By Michela Gritti
Students and faculty joined in the Thomas Hall Auditorium on Monday, Nov. 3, for an evening of inspiration and reflection as Cassondra Searight, President and Founder of Eagle Consulting & Development LLC, shared her story and her vision for finding purpose in both work and life.
The event, part of UNCP’s Career Speaker Series 2025–2026, brought a mix of motivation and practical advice for students preparing to enter the professional world. Searight, a global expert in organizational transformation and leadership, spoke about how to navigate the workspace and build confidence within it, with the goal of creating lasting financial and personal growth.
A proud Robeson County native, Searight grew up on Prospect Road, attended Prospect Methodist Church, and graduated from Purnell Swett High School. Her path took her from service in the U.S. Navy to positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of State, before she launched her own consulting company. Today, her firm focuses on four core areas: Human Capital Strategy and Management, Organizational Development and Change, Leadership Development, and Business Strategy Solutions.
Searight opened her talk by saying her goal was to share “everything I wish I had known when I was your age.” She guided students through key lessons on how to advocate for themselves to boost their own professional growth and design the careers they want.
“Your career is a marathon, not a sprint,” she said. “Every step you take today compounds in the success story you’ll tell tomorrow.”
Throughout her talk, Searight emphasized that career growth is a journey full of opportunities to learn, adapt, and redefine goals. Mentors, sponsors, and coaches, she explained, play a crucial role in that journey. Mentors provide guidance, sponsors advocate for your advancement, and coaches help unlock your full potential.
Still, challenges are part of the process, and Searight reminded students that obstacles can support growth if approached with resilience and a strong sense of purpose. “The biggest barrier to self-advocacy is internal, not external,” she said. “Confidence isn’t about never feeling fear, but it’s about acting despite the fear.”
A major theme of the night was financial empowerment. Searight encouraged students to take control of their finances early, not just by earning money but by learning how to make it work for them. She explained the value of consistent investing and introduced options like 401(k) plans and Roth or Traditional IRAs, as tools for building generational wealth.
“Financial empowerment is not just about earning money; it’s about making the money work for you,” she said.
Searight also spoke about self-advocacy, reminding students that “the workplace won’t automatically give you what you deserve.” She offered practical strategies, such as document your wins, practice your pitch, and choose the right time to speak up, to help students prepare for promotion conversations and career growth.
Also, she encouraged the audience to view career advancement as a process of both reflection and action. “Knowledge without action remains just potential,” she said, encouraging students to take concrete steps toward their goals every day, starting tomorrow.
To close, Searight shared four values she believes are essential in any workplace: grace, empathy, space, and compassion. These, she said, are the foundations of self-compassion and leadership.
Her final message was simple but powerful: “You don’t need to have everything figured out right now, you just need to start.”
In the end, her talk was much more than just about careers or success: it was about believing that every small move, every risk, and every lesson learned is part of the bigger story you’re writing. A story that begins right now.