Her Story
About Laura
Laura Gagliardone is an international development professional with 18 years of experience across the United Nations and international organizations. Her career began with studies in public relations, publicity, and international relations before she shifted her focus to international development and pursued a Master’s Degree in Development and International Cooperation at the University of Bologna, Italy.
Since then, Laura has worked with seven UN agencies, gaining experience across a wide range of global issues, including gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, data and artificial intelligence, child protection, counter-terrorism, and the prevention of violent extremism. She currently works at UN Women, where she focuses on strategic coordination, knowledge management, accountability, monitoring and evaluation, and advancing gender equality.
Having lived in New York for the past decade, Laura is also actively engaged in her local community. She serves on the Executive Board of the NYPD 17th Precinct Community Council, where she helps organize community initiatives and events, including National Night Out Against Crime. In recognition of her community engagement, she received an Award from the New York State Assembly.
Drawing on her international career and diverse experiences, Laura is passionate about encouraging young women to remain curious, embrace opportunities beyond their comfort zones, and recognize the value of both professional and field experience. Her own career journey reflects the importance of being open to new directions, continuing to learn, and finding opportunities to make a meaningful contribution.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Laura
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A senior woman in the U.S. government once told me, “You are capable of reaching leadership positions, but you have to compete and use your brain. It is a tough world.” Something clicked for me that day. I realized that I could not expect others to recognize what I could contribute if I was not willing to speak up myself. From then on, I became more intentional about sharing what I could do, acknowledging where I needed to improve, and making my voice heard. It taught me that confidence is not about believing you have all the answers; it is about being willing to contribute, learn, and keep growing.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Seek opportunities to gain experience on the ground in different countries and across different organizations rather than staying within your comfort zone. Working in new environments is empowering: it challenges you, stretches your skills, broadens your perspective, and helps you grow both professionally and personally. Cultivate curiosity and look beyond your immediate responsibilities. Do not limit yourself to your job description; volunteer to support other teams, projects, or organizations whenever you can. These experiences can give you a broader understanding of how organizations work, expose you to new perspectives and skills, and help you discover opportunities you may not have considered otherwise.
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