By Ramey Vachal, Communications Specialist
Amidst a busy homecoming schedule, I sat down with LaChandra Pye, ’09, senior corporate counsel at global technology company ABB and this year's College of Law multicultural homecoming honoree. Pye is based in Atlanta and serves as an in-house corporate generalist with experience in government contracts. She previously served as senior transactions attorney for the city of Atlanta and general counsel for Caduceus Healthcare Inc. Pye was chosen as one of eight guests during UNL’s 2022 multicultural homecoming celebration. During her visit, she shared her experiences with colleagues, faculty and students throughout UNL.
Pye said there were many levels to this honor. She felt she was honoring the legacy of her maternal grandmother, who passed away in June of this year. She said it was especially impactful given that her grandmother was born in the time of segregation and saw the world transform throughout her lifetime. “I like to say that I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams,” she said. Having grown up in Jackson, Georgia, Pye felt the honor also meant a great deal as someone from a small town. She hoped it would show other small-town residents that they shouldn’t feel restricted by their location, as they can still achieve great things.
One of Pye’s main goals is inspiring others to reach these milestones and be their best selves. She does this by fostering relationships and maintaining the belief that everyone has a unique purpose. “We all are the solution to a problem, and we all have greatness that lies within us,” she said. Pye is able to pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of others by creating these relationships, which then allows her to provide them with resources to utilize their talents.
Many of the conversations taking place during Pye’s stay centered around bias and inclusive leadership. Pye’s approach to the issue is simple. “Before you interrupt bias, you have to expose it,” she said. She emphasized that everyone holds some type of unconscious bias engrained in them based on stereotypes they form through life experiences. For her, the right tools and resources must be provided in order to identify and address this bias. Then, a more inclusive environment can be built. Still, she said, “Interrupting bias does not mean comfortable. You have to have uncomfortable discussions and you have to take uncomfortable actions to interrupt those biases.”
Pye shared her advice on becoming an inclusive leader. Inclusive leadership, she said, starts as being inclusive in one’s personal life and using emotional intelligence. In professional settings, leaders must learn how to engage in relationships and build a foundation of trust. “You want to lead because people want to follow you, not because they have to,” she said. Additionally, she added that effective leaders need to know when it’s time to follow.
Pye said one standout moment in her career was when she became general counsel for Caduceus Healthcare, a multimillion-dollar corporation, at the age of 32. She took a somewhat untraditional path to get there, as she had no experience working in a large law firm. She was originally helping the company’s CEO find someone to fill the position when he told her he recognized something within her that she couldn’t see herself. Afterwards, Pye realized she had everything she needed to be successful. The experience taught her that there are many ways to reach your goals. “There is no one path to get to where you’re going,” she said.
Pye said her most impactful mentors during her time at Nebraska Law were Professor Anna Shavers and Professor Catherine Wilson, as they provided avid support for students of color. “They were just phenomenal. I could talk to them about anything,” she said. Pye also remembers her time spent in the Multicultural Legal Society (MCLS) and the Black Law Student Association (BLSA). Former faculty member John Gradwohl, ’53, would host game nights for students alongside his wife Jan, ’54. Pye remembers the fun she had with them and how they provided a safe space to get away from the stress of school.
One thing Pye hadn’t prepared for when coming to Nebraska was the frigid winter temperatures. Eventually, she swapped her light jackets for heavy coats. Her advice for current students: “Ensure they’re being intentional about taking care of their mental health,” she said. “And stay warm out there!”