Autumn 24 Full The Entrepreneurial Spirit Issue Final

Lawless followed that path instead. Her journey into corporate human relations would take her across a vast range of companies and industries, eventually leading her to spearhead DEI initiatives at various companies, including Instagram and Meta––one of the largest tech conglomerates in the world. While the saying “good things require effort” rings true for most (if not all) people, it rang doubly true for Lawless. During her nineteen- year career in the corporate world, Lawless often found herself as the only Black woman (or Black person) on her teams. She often felt burnt out from the never- ending barrage of work, the additional tasks she would take on to be just as visible as other team members. Additionally, she at times encountered an unconscious bias from her teammates and leaders. All this while being an active family woman. Lawless believed she was sacrificing her true personality, making her feel that the book was intended to inspire and educate readers unauthentically. Lawless began her career chasing the American dream but lacked fulfillment despite her material success. While her job came with many benefits, Lawless found herself without time for her family or the things she loved to do because she traveled and worked all the time. Eventually, Lawless had to decide how she wanted to live, which led to her exit from her corporate career.

To the average person, leaving a management role at one of the biggest tech companies in the world would sound incredibly bold— and that’s precisely what Regina Lawless is. With a stellar résumé featuring leading companies like Target, Micron, Meta, and more, the decision to walk away from her nineteen-year career in corporate HR and DEI was pivotal. Even more impressive is her current job— Founder/CEO of Bossy and Blissful, an avenue for corporate leaders to learn to juggle the demands of the corporate world to live a blissful life. While Lawless’s journey has not been entirely rosy, it has made her a balanced, joyful woman who knows exactly what she wants and is now helping others find their purpose amidst the noise. From combining family life with the exacting demands of her various roles over the years to navigating grief after her husband’s death, Lawless has experienced her share of highs and lows and is now dedicated to helping more women make more precise choices that improve their quality of life and ensure success in their fields. From Communications Graduate to Corporate Trailblazer After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communications studies and a minor in public relations from Sacramento State University in 2004, the natural progression for Lawless would have been either a journalism or public relations career. However, the opportunity to join Target’s HR department arose, and

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