MEET DR.SAKEISHA HYLICK

New View with Dr. Sakeisha Hylick

TDR:  What issues are you most passionate about in your community?    

Dr. Sakeisha: One of the issues that I am most passionate about in the community is the alarming increase in the divorce rate among couples. Both my husband and I are products of divorce and we have committed to help couples begin to succeed where many marriages have failed. Our mission is to help decrease the rate of divorce by Educating, Empowering and Encouraging husbands and wives to WIN in their Marriage. It is our desire to help couples be prepared with the tools and strategies necessary to overcome what we call "The Great Divide" in marriage, which is Communication, Finances and Sex. It is these three key elements that contributes to the increase in divorce and we want to help couples succeed in these areas.

TDR: What are most of your philanthropy efforts typically directed towards serving?

Dr. Sakeisha: My efforts are typically directed towards serving those who have experienced unanticipated interruptions in their finances. The lack of income can have a significant impact on a marriage so we donate clothing and school supplies to parents who are otherwise unable to do so. We provide temporary housing for those who were victims of unfortunate life circumstances. I enjoy serving dinner to the homeless at various events and participating in clothing drives that facilitate the transition of women back into the workplace.

TDR:  How do you define leadership?

Dr. Sakeisha: I define leadership as a person who can not only create an inspiring vision but also motivates and inspires people to be their best self. A person who is in a leadership capacity that helps manage the delivery of the vision and coaches the team to help achieve the vision.

TDR:  How do you define your leadership style?

Dr. Sakeisha: My leadership style is Motivational. As women we wear many hats and face multiple challenges and I encourage the couples that I serve to consider new techniques that will help their Marriage to Win. I motivate them to want to succeed in their marriage. The truth is that God is no respector of persons, if he could bring me out the most challenging situations on my marriage, my goal is to inspire others to do the same. I try to always be mindful of that in my leadership style.

TDR:  What would be the most painful lesson that you've learned in life that has helped you become who you are today?

Dr. Sakeisha: Never to make a permanent decision in a temporary situation. In life we all experience our victories, as well as our challenges. Can you imagine what life would be like if we gave up every time we encountered an obstacle? I enjoy being able to look back over some of the darkest moments in my life when I wanted to give up but I didn't and I draw from those experiences to help others press their way through. It is okay if they need to Pause and regroup but not remain stuck there. Don't allow that one temporary setback to stifle your growth. Utilize it as a stepping stone to get back up again and use it is fuel to help others who may be experiencing the same thing.

TDR:  What would people be surprised to know that you had to overcome?

Dr. Sakeisha: What's so funny, is that I've had many people tell me that they thought that I've had it easy all of my life. That couldn't be further from the truth. I wore a mask very well. People would be surprised to know that I've had to overcome molestation and the divorce of my parents which resulted in low self-esteem, fear and overall unworthiness. At one point in my life, I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror! Everything had to be perfect in order for me to feel accepted and or worthy. As an adult I've had to overcome bankruptcy, repossession, fear of public speaking and shyness. Me? Shy? Absolutely, it was a daily struggle. But the truth is now I am able to recognize those who also wear that same mask that everything is okay, when it truly isn't. I draw from the pain of the past and use it to help other women overcome those challenges as well.

TDR:  Name 3 leaders that you look up to.     

Dr. Sakeisha: The first leader that I look up to is my Pastor Dr. Riva Tims. Pastor Riva is the epitome of a Proverbs 31 Woman. She is a bold, but humble leader and she encourages and inspires ever one that she comes into contact with. The second leader that I look up to is First Lady Michelle Obama. Wife, mother and First Lady are just a few of the many hats she wears. Additionally, she is an advocate for poverty awareness and is a champion for Military families and spouses and is a proponent to help combat childhood obesity. The third leader that I look up to is Oprah. One of the things that I admire the most about her is her business acumen. She's relatable, inspirational and emotionally intelligent. Her efforts to establish a Leadership Academy for Girls helps fuel my determination to keep going in spite of any challenges that I may face.

