Prior to joining RANE, Campbell completed her Masters in Global Affairs and Transnational Security at NYU where she focused on the disengagement and deradicalization of violent extremist groups. She has conducted fieldwork with former and current combatants from terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Darul Islam, and ISIS, among others, and previously worked for the Counterterrorism Executive Directorate at the UN, as well as for Results Intl’ Research & Consulting where her work contributed to a series of joint reports and publications with NGA, USAID, UNESCO, ACE, and DOD-AFRICOM.
What attracted you to come and work at RANE?
A lot of things, but if I were to sum it up – the people. The people at RANE and in our expert network really embody what RANE is all about and the opportunity that’s available to you in working here. You get to be a part of a group of people who come from all different backgrounds, specialities, and spaces, and who really are the best of the best at what they do. This was a major learning opportunity for me, but it’s equally turned out to be an opportunity to build my own network and connect with leaders in industries I would have never known otherwise.
What is it like to work at RANE?
It’s like getting to go back to school for all of those degrees you wish you had studied and were always curious in, but instead you’re getting paid to do it, actually put it to work, AND it’s a lot more fun. 😉 RANE is unique in that if offers an environment where you can have a niche and specialize in something, without being limited to that topic and that topic only. Part of this is just our business model because we cover a wide range of issues across all different sectors, but it’s also a product of the leadership and culture we have at RANE. Not only am I confronted by a new issue or idea every day, but I have the freedom and the responsibility of determining what to do with it and where to run with it.
What advice do you have for those exploring job opportunities?
1. Whether it’s here or somewhere else, pick a place where you can learn – or better yet, pick a place that allows you to apply what you learn. It’s one thing to sit behind the scenes and soak it all in, but it’s a whole other experience to be out on the front lines making a difference and doing something with it.
2. Value the “ride” as much as you value the “results.” Often the former drives the latter anyway, so pick a place that you’ll actually enjoy walking into every day, with people who you’ll actually look forward to seeing every day! People are everything, so try to surround yourself with some that you can both learn from and laugh with.
What is one thing that most people would not know about you?
I am Cardi B.
