Meet Dr. Robyn Joppy

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Robyn Joppy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Robyn, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
First and foremost, I am a woman of faith. I have to credit God for EVERYTHING I have and all that I am, I owe it all to Him. Second, my parents, mainly my late mother, get the credit. My mother gave me reality; she empowered and affirmed me to understand that I can do anything and be anything I choose if I believe in myself and chose faith over fear! I was never allowed to say I can’t or I am at a disadvantage. Can’t was not an option and I was taught there is an advantage in every disadvantage. My responsibility is to find the advantage.

Mother’s love, support, affirmations, wisdom, and prayers helped cultivate my confidence and self-esteem. I maintain a strong relationship with God. Additionally, I have fond memories of my mother along with the words of advice she gave to me.

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?
My journey is long! I did what I thought I was supposed to do growing up. Go to college, get good grades, get a good job and work your way up the corporate ladder. I did just that. I worked in corporate America in various roles, e.g. PR, Professional Services, Marketing, non-profits management, and eventually went into compliance and ethics. I became an officer of a large international human services company. After 14 years, I took a leap of faith and started my own consulting firm. One company led to another and then to another. Currently, I have 4 businesses that I absolutely love.

I created four (4) businesses which are: 1. International Shades of Beauty (ISOB), 2. Pearls Management, 3. Rental Properties, and 4. Project Cultivate (non-profit organization helping girls around the world. I love what I do and am totally vested in each of my business. I am still working diligently in all of them; however, my favorites are ISOB and Project Cultivate.

I am the Founder & Visionary of International Shades of Beauty (ISOB) Hair and Beauty Trade Show and the Founder and President of Pearls Management, a business management company. The vision to start ISOB came to me in November 2018 while I was in Dubai. ISOB was created to add diversity and representation of all people, in addition to diversity in quality products and services, and accessibility and availability of those quality products and services. After speaking with several expatriates working in the hair and beauty industry in Dubai, I realized more education in the hair and beauty industry is necessary. Many of the stylists in Dubai, like other countries, learn hair and beauty techniques from social media influencers on YouTube and other social media platforms. This is not always ideal. Additionally, this revelation, along with the understanding there may be a disparity in representation, led to the establishment of ISOB. ISOB was founded on 3 principles:1. Education 2. Integrity 3. Economic Development for Empowerment (Provides an opportunity for people to showcase their products and services in the marketplace). Moreover, ISOB’s platform is used to bring together the crème de la crème master educators in hair, makeup, fashion, wellness, and business from around the world.

As the vision began to expand, I thought about the term beauty and how others relate to it.
Many people, especially women and girls, have literally died trying to become the world’s definition of beauty. They have a procedure(s) to enhance or improve what they consider an
imperfection. I am not against plastic surgery or anyone who desires to “correct” something on their body to make them happy. The problem arises when people solicit doctors or other “professionals” who are not board certified and have surgery and procedures in places that are not equipped to handle emergency situations or by a Board Certified licensed professional.

It is my hope that ISOB will help others to redefine real beauty so that they will be empowered to write their own definition. My definition of real beauty is: “It emanates deep from within, the reflection and representation of one’s inner being. Real beauty shows up in the color of love which is connected to a person’s heart and soul. Both real beauty and true love represent all colors, ethnicities, and races. Real beauty is being comfortable in your skin and embracing every other human being’s inner beauty while accepting their out beauty.”

The power of social media has impacted the hair and beauty industries in all corners of the globe. Women and men can choose to watch YouTube to learn from “influencers” about how to do certain things like various hair styling techniques, makeup application, and skincare. This has led to many negative consequences because not all social influencers are licensed professionals. We therefore prioritize education as an integral component of ISOB. ISOB believes when hair and beauty experts are educated about products (composition), tools and techniques, styling, health, and safety, they can better serve their clients. We subscribe to the adage that knowledge is power. When one has power, they can empower!

