LaRinda E. Jackson

I attribute my success to my determination and drive. I'm always busy doing something, helping somebody. I don't give up. That's just who I am, someone that has this drive that keeps me going. I fell in love with Tyler Perry's work and told my mama I could do a play too. The next year, I rented out a theater with 500 seats for 2 nights and sold out with my first play called God Answers Prayers. I've written, directed, and produced 7 inspirational stage plays in Chicago with thousands of people in the audience. I just moved to the Dallas area with my husband, and we built our first home together from the ground in Lavon, Texas. I feel like I'm living in somebody's Airbnb, I still can't believe it. I'm trying to bring my plays to Texas and turn my scripts into a movie. I want to see one with my name on it on Netflix, Hulu, or TV to move somebody. I also started a business called Sealed and Purpose with my husband to do notaries, and I have my own personalized greeting card business called Just Because, expressions of love, because that's who I am. I embody love.

The best career advice I ever received was from my grandmother. She told me, no matter what job you hold, if you're the street sweeper, you be the best street sweeper they've ever seen before. She also said don't be afraid to talk to anybody, and when you have an office, don't just sit at the door. She told me to know the cleaning lady, know the janitors, know everybody, and let them know who you are. Nobody's beneath you, because you never know when you may cross their path again, and they may be the owner of the business. So every cleaning lady, every janitor knew me, saw me coming. I'd say 'Hi, girl, how you doing? Have a great weekend,' on purpose. From me being a little girl, she always shared with me, whatever job you have, you be the best they ever seen. That has been my life journey.

My advice to young women entering the insurance industry—or any traditionally male-dominated field—is to know your worth and never underestimate the value of your skills. The path may not always be straightforward, and you might face skepticism or doubt from others, but confidence and curiosity will carry you further than hesitation ever could. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, seek mentorship, and take on responsibilities that challenge you.

The biggest challenge I'm facing right now is working with a manager and VP who don't have college degrees and don't know how to manage people. I'm not a person that will accept the status quo. I'm someone who loves to optimize workflows, so if I see something broken, I'm going to try and fix it and ask questions. Where someone in a position before me might just do the job, if somebody tells me to put B when I see A, I'm going to ask why. I want to understand the whole process, not just do a job. I want to understand why I'm doing it. I know what I bring to the table. I have optimized several processes and procedures within CNA. But because I'm confident and I ask questions, that kind of makes people feel like I'm being cocky, when I'm not trying to be. Recently, I was transitioning to work with new business partners, and I made a comment about how another colleague was being set up for success in a way I wasn't when I made a similar transition. I got called to the principal's office for it. I diffused it by pointing out that they weren't addressing my comment or critique, they were addressing my tone and the fact that I asked the question. To me, that's their issue, not mine. I stated the facts, they made it about my tone. I'm taking the high road like Michelle Obama. I work for 5 business partners, and I have 4 other business partners who value and enjoy what I bring to the table. They give me great emails, comments, and I get Achievers recognition every month. I'm not going to let this one space deter me because of whose I am and who I am.

Hope is the most important value to me. I want to be and leave a legacy of hope, helping other people elevate by any means necessary. When I worked at the Sheridan Hotel, I met a young lady in the elevator who was a house cleaner. She would get on that elevator with her head held down, and I told her to hold her head up. I said, look, you have a beautiful smile. Long story short, I hired her as my receptionist, then promoted her to an admin. Five years after that, she called me and said, 'Lorinda, I just want you to know, if I had never met you, I will still be cleaning the rooms at the Sheridan, but right now, I'm the HR Director.' So I always want to see somebody elevate, even if they elevate above where I am. That's how God will bless you.