Rebecca Burdette, 38
Director, LSU Communication Across the Curriculum
Rebecca Burdette has opened the floodgates at LSU for unique and innovative ideas. In co-founding TEDxLSU, she helped bring dozens of speakers and visionaries from all walks of life to LSU. Her work as director of CxC, which aims to improve the communication skills of LSU students, impacts 10,000 students each year. Before that, she helped launch the LSU Foundation’s “Forever LSU” campaign and led a call center for displaced students after Hurricane Katrina. Burdette has been active with the Junior League of Baton Rouge for the past six years, and also volunteers for East Baton Rouge Parish Schools, Red Cross and the Louisiana 4-H Foundation. She’s now working on her Ph.D. in organizational training and development.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- Helping bring the first TEDx to Baton Rouge and seeing it grow and evolve each year.
- Serving as a founding member of the U.S./Canada Wikipedia in Higher Education Foundation.
- Leading LSU’s Hurricane Katrina Emergency Information Call Center, which fielded 6,000 plus calls and became the admissions hub for 3,000 plus displaced college students.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
TEDx, Junior League of Baton Rouge, WikiEDU Foundation, American Red Cross, LSU Foundation, Emergenetics International and YMCA of Baton Rouge.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. I keep it handy because I need the reminders more frequently than I care to admit.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
Magpie Cafe because it’s relaxed and one meeting inevitably becomes three! Turkey and brie Panini or whatever Lina is cooking.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
I really hope it hasn’t happened yet.
HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?
For me, it is less about getting pumped and more about relaxing. A quiet moment, a deep breath and a quick “power pose” calms me.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
When a student handwrote, “You’re the reason I am stronger and more confident, and you are why I will be successful. Thank you for being tough and for caring.”
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA MOMENT?”
When I realized it is actually possible to do the things I love, make a difference in my community, and still afford to pay most of the bills.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?
Turning off email.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Not everyone’s decision making is guided by “because it’s the right thing to do.”
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
Business casual.
WHY PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
Love my colleagues who embrace learning and thinking differently. Hate paperwork and budgets.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
“Even when we disagree, I know we can still enjoy a drink together.”
MAC OR PC?
PC.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
I really strive to be present and live in the moment as much as possible. I haven’t yet figured out how to do that and be active on social media.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
Too many.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET IN % BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
I let it die completely, then welcome the silence and call it a day!
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
For my work email, everything in the inbox is marked as “read,” though about 35 still need attention within the next few hours and there are 172 in my “read before the end of the month” box. Let’s not talk about the unread emails in my personal email box.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
TED.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
DVR and on demand because the networks seldom align the good shows with my availability.
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Cell service on the beach.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
6 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
It depends on the day’s agenda.
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
A creative collaborator and enabler for LSU and Baton Rouge.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP”?
Am I?
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Way too many “bests” to count and I’m hoping there’s many more to come! But some of my favorites so far have been my first experiences in Negril, Jamaica; Temecula, California; and New York City.
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
Whatever was in that “second secret present” from my grandmother.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
Telepathy—it would save me so much time.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
I’m not.
FAVORITE DRINK?
A good glass of cabernet in the winter, sauvignon blanc in the summer, and a lychee martini anytime of year.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Failure is a good thing and it will teach you more than any success. Don’t fear it. Take the risk.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEMORABLE CELEBRITY ENCOUTNERS? WHAT HAPPENED?
Dinner with Wayne Brady. I’ve never laughed so hard!
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
Writing a dissertation.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Anything is possible.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Anything is possible.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
You can do it all, just not all at the same time. Pick one or two things at a time and go all in with your heart, hands and mind. Focus on one or two specific organizations/activities for a while, give them your all, then pass the torch, and pick another.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
I’m not sure. Anything is possible!
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
- Finish this PhD.
- Relax in Tahiti.
- Eat my way through Italy.