TDR:  Name 3 of your favorite books.

Dr. Sakeisha: The Bible. It's my source for any and everything. Reading the Bible provides the direction that I need and the inspiration to keep going.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. After I read this book, my entire marriage was transformed. The doors of communication were opened like never before. I began to see my husband from a different perspective and I encourage all married couples to read this book.

Battlefield of The Mind by Joyce Meyer is another favorite book because it showed me when things like worry, doubt, confusion fear, anger and/ or frustration began to surface, it was an attack of the enemy and it helped me realize how to overcome these challenges by halting their ability to influence my life and the decisions that I made or were tempted to make

TDR:  What is your advice for emerging leaders?

Dr. Sakeisha: My first piece of advice would be "Don't grow weary in well doing for you shall reap if you faint not". Often times a person may measure success by the number of people that attend their seminars or workshops or the number of people that follow them on Periscope and Twitter but the true value lies in those that you are truly able to assist. My second piece of advice would be to identify your strengths and flow intentionally in that element. Don't try to be a jack of all trades and a master of none. Third, do not be afraid to ask for help. It doesn't make you any less of a leader. A great leader will surround himself with others that excel in areas in which he /she may not. Fourth, Consistency is key. My final piece of advice would be to never stop learning or striving for growth.

TDR:  Complete this sentence…5 years ago I was…

Dr. Sakeisha: I was in the midst of bankruptcy, facing foreclosure, repossession, unhappy with my job and on the verge of walking away from everything and everyone because I lost my desire to fight. I felt defeated and unworthy of being a wife, a mother, a Pharmacist, a leader....... but GOD!!!

TDR:  Complete this sentence…5 years from now I hope to be…

Dr. Sakeisha: Away from the healthcare arena and working full-time helping to Educate, Empower and Encourage couples to Win In their Marriage. I plan to be traveling the globe with my husband, hosting seminars to equip couples with the tools and strategies necessary to succeed in their marriage. I plan to have at least three more books published and DVD training series for marriages completed as well.

TDR:  If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?

Dr. Sakeisha: Determined. I use that term because regardless of how many obstacles how come my way, God has blessed me with the ability to keep going in spite of the severity of various hardships that I have encountered throughout my life.

TDR: What are some of your current initiatives people can help you with? 

Dr. Sakeisha: My current initiative that people can help me with is the Marriage Can Win Initiative. We are desiring to connect with couples that are serious about winning in their marriage. We are currently putting together tele-classes so that we can reach couples across the globe. If you or someone you know is experiencing challenges in their marriage particularly in the areas of Communication, Finances and Sex; please have them contact us via our website. Our book "Marriage Can Win" will be available for purchase soon.

Connect with Dr. Sakeisha

Periscope, Instagram and Twitter @ Dr.Sakeisha
www.MarriageCanWin.com

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MEET ROSEWITHA G. SHELTON

New View with Rosewitha G. Shelton

TDR:  What issues are you most passionate about in your community?    

Rose: Children exhibiting a global mindset through global experiences and young women self-defining.

TDR: What are most of your philanthropy efforts typically directed towards serving?

Rose: Young adults and children that desire to travel with their schools, church organizations or enrichment programs. When I was in high school my father gave up his job as an engineer and went back to school to become a Lutheran Pastor. The youth programs within the Lutheran Organization were so enriching that it changed my life and perspective of the world. The travel opportunities my father connected me to and the networking that occurred at such a young age created a belief in me that I could go anywhere in the world and somehow succeed and be divinely connected to who I needed to connect with. I believed that I could go anywhere in the world and never be lonely or alone. The diversity of the people I met and the places I traveled made me feel unlimited in my reach into the world. I felt that I could go as far as the people I knew and the streets they walked. When I joined the military, it further supported this belief. I desire this freedom of mind and experience for every child to help them discover who they are and who they desire to be without the limitations of the community and locality in which they live to define and marginalize their dreams and abilities.

TDR:  How do you define leadership?    

