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Our employees are at the heart of everything we do at PayPal, and this month for my #RisingLeaders series, I’m excited to spotlight one who continues to inspire me through her purpose-centered work. Andrea Donkor is a vice president on our regulatory relations team and is also a key sponsor of Amplify, PayPal’s employee resource group for our Black employees and allies. Outside of work, she’s also a board member of New York Urban League, an organization that empowers African Americans and other underserved communities to secure a first-class education, economic self-reliance and equal respect of their civil rights through programs, services and advocacy. I’m excited to share more about what shaped her personal drive to create a more equal world. 

Meet Andrea: Vice president of regulatory relations at PayPal

What is the first thing you wanted to be when you grew up? Has it changed since then?  

I wanted to be many things: Up until college, I wanted to become a doctor. But after a particularly challenging semester of calculus, I realized that my talents were better served elsewhere. Shortly thereafter, I decided to go to law school to become a lawyer. After law school, I made my way into financial services in a compliance role and have continued to evolve in the compliance and risk management space ever since.  

Where did you find your passion? Is there a memory or experience that has informed your worldview and personal drive?  

I didn’t know my passion until I was thrust into the opportunity. I had a leader early on in my career who recognized I had certain strengths, saw potential in me, and rewarded that potential by giving me challenging high-stake projects that often required interfacing with regulators. In truth, early on in my career, it was nerve-wracking. However, with each positive outcome, I came to recognize my own capabilities and recognized that my nerves, and at times, outright fear of failure (which was very real) had no bearing on my success. This recognition was transformative for me and it soon changed my outlook. It helped me to move beyond fear and use it as an enabler, rather than a hindrance, when faced with a challenge.

How do you want to change the world? What opportunities and challenges are you facing in pursuing that goal?  

I am a first-generation American of Ghanaian descent. My parents emigrated to the US in the 1970s and while they worked hard and instilled a strong work ethic, I recognize that much of my present circumstance is owed to their chance opportunity to come to this country where I was able to achieve an education that enabled my career. I never lose sight of that; however, I feel that education and economic advancement should not be a byproduct of chance. There are many others who are more capable and talented who are not afforded the same opportunity. My long-term goal is to disrupt systems that create barriers to educational and economic opportunities for others. I have been particularly attuned to this disparity in global communities of color, given my lived experiences and I have been just as motivated to want to make an impact in Kumasi, Ghana as I am in Brooklyn, NY. It has become my purpose.

Like most purpose-centered work, the scale of the goal is overwhelming. Accordingly, identifying the entry point at which to begin driving toward this goal in earnest is something I have continued to focus on. However, I have long embraced the philosophy that if I was aligned with my purpose, doors would open. Thankfully, those doors have included working at PayPal. Our focus on enabling others to maintain and move money as a right and not a privilege has demonstrated to me that it is possible to create advantageous economic opportunities for others at scale.

As one of the key sponsors for Amplify, PayPal’s employee resource group for our Black employees and allies, what has been most rewarding about serving in this role?

Being a sponsor for Amplify this past year has been rewarding, but also a heavy and sobering responsibility. Following the successive murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd, the shooting of Jacob Blake and the related protests amplifying the Black Lives Matter movement, the Amplify community was compelled to lead. We often found ourselves in the middle of processing these harrowing events, while simultaneously trying to identify opportunities to foster transformative change. As a leader within this organization which represents a variety of thoughtful and intelligent voices, perspectives and ideas on the best paths forward, our Amplify members have taught me the importance of creating space, opportunities and platforms for every voice in order to further the collective interests. Through their tireless efforts, our members have taken concrete steps to have a meaningful impact both within and outside of PayPal. While there is still a long path to go, witnessing this empowerment and action has been incredibly rewarding. 

You’re also a board member of New York Urban League, an organization that’s doing inspiring work to drive equality and strengthen underserved communities. How did you get involved and what are some specific initiatives the organization is supporting? 

In early 2018, I connected with the New York Urban League CEO Arva Rice. During one of our conversations, she pressed me on what I was doing to serve the communities in which I’d lived. She presented the opportunity to join the New York Urban League and as a life-long New Yorker (though I now live in NJ), I couldn’t pass up the chance to work with an organization that has such a rich legacy in New York’s black community. I viewed this opportunity as another open door that brought me closer to my purpose.

Like most not-for-profit organizations 2020 has been a challenging year for the New York Urban League. In fact, it is the organization’s centennial year. And while we are celebrating its longevity in a manner far different than we’d originally expected due to COVID, we are staying true to our mission by continuing to provide resources for families. For example, in mid-November, we are launching our 34th annual Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) fair, which will occur virtually this year and will enable students in the New York area access to more than 50 HBCU admissions representatives, alumni and staff and grant “on the spot” admissions and scholarships to many well-deserving students. 

The New York Urban League’s grand ambition, however, is in developing New York’s leading STEM school to employment pipeline supported by an ecosystem of New York’s public and private high schools, colleges/universities and leading technology companies. We are actively in search of key partners to enable this goal.

What value is most important for a leader to embody, especially in today’s world? 

In my opinion, there is a premium on empathy as a leader more than any other value, particularly in these times as our work and home lives are converging. This year has revealed that we have to create the space between and among each other to take care of ourselves, our families and communities that depend on us. I came across a saying that said, “empathy works so well because it does not require a solution, but rather only requires understanding.” Understanding means being willing to say to your team, “if you need to take time to rest, rest” and/or “if you need support, lean on us.” It is incumbent on every one of us to normalize these behaviors.

Follow #RisingLeaders to stay up to date on the series, and share with me who a rising leader in your life is – it can be someone you know personally or someone you haven’t met, but are inspired by.