Forging a Path of Balance in the Professional World

   Winds of Change spoke with Laurence Brown, Navajo (Diné), who is employed at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico as a recruiter, technical manager in the government relations department, and liaison to tribal governments. As a recruiter, Brown helps Sandia Labs identify potential candidates while they are in college, and matches their interests and skills with internship and staff positions at Sandia. He has been an active member of AISES since 1986 as a student, professional, a member of the board of directors, and corporate representative.
   In this interview, Brown shared his thoughts about job opportunities in Indian Country and ideas on developing professionalism.

Winds of Change: What kinds of jobs are opening up in Indian Country?
   Laurence Brown: I am seeing a lot of opportunities in Indian Country right now. In my current job, I have a lead role in our interactions with tribes and I maintain an awareness of tribes who have the capability to become manufacturers or suppliers, or who can turn technology into a business. In the past, tribes may not have had the resources to seek economic diversity. Now, in part due to gaming and energy production opportunities, tribal economic diversity goals are opening up many facets of business and technology. Many tribes are now building the infrastructure necessary to sustain technology and manufacturing capabilities. We will be seeing more and more tribes becoming involved in homeland security technologies.
   I also see economic growth in water resource and energy production. Tribes’ water rights can comprise a key component of economic development. If tribes choose to, they can leverage those rights along with infrastructure development to attract businesses. Developing renewable energy resources also provides revenue and economic diversification for tribes. All of these opportunities lead to job opportunities for which many American Indian professionals already possess the necessary skills. I urge our existing and up-and-coming Native professionals to develop a keen eye for these opportunities.

How do you define professional success?
   My definition of a successful professional starts with someone who is able to balance and continually re-set personal, family, and career goals no matter what field s/he is pursuing. One must start out by setting goals for excellent grades in school, or by meeting all of their deadlines, attending every class, or doing something as simple as doing what they say they are going to do. As we gain life experiences, our goals and priorities also change. Therefore, we need to evaluate our goals to determine if they are in line with our priorities. Success means accomplishing what one personally sets out to do. As an American Indian professional, I found myself making a conscious effort to balance my Native culture with a professional career. For me, it was important to first recognize that I had to change myself before I could learn to balance my culture with my career and then affect change in my environment. I believe it is important to recognize that one may have to integrate one’s work environment, family, cultural traditions and the larger society when one becomes a professional.

What advice can you offer to aspiring professionals?
   I work in a technological field and I have a lead role in the identification and recruitment of American Indian people for our laboratory. As a mentor of student interns and as one who is also mentored, I believe in mentoring. I look for individuals who are willing to listen and ask questions. I look for someone inquisitive and open to sharing knowledge. I try also to be honest and impart practical knowledge. For instance, I advise young people to be resourceful and to take advantage of every opportunity.
   I tell them to always act professionally and put their best foot forward—just because they can dress in T-shirts and shorts doesn’t mean they should. Individual behavior can be interpreted as a reflection of a whole community. A young per-son may not be aware that his/her behavior impacts the community from which he or she comes. What they do early in their career may affect future opportunities. They never know when they will need to make a career change. It is important to realize that because it is not uncommon to change jobs every few years, it is essential to keep all avenues open.