Rose: Being willing to take the chances necessary to bring about the vision held within you. One who is willing to live and die as the example for a vision beyond one’s self. Brave enough to try and fail and try again because they understand the importance of their efforts and the dream within and tune out the naysayers. Paving ways unpaved, exploring roads untraveled and then giving a detailed map with the pitfalls, curved roads and short cuts around mountains to the next one willing to travel the same or similar route of uniqueness. One not afraid or ashamed of their weaknesses or failings because they understand the power lies in their ups and downs. One willing to dare to drive ahead when all around them is crumbling and telling them they are not perfect enough. They understand the imperfections are what makes them perfectly more than enough. A leader is not a superhero, they just know how to play one when it's necessary.

TDR:  How do you define your leadership style?

Rose: Always evolving, yet consistent in practicality. I am a big picture person. As a leader, I see myself as the holder of the vision, but not a micromanager of the manifestation. I lead because I see, not because I always know. That is why I also listen so I can learn and the dream can expand beyond the walls of my own imagination if necessary.

TDR:  What would be the most painful lesson that you've learned in life that has helped you become who you are today?

Rose: You can’t make or help anyone be anything they don't want to be. You can’t help anyone reach levels of success they have first not seen or desired for themselves. No matter what potential you see in a person, if they can’t or do not make the effort to walk out their potential or buy into the vision of their own life, they can’t do it for you either. Everyone has potential, but do they have the drive and will? Are they flexible and stretchable? Can their mind be changed? What evidence shows this to be true? When you are a leader you have to think about the entire team, not just one or a few, because though one monkey may not stop the show, they sure can mess it up for everyone else. And as a leader, I will always be left holding the bag. I have learned to let go of things, people or ideas that drain progress so that the train can move down the road to its destination. Destiny, never allows ticketless passengers anyway, so no need to keep anyone on the train that does not buy into the vision (my vision). I only want those willing to push the vision forward to come along and then ride upon the vision realized. The vision and purpose is more important than one person, because the vision realized helps many. I accept people for who they are, where they are and what they desire for they and I don't judge it. We are all in transition and where we need to be right now. I just no longer try to put square pegs in round holes or round pegs in square ones. I further realized that at some point of this push to get people to change I must think I know better and am putting myself in the place of their god. Loving and accepting people where they are and for who they are is the best gift I can give them and myself. I only sow seeds and offer choice and opportunity, the rest is in the hand of the person. They are their own creator.

TDR:  What would people be surprised to know that you had to overcome?

Rose: Several miscarriages, 3 ectopic pregnancies, a son still born and a daughter who died from a rare kidney cancer and in the end, I had two beautiful little girls. Accepting that God is not what or who I believed. I had to overcome my belief system to allow Spirit to show me that I am a co-creator with power to create in my own life.

TDR:  Name 3 leaders that you look up to. 

