Meet Dr. LaCesha Clark

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. LaCesha Clark. 

Hi Dr. LaCesha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
You appreciate the blessing much more when you recognize the sacrifice it took to obtain it. Now if you were to read my background in a news article or blog, you would probably paint the picture of a broken woman who had no choice to give in to defeat. But that’s not what you’re going to get today. I can never share my journey without giving thanks to the life and legacy of those who set the standard for me to follow. At the age of 3 weeks old, my grandfather walked down the street as he normally would to pick me up to babysit while my mother went to work. Only this time after talking to my grandmother, he never brought me back. As much as my mother loved me, at the time in her life she wasn’t equipped to raise a child. But because of the love my grandparents had for me they took me in and raised me as their own. Many people say that they don’t know where their life would have taken them, but I’m pretty sure that my grandparents were my superheroes, pulling me away from a known dope house. My birth father has been absent most of my life. When it was time to decide on my care and future upbringing, it was love that prompted my mother to approve of my grandparents(Mom and Daddy) not only raising me but legally adopting me as their own to provide a better life for me. I’m forever grateful to them and their love and care is why I push so hard every day. It was the same love from mom and daddy that helped to mature my mother and aide in turning her life completely around. Some days I look at her and laugh because I can’t imagine this Missionary today who has a heart for single mothers and young women being a drug dealer. She’s a testimony of strength and perseverance. Never count anyone out!

My Grandfather (Daddy) was big on education!!! If I came home without any homework, he would create homework assignments. If there was a book associated with a movie that I wanted to watch, he made me read it! Mom made sure that I was balanced not with just school but bringing me up with a reverence for God by raising me up in church and becoming active in ministries such as Sunday School and Purity Class at a young age. Together with love and respect they raised me and provided the best life they could for me. You don’t realize the sacrifices your parents make for you sometimes until you’re an adult. Looking back at everything, mom and daddy gave up their retirement years after raising all their children to raise me. Not having much money but a ton of love and drive, I never went without a need.

Hearing Daddy’s stories of his upbringing and service he gave to this country serving in World War II helped me to clearly understand why he was so big on education. He made me promise to take my education serious, no matter the obstacles that would be thrown in my path. I remember the pride he had when I was accepted into Grad School and how even on his sick bed coming home after receiving my Master’s Degree him telling me to keep going. Although, he was unable to see the day when I graduated with my Doctorate, I felt his love and pride.

Learning Design and Technology is an area that is near and dear to me. I’ve spent the past 18 years intrigued with understanding how people learn and creating the best learning experience to assist them in achieving success. In college I was the student that never took to plain black and white text or dry PowerPoint presentations overly loaded with text. This sparked my desire into taking a blend of my passion for technology and understanding how people work and combining it together. I’d soon take that passion with my undergraduate skills in Information Systems Management, cognate research in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Graduate Studies in Instructional Design to impact the surge of online learning when it was right at its highest peak. I worked with Professor’s to improve their online presence by creating content and assessment strategies that allowed students to work together collaboratively with the use of digital tools.

Spending the earliest moments of my career with some of the brightest and best pushed my desire for more. I began mentoring students in Detroit Public Schools to assist in exposing them to career paths that they may not have thought possible. Nearly 15 years later, I still mentor high school and minority college students as they navigate their road, reminding them that they can make it through any obstacle with a will to win.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely NOT! I’ve been the young lady looking in the mirror questioning myself and asking why a man would create a child and not love her and be there for her. I’ve been that teen trying to fit into the in-crowd and quickly realizing after allowing my GPA my sophomore year of High School drop to a 1.8 and skipping 6 out of the 8-hour schedule. I was that young jubilant college undergrad preparing to start grad school and being told that “You people tend not make it!” I’ve experienced blatant racism professionally and personally., witchcraft and bullying. I remember getting so sick on a previous job that I was sent to the doctor. The stress of the workload accompanied by a leader who did not know how to lead but was skilled in bullying had me at my desk throwing up bile. The doctor looked at me and asked me if I wanted to live as bad as I wanted this job. He warned me that the stress was taking a toll on my body, and he encouraged me to choose myself and find another job. That’s just what I did! The driving force in all those situations was the fact that I knew those thoughts, failures and tests were all set in place to distract me from reaching my greater. So, every time a roadblock came in my path, no matter how painful it was, no matter how many tears I cried or sleepless nights I’ve had from the stress of it all I got right back up and kept pushing. Hearing “you can’t” or “you aren’t good
enough” or “you don’t come from the right background” ALWAYS forced me to push through the struggle.

