We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Desiree Dupuis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Desiree below.
Hi Desiree, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I take really good care of myself by prioritizing healthy habits such as a clean plant based (vegan) nutrition, good sleep, meditation, movement, rest, relaxation, coaching and play which have allowed me to really connect to my heart center and follow the guidance of my intuition.
When I was in my mid-twenties I read the 7 habits of highly effective people which guided me to define my values along with my personal mission statement. Through this process and the inner work I started then and have continued to invest in, I began to understand myself more and what is really important to me.
Over time, during my thirties as my life went on, my values which include love for animals and the planet really started to shine through; guiding my work, the way I live my life along with every choice I make including the foot I eat, the clothes I wear, the vehicle I drive and so on. Really leaning into my heart, following the guidance of my intuition and living with intention, have allowed me to call in opportunities that align with my values and chose work that is meaningful and is aligned with my soul.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Hi, I am Desiree and I truly live from my heart. I focus my time and energy on endeavours that provide meaning and purpose and that truly light me up. I am a creative spirit and I love to live off of inspiration. I currently have two brands that I’m running along with an international NGO that I co-founded with my best friend. I’m the founder of a seaweed-based CPG food company called Kove which I now own and operate with 4 partners; its so refreshing to work with people who truly value harmony, balance and sustainability in terms of life and the planet! My other company is a vegan fashion brand called Voes & Co which was founded from my vision to create a global icon for the movement based on love and compassion known as Veganism. The first product I have developed is a designer Chelsea boot made with Cactus leather available in black and in white. We’re working on more styles and accessories for people who value animals and the planet, who are looking for products not made with any animal material and rather made with materials that are healthier for the planet and include less plastic and more plants. Moreover, I am currently Chair of the board for Ruben’s Shoes Society, a registered Charity which was created when my best friend met the boy she had been sponsoring for 7 years (Ruben) and learnt that children around the world cannot go to school unless they have shoes; along with many other elements including a uniform and school supplies. Since inception in 2013, we’ve sent 100,000 pairs of shoes around the world to help children access education and now have an Elementary school and Secondary school with over 550 students that we fund and operate in the Dominican Republic.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
As I look back on my life, especially the last 20 years (I’m 44 now) I believe the 3 qualities that have been most impactful are:
1. My intuition – as I mentioned earlier, my ability to follow what feels good to me and to live in-spirit is my number one super power. Because I know myself so well, I really know what is important to me and I prioritize it which allows me to live my life aligned with my purpose and call in opportunities and experiences that are meaningful and fulfilling
2. My courage / lack of fear – I grew up in a very loving home which provided me with a foundation of love and support giving me the confidence to feel like I can do anything in the world. I have a really passion for change and for pushing boundaries, living on the edge of life, doing the opposite of what everyone else is doing and paving my own path which includes standing up for what I believe in.
3. Financial wherewithal – I’m grateful to have parents that had me working with a financial advisor at age 15, taught me about compound interest and how to be smart with money. Leaning into this and reading books like Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Think and Grow Rich I’ve been able to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and build my career working as an entrepreneur.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
One of the books that has most shaped my life is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. As I touched on previously, my biggest take aways were developing my personal values and my own personal mission statement which have been the driving force for my life helping me make important decisions and serving as my North Star for where I am going and what I am doing with my life.
Here are the 7 habits which I have grabbed form their website to help better articulate:
Habit 1: Be Proactive | The Habit of Personal Responsibility
Being Proactive is about taking responsibility for your life. Proactive people recognize that they are “response-able.” They don’t blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. They know they can choose their behavior. Reactive people, on the other hand, are often affected by their physical environment. They find external sources to blame for their behavior. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn’t, it affects their attitude and performance, and they blame the weather.
Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind | The Habit of Personal Vision
Begin With the End in Mind is based on imagination—the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follows a blueprint.
Habit 3: Put First Things First | The Habit of Personal Management
Put First Things First is the exercise of independent will toward becoming principle-centered. Habit 3 is the practical fulfillment of Habits 1 and 2. Habit 1 says, “You are the creator. You are in charge.” Habit 2 is the first mental creation, based on imagination, the ability to envision what you can become. Habit 3 is the second creation, the physical creation.
Habit #4: Think Win – Win | The Habit of Mutual Benefit
Think Win-Win isn’t about being nice, nor is it a quick-fix technique. It is a character-based code for human interaction and collaboration. Most of us learn to base our self-worth on comparisons and competition. We think about succeeding in terms of someone else failing—if I win, you lose; or if you win, I lose. Life becomes a zero-sum game. Win-win sees life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying. We both get to eat the pie, and it tastes pretty darn good!
Habit #5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood | The Habit of Empathic Communication
Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood is the art and act of listening intently so you really, deeply understand another human being.
Habit #6: Synergize | The Habit of Creative Cooperation
To put it simply, synergy means “two heads are better than one.” Synergize is the habit of creative cooperation. It is teamwork, open-mindedness, and the adventure of finding new solutions to old problems. But it doesn’t happen on its own. It’s a process, and through that process, people bring all their personal experience and expertise to the table.
Habit #7: Sharpen the Saw | The Habit of Daily Self-Renewal
Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have—you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual. As you renew yourself in each of the four areas, you create growth and change in your life. Sharpen the Saw keeps you fresh so you can continue to practice the other six habits. You increase your capacity to produce and handle the challenges around you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.voesandcompany.com
- Instagram: @voes_and_co
- Linkedin: @desireedupuis
- Other: www.koveocean.com @koveocean
Image Credits
Bogdan Teslar Kwiatkowski
