After working as a paralegal and serving almost eight years in the Army National Guard, Vanessa Lawson, M.S.L.S. ’25, developed a passion for justice and helping others. She thought about pursuing a J.D. degree but realized that she didn’t need to become a lawyer in order to be able to advocate for others.
In 2018, Lawson launched a modeling and talent agency, driven by a desire to create a platform that celebrated beauty and individuality across all backgrounds. Inspired by the models she used at the time, she realized how the modeling industry in Minnesota lacked true diversity and representation of diverse backgrounds.
During her thirteen-month deployment to Iraq and Kuwait amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Lawson reimagined her business as a tech-driven talent management firm. Inspired by insights from fellow soldiers on Web3 and AI, and concerned by the misuse of performers’ likenesses, she founded Porte Management Agency. The company now advocates for the rights of talent, models, and athletes, operating internationally with a team of around thirteen and a six-member board, with Lawson as founder and CEO.
In order to continue growing her company, Lawson knew she would need to really understand the ins and outs of business law, so she decided to apply to Cornell Law School’s M.S.L.S Program—a twenty-month master’s program in legal studies designed specifically for business professionals. Lawson graduated from the M.S.L.S. program in May and is working diligently to expand and solidify her business.
In addition to running Porte Management Agency, Lawson is applying her newfound legal knowledge to her “passion project,” working with other members of the Porte family to help descendants of slaves who fled from Barbados to Liberia around 150 years ago to establish dual citizenship, as their ancestors had to renounce Barbados citizenship to become Liberians.
In 1865, the Porte family, led by John Prince Porte, escaped slavery in Barbados and resettled in Liberia, where they reconnected with their African heritage. Decades later, journalist Albert Porte, a descendant, exposed human rights abuses in Liberia, leading to his imprisonment. His legacy inspired Lawson, a distant relative, to explore her roots. Born in Liberia and raised in Minnesota after fleeing civil conflict, Lawson returned as an adult to engage deeply with her family’s history. Her work now focuses on genealogical research to help descendants of Barbadian-Liberians reclaim dual citizenship, bridging historical and cultural ties between the two nations.
“I’m a firm believer that in order to get where you’re going, you need to know where you’ve been,” said Lawson.
Lawson is in the process of reclaiming her Liberian citizenship, which she had to renounce when moving to the United States, as Liberia lacked dual citizenship laws until 2022. Lawson has been doing this international work, individually, for three years now, and for the past four months, collectively working with her family. She has stayed in Liberia to help with this process, all the while growing her business and finishing her M.S.L.S. degree through Cornell.
“In the M.S.L.S. program, we strive to admit students who will not only benefit from the program but also contribute to its growth and richness. Vanessa truly exemplifies this philosophy, and we are very proud of what she has been able to accomplish,” said Fouad Saleet, assistant dean for external education.