Rose: My parents. My father for stepping out and following his path into being a Lutheran pastor which was different and unique in our family. I appreciate him weathering the storms that came with being unique. I remember the pushback he received when offering his diverse and large visions of God and community, while exposing me to the unlimited possibilities of life and my reach into the world community of all peoples. The global mindset was priceless. My mother for standing as a strong tower beside her husband who she respects as a spiritual leader as well as her man while also creating her own path of success. The complexity of operating in that balance is unique and takes a special person who knows herself and her spouse and he, in turn, respects her greatness. I watched my mother and grandmother lead from the sideline in a quiet confidence (okay, my grandmother was not as quiet). When you have the ear of the leader and the heart of the leader, you are always in a position of power and control. To not manipulate or abuse that power is due to understanding the larger picture and the role you play because that leader lives or dies with your ability to operate fully in your capacity of love and upholder of his vision as well as your own. They as a unit I admire because they find a way to love and see God in all things and people despite being hurt by the same individuals they sacrifice to help because they understand the larger picture and the importance of those they are still responsible for under their leadership. 
Michelle Obama is another one I see who does this quite effortlessly. She maintains her composure and holds her tongue despite what the media and world throws at her. She understands and operates within the bigger picture as well. She has the heart, mind and ear of the leader as well as her own path that she carves out as an example for her own girls which vibrates into the world. I believe that if you can lead and serve another leader at the same time, you understand your purpose and destiny is connected to a larger vision and you must have a stronger will and sensibility than most. You understand the importance of the larger vision and how it must be protected and cared for so that the vision you have for yourself and those around you and the vision those around you have for themselves and others can be realized. That is a leader worth respecting and following. 
Finally, I know people say Oprah all the time, but for me I admire her for being courageous enough to speak her truth and allow her evolution of mind and spirit to be at the forefront of her life so that others may be free to operate in the evolution of their own. I have always thought and believed differently from the religious standards and ideals around me, but no one that looked like me spoke anything contrary other than my grandmother. However, that was in secret behind closed doors. Watching Ms. Oprah embrace diversity of culture and religion and take the blows from her own people with her head up gave me courage that I too could accept the dissention because my beliefs were that important. I did not worry any longer if I would be the only one that looked like me with my background saying out loud that Christ is a consciousness we forsake to embrace while holding up the title of Christian. I no longer worried about the fact that I believed that Buddhism, Hinduism, Voodoo and Islam are all beautiful religions that I have studied and appreciate the part they play and the truths they hold. I was allowed to be comfortable within myself of this truth because she did, thus allowing another to be free as well. And when they are free, a truth they hold will be released to help and bless another who is waiting on them to speak the word they hold. As Paul wrote, “I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak”. We lead by example so that others may be free to do the same.

TDR:  Name 3 of your favorite books.

Rose: Of course my own! But also, anything written by Neville Goddard, The Tao Te Ching and my favorite book of the Bible - Isaiah. Isaiah speaks to me and sings my song.

TDR:  What is your advice for emerging leaders?

Rose: Embrace your message, vison and desires even if you don't understand how or why they are important. Your uniqueness is important to the world. Give it, protect it, nurture it and love it into its fullness. Your light is a light unto another's path. Someone is watching you and God is using your life to speak to them.

TDR:  Complete this sentence…5 years ago I was…

Rose: Thinking of making a career change and publishing my first book.

TDR:  Complete this sentence…5 years from now I hope to be…

Rose: Be a world renowned author, teacher and motivational speaker.

TDR:  If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?

Rose: Open. I think I have come to a place in my life where I am open to receive and be directed by Spirit. Allowing life to unfold authentically. This is a scary and tricky practice because we are not conditioned to operate this way, though created to do so. Logic often has to be overcome. However, for elevation it is necessary to walk with your own spirit authentically to know where you end and the rest of the world begins so your light shines and you are not the reflection of what already is.

TDR: What are some of your current initiatives people can help you with? 

Rose: I am starting a non-profit to fund young adults in inner cities and rural areas to study abroad. It is important that our society as a whole embraces a global mindset, especially African Americans. Limitation in experience creates limitation in dreams and aspirations. When you know the world is full of unlimited possibilities for yourself, you have less of a chance of allowing your community borders to define your opportunities in life. I also want to document and record my teachings. I want others to be able to get the message easily and understand the messages I have to be applicable to them.

Connect with Rose: 

@Rosegshelton (periscope, twitter and facebook)
www.centeroffirstthought.com

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MEET SHANNON DENEAN

New View with Shannon Denean

TDR:  What issues are you most passionate about in your community?    

Shannon: In 2014, Atlanta was ranked the number 1 city for sex trafficking and the exploitation of women and children. From 2003 to 2007, the city of Atlanta generated more than $290 million dollars from the sale of trafficked human beings. As a woman who believes deeply in the power of women to change the world, I was heartbroken to learn about these staggering statistics. Since that time, I have helped with fundraising efforts to support women reclaiming their lives after having been in the trafficking system.

TDR: What are most of your philanthropy efforts typically directed towards serving?