The Project-Cultivate, Inc. was founded in 2020 in response to International Shades of Beauty’s (ISOB) community service project called Project Cultivate. The community service project was live during ISOB Virtual 2020 Hair, Beauty, and Wellness Trade Show. During the project, we were able to sponsor over forty-five girls in both Nairobi, Kenya, and the United States of America to attend the ISOB event. Additionally, we provided food to approximately six hundred children at an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, and distributed journals, Project Cultivate T-shirts, and hygiene gift bags.

Organized as a call to action, Project-Cultivate is growing, expanding, and reaching hundreds, and one day thousands, of girls globally to assist their path to impact and serve their communities as mentors and examples of success in every area of their lives.
To CULTIVATE is to possess the ability to grow and develop.

CULTIVATE – this acronym was divinely revealed to Dr. Robyn S. Joppy for this initiative. Each letter represents a word. Each word anchors us to our purpose. Each purpose is part of our collective influence to impact our communities and each other.

• CONFIDENCE – Assure the girls are strong and confident in who they are and what they represent.
• UNIQUE – Assure the girls know they are so special and uniquely made; no one else has their DNA.
• LEADERSHIP – Assure the girls know they don’t have to follow a crowd; they should set the standard.
• TALENT – Assure the girls know everyone is born with a talent and if they don’t know, they will.
• INTELLIGENT – Assure the girls know they are intelligent. Words like “stupid” and “dumb” are not acceptable.
• VOICE – Assure the girls know they have a voice to speak truth to power.
• ARTICULATE – Assure the girls know they have a right to articulate their position, passion, and concerns.
• TENACIOUS – Assure the girls know mistakes are inevitable and it is ok. They will hear “be persistent.”
• EXCELLENCE – Assure the girls know the importance of doing everything in excellence. Have a spirit of excellence!

One Accord Consulting is a privately owned consulting firm specializing in developing, revising and implementing compliance and integrity plans. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, our team consists of corporate compliance experts and professionals dedicated to helping you develop a program that will bring your business to the next level.

One Accord places special emphasis on establishing a long-term relationship with its clients, based on mutual understanding, trust, respect, and transparency. We believe in working with, as well as for, you and recognize the importance of being in accord with each and every one of our clients. In turn, this enables us to create customized compliance programs, tailored to your organization and its ethics and company’s culture, and create a personalized plan that takes all facets of your business into account.

One Accord operates as a full-service consulting firm and provides a wide array of services including codes of conduct, compliance and integrity plans, compliance education and training, audits and investigations, human resource development, coaching and mentoring programs, documentation training and more. Our professional, highly educated and culturally diverse team will work with you from concept development through implementation to provide long-term solutions that will meet and exceed your business’ current and future needs.

Website: https://www.oneaccordconsultingfirm.com

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?
1. Integrity 2. Confidence 3. Leadership

Integrity: I believe integrity matters and must be at the heart of everything one does. Moreover, I firmly believe “Just because it is legal does not make it ethical.” Regardless of the space, e.g. academia, corporate America, entrepreneurship, faith-based, etc., we are in, as human beings, It is imperative that we maintain a posture of integrity, honor, and trustworthiness.

Confidence: Be comfortable with who you are. As someone once said “Love the skin you are in.” In the beauty industry, I get to see and hear a lot. Everyone is beautiful. Write your own definition of beauty; let’s change the narrative from the world’s definition of beauty and write our/your own.

Leadership: Employees do not leave organizations/companies; they leave their manager or management. My advice might sound cliche, “Leaders should lead by example.” Effective leadership will happen when a culture of active listening, self-awareness, humility, ideas/alternative perspectives are accepted, respect, outstanding work ethic is rewarded, and constructive feedback is cultivated.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
As previously mentioned, the most impactful thing my parents did for me was to give me the gift of reality. They instilled in me that I can do anything and or have anything I want if I believe in myself, work for it, and chose faith over fear! If I want it, go get it.

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