Forbes Columnist and Self-Advocacy Expert
ABOUT STARLA SAMPACO:
Starla Sampaco is a Filipino-American columnist, international keynote speaker, and host with a background in TV news. Currently, she is a contributor to Forbes and Harvard Business Review, where she focuses on teaching women and people of color how to advocate for themselves at work.
Previously, Starla taught graduate students at the University of Washington Communication Leadership Master's Program, where she developed a course on self-advocacy and professional visibility as an adjunct faculty member. Prior to this, Starla was the main news anchor for Seattle's PBS channel, which garnered approximately 1.67 million viewers each week throughout Washington state and Canada. As a journalist, she also covered Washington state politics as a legislative reporter and hosted a technology news show.
Throughout her career, Starla has often been the “only” in many professional settings – the only woman, the only person of color, and/or the only millennial (the youngest) in the room. Over the past decade, she has navigated these challenging power dynamics while building a successful career in media, despite being told she was “too young” to succeed in TV and "too ambitious." These experiences taught Starla the importance of advocating for herself and taking up space unapologetically. Her greatest passion in life is sharing these skills and lessons with others, so they can thrive (not just survive) in their careers.
