Meet Dr. V, a woman rewriting the rules of leadership. Her story reads like a Hollywood script: a former stripper with a felony record, picking up dog poop to support her family, now a respected leadership expert with a Ph.D. Dr. V isn’t just talking about change; she’s living it.
The Unconventional Path
Dr. V’s journey began in an unexpected place – the strip club. “I learned more about human motivation in the champagne room than in any MBA class,” she quips. This hands-on experience in sales and human psychology would later prove invaluable.
Life threw curveballs: single motherhood and felony charges landed her in prison. But even there, Dr. V saw opportunity. “Being handcuffed to someone who murdered their husband and still seeing their humanity is life-changing,” she reflects. Prison became a crash course in empathy and resilience.
Post-release, Dr. V found herself scooping dog poop for $8 an hour. “I put that grocery bag around my hand to feed my family,” she recalls. This humbling experience fueled her determination to change her life.
Education: The Great Equalizer
In 2017, Dr. V decided to invest in herself through education. Online learning became her ticket to success. “These online schools are the future,” she declares. “They’re the biggest equity play because they remove barriers like parking, childcare, and safety concerns.”
Dr. V collected degrees (B.S., M.B.A., D.B.A.) faster than most acquire streaming subscriptions. “It wasn’t about smarts,” she explains. “It was about access.”
Lessons from Unexpected Places
Dr. V’s diverse experiences shaped her unique approach to business:
- Sales skills from stripping: “You manage a book of business, have a quota, and need a strong value proposition.”
- The power of diversity: “Diverse teams increase profits by 15-35%. That’s scientific fact.”
- The value of underdogs: “Want a scrappy employee who won’t miss quotas? Hire a single mom or someone from a marginalized community.”
Building Inclusive Teams for Success
Dr. V’s formula for success is simple: Diversity + Inclusion = Profit. She offers practical strategies for creating inclusive workplaces:
- Recognize diversity in your product line and apply it to your people.
- Offer practical benefits like food stipends and cleaning services instead of gym memberships.
- Provide mentorship opportunities, especially from unexpected sources.
- Focus on hiring for humanity and resilience, not just qualifications.
Addressing Leadership Fears
Many leaders resist diversity initiatives out of fear. Dr. V counters this mindset:
“It’s not about taking jobs away. It’s about creating a neutral pool of opportunity,” she explains. Diversity brings innovation, better problem-solving, and improved decision-making.
The Role of Social Support
Dr. V emphasizes the critical role of support systems in career success. She advises:
- Build a network of practical support (cleaning, childcare, etc.).
- Seek mentorship, even from unexpected sources.
- Advocate for corporate support like flexible work arrangements and mental health resources.
Redefining Work-Life Balance
Dr. V challenges traditional notions of success and “having it all.” Her advice:
- Define what happiness means to you.
- Prioritize what truly matters.
- Outsource tasks that don’t align with your goals.
- Embrace technology to simplify your life.
- Choose your battles wisely.
Call to Action
Dr. V’s journey from stripper to scholar proves that your past doesn’t define your future. She challenges everyone to:
- Check your biases and embrace diversity.
- Amplify underrepresented voices.
- Become a mentor and advocate.
- Redefine success on your own terms.
- Create supportive environments for others.
The equity revolution is here. It’s time to adjust your ring light, crank up the volume, and show the world how it’s done – Dr. V style. The future of leadership is equitable, profitable, and fabulous. Are you ready to join the movement?
In this compelling episode, we dive deep into the extraordinary journey of Dr. V, a leadership expert and author who defied all odds to transform her life from incarceration to empowerment.
Dr. V shares her raw, authentic story of resilience, from her experiences as a single mother and former stripper to becoming a respected doctor and advocating for workplace diversity.
Listen as Dr. V challenges conventional wisdom on hiring practices, team building, and workplace culture. She offers eye-opening insights on the value of diverse perspectives in driving innovation and boosting company profits.
With a blend of personal anecdotes and data-driven observations, Dr. V makes a powerful case for inclusivity as a key driver of business success.
Highlights include:
- The unexpected leadership lessons learned from unlikely experiences
- The critical role of social support in career advancement
- Practical strategies for creating more equitable and productive workplaces
- The importance of authenticity and “keeping it real” in professional settings
- How companies can rethink employee benefits to truly support work-life balance
Whether you’re a business leader looking to build more effective teams or an individual seeking to navigate your career path, this episode offers valuable takeaways on harnessing diversity, overcoming adversity, and redefining success on your terms.
Join us for an inspiring conversation that will challenge your perspectives and motivate you to embrace your unique journey.
For more insights from Dr. V, check out her new book “Fix Your Face and Watch Your Tone: Women Know What’s Needed” available on Amazon. In this compelling guide, Dr. V tackles equity challenges faced by marginalized communities, offering practical solutions for career success and personal fulfillment.