Shannon: Most of my philanthropic efforts are directed towards serving women and children. I strongly believe that the powerful and systematic changes that the world needs all start with powerful women. My philanthropy efforts have all been focused on improving the lives of women by helping them to change their minds about their situations. Currently, I am serving with the Junior League of Atlanta, an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of women and children. I also serve on the Board of Directors with Sporty Girls, Inc., a non-profit focused on introducing non-traditional sports to minority girls and helping them to gain college scholarships through those sports.

TDR:  How do you define leadership?

Shannon: Leadership is the ability provide a vision of something better which inspires growth, change, and forward movement.

TDR:  How would you define your leadership style?

Shannon: When I was managing my team of insurance adjusters, I described my style as "macroleadership". I have always seen it as my job to present a vision of excellence, get the right people on board (people with skill, talent and drive), and give them the space to excel. As a leader, it’s my job to provide continued encouragement, the right environment, and the necessary equipment to help others exceed their potential.

TDR:  What would be the most painful lesson that you've learned in life that has helped you become who you are today?

Shannon: The most painful lesson that I've learned in life that has helped me become who I am today is that you're only as strong as the people who support you. You have to surround yourself with real, true support. I have definitely been hurt by people who didn't have my best interest at heart.

TDR:  What would people be surprised to know that you had to overcome?

Shannon: People would be surprised to know that I have had to overcome being sexually assaulted in college and a terribly difficult beginning to my marriage.

TDR:  Name 3 leaders that you look up to.     

Shannon: Sheryl Sandburg, Michelle Obama, and Sarah Batts

TDR:  Name 3 of your favorite books.

Shannon: The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Wiesberger, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, and I Wish I Had a Red Dress by Pearl Cleage.

TDR:  What is your advice for emerging leaders?

Shannon: You cannot demand a premium for your value until you know what it is. Spend a considerable amount of your time learning about what makes you great and what makes you different.

TDR:  Complete this sentence…5 years ago I was…

Shannon: Trying to pick up the pieces of a very broken relationship, trying to discover who I was and working in a job I hated.

TDR:  Complete this sentence…5 years from now I hope to be…

Shannon: I hope to have a blossoming, profitable conglomerate consisting of several businesses. I hope to have learned Spanish fluently, have done more traveling, and have fulfilled my dream of being a top-tier DJ.

TDR:  If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?

Shannon: Tenacious.

TDR: What are some of your current initiatives people can help you with? 

Shannon: In January 2016, I will be presenting a T-shirt line whose profits will go to benefit the survivors of sex trafficking.

Connect with Shannon:

Facebook - www.facebook.com/shannon.denean
Twitter - @ShannonDenean
Periscope - @ShannonDenean

Website - www.LevelupConcepts.com

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MEET VARIAN BRANDON

New View with Varian Brandon

TDR:  What issues are you most passionate about in your community?

Varian: Self-esteem of high achievers, Personal Power, Designing a life you love, and Being Intentional

TDR: What are most of your philanthropy efforts typically directed towards serving?

Varian: Education, but not necessarily formal education. I love contributing to and helping people acquire the necessary skills they need to live a full and fulfilled life. Many times our purposes are undiscovered because of lack of exposure and access.

TDR:  How do you define leadership?

Varian: Influence. I am an avid student of John Maxwell and I wholeheartedly agree that leadership is not a position or title, but one's ability to influence.

TDR:  How would you define your leadership style?

Varian:  Empowering. I believe everyone has the capacity to lead and my role as a leader is to inspire the leader within and then provide the tools and the coaching and the mentoring to cultivate and future.

TDR:  What would be the most painful lesson that you've learned in life that has helped you become who you are today?

Varian: That there is no real success without the ability to intimately connect with other people. I lived most of my life in very masculine energy (head/logic driven) and it served me well as it relates to my career success, but I paid a high price in my personal life. A broken marriage and I am still navigating the relationship with my adult son.  I am truly grateful for my path though because it invited me to take the journey from my head to my heart....and I accepted.  It was the longest journey I ever took, but I am oh so glad I did!! I am truly the better for it.

