Rachel Oh interviews Dawn Clarke-Doccuvi regarding her life experiences andwork at the American Red Cross.

In an interview led by Rachel Oh, the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Youth Action Campaign (YAC) Summit participants gained thoughtful insight from Dawn Clarke-Doccuvi. Rachel launched the fireside chat by briefly exploring Dawn’s background and path to where she is now before beginning a conversation in which Ms. Clarke-Doccuvi shared valuable advice and knowledge with her audience.

Dawn Clarke-Doccuvi is the General Counsel, Chief of Compliance, and Ethics Officer of the American Red Cross. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, a Master of Science in Education from New York, Brooklyn College, and a Juris Doctorate from Cornell University. Both her astonishing education and career path sparked questions and comments from YAC advocates. She has had a variety of professional experiences, including beginning her career as a teacher in New York prior to becoming a lawyer. As a lawyer, she has practiced law with focus on business and corporate matters. Continuing her amazing professional journey, Dawn traveled to Shanghai, China, which allowed her to broaden her international experience, connections, and cultural awareness. This is exemplified by her ability to speak a variety of languages which include English, German, Spanish, and French. As she shared her incredible past, her story allowed her to explain the challenges she faced and give attendees advice based on her own experience.

Dawn’s journey to the American Red Cross began with her career change. After years of teaching, she eventually gravitated to the field of law. After her educational career, she explored several different kinds of practices. Traveling to Shanghai was one of Dawn’s largest challenges early in her career. Looking back, she reflected on the sacrifices she made as a mother spending half a year away from her young family and those she loves, leading her to the tough decision to leave her job. Instead, she chose to focus on the time she had with her family, and while doing so, she learned about a position with the Red Cross. Despite facing initial rejection, Dawn remained determined and never stopped searching for her place. Her persistence paid off when she was offered another opportunity. After years of hard work, this led her to the role she is in now.

Dawn offered multiple pieces of advice and posed questions to attendees to reflect on when looking forward to their careers. “What can I do for you?” is a question she encouraged advocates to ask in day-to-day life, as well as in a business environment. Many times in the business world, it can be easy for one to be swallowed up by the potential gain from a venture. However, she also reminded the attendees to not “talk yourself out of a good thing.” Drawing upon lessons from her own personal anecdotes, she advised them to weigh the challenges versus rewards, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and, overall, to look for fulfillment. 

After the interview concluded, Dawn opened up the stage to questions and comments. She provided thoughtful responses and advice to questions about career changes, law school, and more, engaging with the crowd and showing deep interest in each question she received. The interview came to a close with a roaring applause for Dawn Clarke-Doccuvi. In closing, attendees walked out with a newfound knowledge of not only how career paths may shift and evolve, but also how personal values, cultural norms, and self-fulfillment play a vital role in them.

SUMMARY: In an insightful interview led by Rachel Oh at the IHL YAC Summit, Dawn Clarke-Doccuvi shared her remarkable journey and offered valuable advice to the audience. Dawn, General Counsel, Chief of Compliance, and Ethics Officer of the American Red Cross, detailed her impressive educational background, including degrees from the University of Toronto, New York Brooklyn College, and Cornell University. Her diverse career began as a teacher in New York before transitioning into law to focus on business and corporate interests. Dawn’s international experiences, particularly in Shanghai, sharpened her cultural understanding and language skills, including her proficiencies in English, German, Spanish, and French. She candidly discussed the challenges she faced, such as balancing career ambitions with family time and seeking fulfillment, which has led her to her current role at the Red Cross.