Although going through obstacles never feel good, it’s the recognition of the worth that helps bring clarity to the journey. When boxers get into the ring, they know the risks they take but the victory at the end is worth every scar and bruise. Looking back at every trial I’ve gone through has made me appreciate the maturity that each has taught. I was fortunate to have family, friends and mentors who poured into my life and reminded me of the victory in the struggle and although I’ve had moments that have dropped me to my knees, I never allowed myself to lie in defeat. Covered in tears, anger and hurt, I got back up and reminded myself that someone needs to hear that I overcame the fight and if I keep fighting God is always fighting on my behalf.

In October of 2019 only minutes after talking to my brother Brandon, I received a call that changed my life forever. He had been in a terrible car accident. A distracted driver ran a red light cutting the life of a Man of Valor short a day before his birthday. I spent a year and a half fighting through severe depression. I had to remind myself to FIGHT…fight for my internal peace…fight through the grief and pain. Every day I determine to keep his last words to me at the forefront of my heart. “Don’t count the days, make the days count.”

It is a joy to share my journey with people young and old. Yes, life is hard but with God on your side ANYTHING is possible. When I go into schools, some young people attempt to size me up and say I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. However, after 3 minutes of hearing my journey, I’ve captured their attention and by minute 5 I’ve captured their hearts. My professional and community work is tied to making everyday count by being a light and an impact. My work is impactful as it increases the awareness of all the great innovations provided in and currently in development at General Motors with the safety and security of our members remaining at the center of everything we do. My mentoring is impactful because it captures the hearts and minds of our youth by knowing their present circumstance does NOT determine their futures.

When I look at the lives of the now engineers, educators, nurses, and entrepreneurs that I’ve had a hand in mentoring I know my impact. I’ll continue to be a light and make an impact as I continue this road and excel to the next path designed just for me!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Today, I work at General Motors as a Global Instructional Design Leader, designing and developing industry breaking initiatives in the realm of learning and development. A black girl from the Southwest side of Detroit in a neighborhood known to many as its own unique area called “Zone 8.” A proud graduate of Detroit Public Schools. So….was it easy? NO…but it was and is still what has made me and continues to push me for greater. I am proud of who I am, where I’m from and where I’m going.

I’m responsible for the design and development of Global Sales Training Initiatives that impact the safety, security and connectivity needs of GM vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Middle East, and South America. I have the pleasure of creating learning experiences via face-to-face, virtual, and blended training solutions to solve knowledge, skill, and performance gaps, while aiming to help our employees flourish. Having a diverse background in Higher Education, Healthcare and Automotive industries has helped me to identify varying knowledge gaps and cultivate learning experiences that empower employees for success. I have a passion for taking complex information and making learning simple, engaging, and accessible to all.

What sets me apart from others is my passion to see everyone succeed. We can all win if we are willing to teach each other how to successfully climb that mountain. I pattern my work behind the African Proverb of “Each One, Teach One.” Our ancestors were denied access to education. An education that so many today take lightly. As one learned how to read and write, it was their responsibility to teach someone else. It is your individual responsibility to fertilize the ground for someone else to flourish.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Believing in yourself despite everything thrown in your path is a risk. But the greatest risk of all is doubt. If we lived in fear of all the chances for failure that this life can bring, we’d all be prisoners in our homes, afraid of the unknown. So, getting up out of the comfort zone and pushing through a hundred no’s, a thousand you’re not qualified’ s and a million “you’re not going to make it” is worth the risk when you make it to the 1 great YES, you did it, it’s yours!

I never count people out! Your current circumstance can quickly change for the greater. You must find a way to block out all the outside noise from the naysayers. Be very careful with who you share your dreams and aspirations with and never be afraid to walk alone. As much as some people may care for and love you, their lack of ambition can instantly deter you if you’re focused on pleasing everyone.
It’s not easy and it’s not always fun but in the face of it all, I will continue to BE A LIGHT and make an Impact.