TDR:  What would people be surprised to know that you had to overcome?

Varian: Being emotionally disconnected and not really liking people. And until 4 years ago, biting my nails, which I believe was connected to the emotional disconnection.

TDR:  Name 3 leaders that you look up to. 

Varian: My mother, Oprah Winfrey, and Riva Tims

TDR:  Name 3 of your favorite books.

Varian: Hmmm, only 3.  Developing the Leader Within You, Lions Don’t Need to Roar, and The 4 Agreements
 

TDR:  What is your advice for emerging leaders?

Varian: Leadership is not what you do, it's who you are. Live your life in a way that people want to follow you. And know that leadership, real leadership is not compartmentalized, everything matters. And that leadership is a privilege.

TDR:  Complete this sentence…5 years ago I was…

Varian: I was in the breakdown of a marriage, a career I loved, but wasn't challenging and had taught me to be fearful and safe and in my comfort zone.

TDR:  Complete this sentence…5 years from now I hope to be…

Varian: Empowering women (and a few men) to lead their lives with urgency, to be intentional about the time they have on this planet. To be the main character in the best book they've ever read and to leave a legacy worthy of remark.

TDR:  If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?

Varian: Bold.  Because I have always been comfortable in my own skin and dared to be me.

Connect with Varian:

Instagram-- vcbrandon
Facebook --varian brandon
Twitter -- @varianbrandon
LinkedIn -- varian Brandon
Periscope --@varianbrandon

Email – info@varianbrandon.com

Did this inspire you? What are your thoughts? Please share feedback for this Servant Leader below. Sometimes your words can trigger a thought that could change a life. We love hearing from you. Please share this with others if it helped you or could help someone else. Be sure to connect with this Servant Leader below. We will check the comments box often. :) 

Meet Stephanie Ardrey

Meet Power Mom Stephanie Ardrey

TDR: Please give us a brief recap of your career.
Stephanie Ardrey: I am a real estate developer & launched my own firm in 2015; previously directed several multibillion dollar portfolios of commercial real estate development projects. I founded a business accelerator to fund early stage technology companies. I am also an adjunct professor teaching in the graduate and/or undergraduate programs at California State University, Los Angeles, The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and University of California, Los Angeles. I make several guest appearances at alma mater, University of Southern California's Ross program on real estate. Recently, I received a Commendation from Mayor Garcetti, City of Los Angeles for organizing the first Startup Weekend in south Los Angeles aimed at introducing urban youth to technology, new venture creation and funding.

TDR: Please tell us about your children.
SA: Sterling Ardrey - 18 years old is an amazing young man! He has been a talented SAG-AFTRA actor since he was four-years old and has had guest starring and recurring roles on television, film, commercials and voice over projects. He is a freshman at St. John's University and pursuing studies in sports management with the goal of becoming an attorney/sports agent. He has volunteered for many causes, supported Stevie Wonder's House of Toys, Living Advantage Foster Youth and more with love, joy and grace.

TDR: How are you juggling your passion with the responsibilities of parenthood?
SA: Prayer and focus on the vision. We’ve juggled so many life challenges while moving forward and in the end, the passion along with a clear purpose has contributed to how we continue to push forward. As a parent I made a point of always being present with my son and not having my work cause him to be needy. In practice when he was younger, I would pick him up from school and if I was on the phone he knew that once that call ended, which would be less than five minutes, that he would be the full attention until I put him to bed each night. We would discuss his day, or have to race to an audition and discuss the script en route, and then once home we enjoyed a sit down dinner with conversation. We didn't watch a lot of television, so we developed a great relationship built upon trust and communication. Once dinner was completed when he was younger, he would have a bath and get a full body massage and we'd read a book before he went to sleep. I would then return any late business calls or check emails before finally retiring myself. 
In the mornings, I would check in with my staff while getting him ready for school. We would walk to school and then I would come home and dress myself and head to my office. This allowed him to drive his toy car to school or skate, etc. as we walked in the morning. Again, our time before the rest of the business demands required my attention. 
Before my son left for college, he gave me a talk where he shared how much he feels I deserve love and that he has been loved completely, never harmed in any way and that I have been an amazing mom. He encouraged me that I have so much love to share and he felt that I too deserve to receive love.

