Black History Month Series - Featuring Olivea HolleyThis blog is part of our Black History Month Series.  

Olivea Holley is a Senior Recruiting Manager and has been with Consilio for four years now. Olivea earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from Villanova University and her Juris Doctorate from the Howard University School of Law. To Olivea, Black History Month is a time to reflect on the history and accomplishments that African Americans have made in this country. It also shows that representation matters. It is important for everyone, but particularly people of color, to see and acknowledge the contributions African American’s have made to our society.

Is there anyone who specifically stands out to you in black history?

Sojourner Truth. I have always known about the advocacy work that she did for women’s rights suffragist movement and the abolition of slavery, but in the last few years, I also learned that she successfully petitioned to have her son freed from slavery.

If you could go back to a monumental moment in black history, what would it be and why?

I would go back to the founding of Howard University. I am an alumna of the Howard University School of Law, which is a historically black university, and it has had a tremendous impact on my life and so many other people around me. It’s really had an amazing impact on the United States and the rest of the world as a result of the alumni that have come from it. Howard has produced influential social engineers in the fields of science, technology, liberal arts, business, entertainment, law, medicine, and divinity to name a few. Alumni are taught from day one to help each other and to contribute towards societal change. So because of this, I would love to see the founding of this institution that has meant so much to so many people – I don’t think anyone could have imagined its impact at the time.

What verbal legacy/piece of advice would you leave for those who come after you in your current position at Consilio?

I would say be kind. A function of my position is to talk to a lot of people every day. It is amazing how one small moment of kindness toward someone can impact their life by just knowing that someone is there to listen. It takes so much more effort to not be nice. So just be kind.

What is something important you feel like you’ve learned at Consilio?

I have learned to reach out to people higher up on the organizational chart for guidance. If you have a challenge or issue, somebody else has probably gone through something similar, and they usually have insight that can help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to different people, not only in your department but in other departments as well.