Everyone has a story…
I love listening to the stories of people. Through stories, we find connections, common interests, and community. Stories have a way of reminding us that we’re all bound together by the human experience.
I’ve met some of my best friends over a cup (or glass) of our favorite beverage and a story. Nothing grounds me more or reminds me that I’m not alone in this world more than sharing my life experiences and hearing the experiences of others. I’ve shared my life and stories many times over the years; and every time I do, it does two things. First, it continues to heal the parts of me that were wounded by the experiences I’ve endured, and second, it gives someone else the courage they need to take bold action in their life.
My name is Danielle…. I’m a wife, mom, speaker, executive leader, and transformational leadership coach. I empower leaders to ground their identities in their inherent worth rather than external measures of performance and productivity. Additionally, I remind ambitious, high achieving women, particularly Black women, who feel overwhelmed and exhausted by life of the inherent value they possess as divine human beings, so they can lead and live from a place of intention and power.
My genius is encouraging leaders to see themselves, and live as they were created. Whole, worthy, creative, full of purpose, and worthy of dignity. Capable of transforming obstacles into triumphs to live the life they choose.
Whatever it took, I wouldn’t let them down…
I had two little girls with big beautiful eyes and equally big dreams I was raising, and telling them that I couldn’t support them in making those dreams happen was not an option. So, I did what single parents in similar situations do all the time. I made it happen “by any means necessary”. That was my motto as a single parent!
It helped that we had an amazing community of family and friends around us, but I still found myself working 50+ hours a week. Additionally, I was often the “first” and sometimes the only in most of the work environments I was hired into. The “first” woman and the “first” and only Black woman. However, that didn’t stop me. At the time, I saw that as an opportunity to “break the glass ceiling” of what had existed and open up opportunities for what could be for other women and people of color. So I embraced it and worked harder. I worked late, I worked evenings, I worked weekends and even “off days”... It didn’t matter. I did what I thought was necessary to get the job done to ensure my girls had their two favorite things at all times, “Ketchup and Kool-Aid”.
Over time, I replaced the Kool-Aid for a healthier option, but the hustle and grind to make sure they had what they need remained. As a single parent at the time, I learned to adjust, adapt and do whatever I needed, whenever I needed if it meant my kids had what they needed, and for nearly eight years that’s how I lived and worked.
By 2021, I’d hit a wall
I was remarried, but after years of grinding, and hustling and with the onslaught of the pandemic and all that it brought, I was diagnosed with depression, debilitating migraines, and I wasn’t sleeping through the night, I had the Sunday-scaries every week, and no matter how hard I worked, there was always more work that needed to be done. I dreaded coming to work, and my friends and family began to comment on how I was forgetful, sad, anxious, and not my usual bright, optimistic and sunny self.
This all culminated in 2022 when I got news that my grandmother was in the last days of her cancer battle. I knew I needed to take some time off to take care of myself and grieve the major loss I was about to experience, but even after all I’d been through, I found myself still prioritizing my work and team.
“My identity was wrapped up in my work, and I’d created a life around performing and producing for others!”
I took a three-month sabbatical
The death of my grandmother, intense therapy and rest allowed me to confront some very uncomfortable truths.
I was suffering from burnout BIG time!
The burnout didn’t just happen because of the pandemic, this had been building up for years!! (I guess those 50+ hour work weeks, weren’t paying off as well as I thought)
My identity was wrapped up in my work, and I’d crafted a life around and in performing, producing and reaching the next level in my career instead of grounding my worth and value as a human being who had skills and talent.
I gave control and power of my life to my employers and managers over the years, and had inadvertently allowed them to craft and dictate my future because that’s what I’d been taught to do, and I had seen success from it. They’d often come to me with visions, goals and a clear direction for my career. It sounded amazing, and I happily fell in line and allowed it.
While on sabbatical, with the time and space to BE STILL, sit, think, rest and dream, I was realizing that I’d unknowingly handed over the choice and agency that I should have maintained in my life, to someone else.
I needed to start over…
I knew that I could not go on living out someone else's dreams of what my life should look like. Not only that, but I also knew I didn’t want to spend the rest of my career healing and recovering from toxic managers and work spaces. I needed to build the life that I wanted to live. The fulfilling and purpose filled life that I wanted and was created for, and that began with believing that I was worthy of having it.
I wanted a life of ease, and intention.
I wanted to be present to invest in my family and the meaningful relationships around me.
I wanted to model for my children, especially my daughters, that we are worthy of rest, and that grind culture does not serve us or the inherent value we have to offer this world.
…and I still wanted to make a living doing it!
As a result, God gave me the first visions and dreams for Worthy of Dignity!
Rest and abundance is our birthright, and WE deserve and are worthy of it!
I wanted something different!
I desperately wanted other leaders, and women to know and discover the truths and freedom I’d found in my journey to avoid the pain that I endured.
They all wanted to know, “how”? How I discovered the need for change, what changes I made, and how I was moving toward that change to find peace, freedom and purpose. After months of talking with women and supporting them in their journey, and speaking in front of audiences about my journey, I knew I’d discovered the next phase of my life, and Worthy of Dignity was born.
Today, I support leaders who desire to transform! I focus on empowering leaders to ground their identity in their inherent worth and lead from their core identity. I remind ambitious, high achieving women who feel overwhelmed and exhausted by life of the inherent value they possess as divine human beings, so they can lead and live from a place of intention and power.
I love that I can care for myself, be present for my family and create meaningful change in the lives of leaders and women every day.
I’m not gonna lie, being completely in control of my own path for once feels pretty great too…
I would love to hear from you! Not only that, but I’d love the opportunity to hear your story, to encourage you, and to remind you of the value and worth that you possess as a divine human being. Allow me to help you build a life of purpose, fueled by your desires, intention and passion! Schedule a connection call with me and let’s get started.
“I wanted to be present to invest in my family and the meaningful relationships in my life”