TDR: What are some of your struggles and how do you work to overcome them?
SA: My mother passed at 48-years of age just prior to my becoming pregnant with my son. His father was diagnosed with cancer and his medical treatments were ongoing for the first four years of my son's life. All of this while I was in litigation dissolving my then $250M joint venture advertising agency. When I think back it has always been my faith and belief, to keep me motivated and encouraged to overcome. I feel as if God has wanted me to one day share my story and that for those reasons, I had to not just survive, but thrive irrespective of the challenges. I eventually married, which ended in divorce, and suffered the challenges associated with dissolving business interests and experienced financial setbacks as a result of the Great Recession and the dissolution of many of the organizations that I had either contracts with or ongoing projects. Again, it took a lot to be willing to watch everything I had built crash and burn, and still remain loving, positive and optimistic that "this too shall pass". My son has remained a positive spirit, and source of such encouragement. I'm often told by others how much he loves and respects me as not only his mom, but an entrepreneur.

TDR: What are 2 resources you use to help you stay motivated?
SA: My faith in God and that my life has a purpose are the rudders guiding my actions.
I read a lot of books and listen to motivational messages. I am constantly seeking opportunities for new learning and evolution.

TDR: What is your favorite way to pause?
SA: I love sports and am a great football and basketball spectator. So catching a game, curling up with one of my books, taking a trek to the spa or a walk in the park are ways to pause and reflect. My favorite is sitting by the water - so grateful to have an office on the water - as this is a way that I energize my spirit.

TDR: What has been the scariest moment or crossroad in your journey?
SA: When my mom died suddenly I experienced a pain so deep that I didn't know how I would overcome that feeling of loss. She was really my best friend, biggest supporter, and confidante. In my immediate circles, I was considered "weird" for being so driven at an early age and to have built the joint venture at the time with $250M in capitalized billings, eight-offices, 400 employees - in advertising, where diversity did not exist, at 26-years old was a pretty significant accomplishment. It placed me in a very different space from many of my peers, therefore, I trusted all of my thoughts with my mom. 
I was so alone when she passed, and being both an only child and not having the immediate loving or emotional support of family members, this crossroad caused me to lean on God and I'm certain it's when he first started really carrying me - think of the poem, "Footprints." 
God blessed me with Sterling who was born on the night before the one-year anniversary of my mom's passing. My desire to be the best mom that I could be and to have a clear vision for the type of child I wanted to nurture became the focus of my next career decisions and really the guidepost to what was going to be next.

TDR: What would be your greatest advice to other "Power Moms" wanting to pursue their dreams?
SA: Create a clear vision and take actions daily to execute the plans necessary to accomplish your goals. Remember, you don't eat an elephant in one bite! A clear vision of where you are headed is essential, as when life challenges take you off course, remember like the GPS in your car, it will recalculate, recalculate and still direct you to that destination. I consider my GPS (God's Purpose System) - aimed at getting me to the destination irrespective of the bumps in the road, harsh weather conditions or life challenges.

TDR: What word best describes the legacy you want to leave for your children and why?
SA: It is my goal to leave a wealth legacy for great-great grand kids, built upon the idea that they each are blessed with talents which must be developed and delivered for humanity to advance. I have raised my son to believe that he has a significant gift and is charged with presenting his talents to make the world a better place.

TDR: How can others collaborate and support your mission?
SA: I'm leading an initiative "Women of means doing meaningful things" - aimed at helping women to monetize their mission by embracing their talents, use planned giving strategies, and creating legacy based ventures that can change the course of their family’s lives.

Connect with Stephanie:

Twitter:@stephdione

 Instagram:  @iventlabs

Facebook: Stephanie.Ardrey

LinkedIn: Stephanie Ardrey

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