients. This includes asking them question about salary expectations, family (Do they have kids or not), physical ability, reason for leaving, what could change their mind ect.. Pretty much every socioeconomic factor, social identity marker, and demographic category eventually come up in the conversation when trying to match a new candidate with a client of ours.

What is your favorite "major memory" from your time as a Sociology student?

I really enjoyed how the Sociology program encouraged involvement in the surrounding community. I remember volunteering at Trenton High and working on a couple case studies for college enrollment with ESL students and then actually getting to help them with their applications and fill out the common app with them.

What is some advice you would give to your undergraduate self?

Don’t wait for the perfect career path to appear—take a chance, even if it’s not exactly what you imagined. I used to think I had to know the rest of my life right after graduation, but life doesn’t work that way. You’ll change and so will the world around you. For me, being a collector of experiences, good or bad, ends up being the most fun way to move through life.