Her Story
About Gia
Gia Pirro serves as a Business Intelligence Team Member at WPP Media for the client Johnson & Johnson, where she manages data reporting and analytics and provides strategic recommendations. She began her professional journey full-time in fall 2023 in the nonprofit sector after completing a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Biology in 2023, having initially pursued a physics scholarship before shifting focus out of passion for global health. Pirro's career trajectory includes an overseas placement in international development in Kenya followed by nonprofit work in the United States supporting similar programs, and she recently pivoted to the advertising sector to refine transferable skills in a faster-paced, larger organization. She attributes her path to pursuing meaningful work where she can contribute value, and she continues to volunteer as grant specialist for Because of Henry, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and preventing young-age colorectal cancer. Pirro values contributing beyond herself while emphasizing personal fulfillment and growth, and she advises young women entering the field to make unfamiliar pivots by networking at conferences to develop a clear vision and demonstrate their qualifications.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Gia
01What do you attribute your success to?
My trajectory has always been very defined by work that I felt was meaningful. I was able to be a contributor. I started at an overseas placement in international development in Kenya, then moved into the nonprofit side in the United States. Every time I make a move, I attempt to see how much I can contribute and assess the value of what we're able to get done.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My first manager helped with imposter syndrome by joking she would make certificates saying I was qualified. The advice is that if the team believes I'm qualified for the task, then I am the person for the job and don't need a badge or certificate.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Making a pivot that seems unfamiliar is key. I experienced more traction with a clearer idea of where I wanted to end up by speaking to many people in different settings including work conferences. People are looking for hardworking and qualified people to fill roles, so show them you are that person.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
For nonprofit, one of the biggest challenges is getting solutions tailored to the nonprofit industry. A lot of what we run into are solutions tailored for typical corporate workflows, and those need to be adjusted because the nonprofit industry works differently.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Contributing through the work that I'm doing matters to me beyond myself. A great part of coming into my own has been putting more emphasis on my own personal fulfillment. I get to make myself a larger part of the equation and use my own personal growth and well-being in what I'm doing.
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