Gabrielle Union Opens Up About the One Career Move That Changed Everything

Gabrielle Union Opens Up About the One Career Move That Changed Everything

Gabrielle Union, a multi-hyphenate talent, has built her success on reinvention and resilience. Speaking at the Variety Entertainment and Technology Summit, she reflected on her journey, she said: “It’s the power of the pivot. When it’s not working or it doesn’t sit right in my soul, I’m losing sleep. It’s wrong. I have to pivot, and there’s no shame in my game. I didn’t like it; it did not work for me. I’m going to try again.”

Union was recognized for ventures including Proudly, a baby-care brand for children of color launched with husband Dwyane Wade, along with Flawless haircare and Bitsy’s healthy snacks. She described her mission: “All I wanted to do was to help and ensure I covered the most vulnerable while centering the needs, wants, desires and fears of folks who have been historically marginalized. When I do that in my arts and entrepreneurship, my soul sings. That’s what it all boils down to.”

During a Q&A, Union recalled a defining moment from the Bad Boys II press tour in 2003: “While I had that microphone in my hand, I knew I could speak truth to power and make real change. That was the first time I was like, ‘Wow, people are listening to me, they’re printing what I’m saying and it’s traveling around the world. So I should say something of substance that helps more than just me.’” She added: “I’ve never betrayed that trust, and that allows me to tell different kinds of stories and create companies that center the most vulnerable. If those people can trust that I have their best interests at heart and I’m gonna do right by them, I can do anything.”

Union also reflected on her evolving career, from relaunching Flawless in 2020 to revisiting the 25th anniversary of Bring It On. Speaking about working behind the scenes, she said: “If you never have access to look behind the curtain to see how the sausage is made, you think what they show you is all that there is. The second I peeked behind the curtain, I said, ‘Oh hell no.’ There’s more to this. I wanted to be a part of making that happen. I wanted to be a part of how the sausage is made and not just eat whatever they handed me.”