Meet Dr. Berneice Willis

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Berneice Willis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dr. Berneice, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I can definitely say that values were instilled in me as a youngster. from my mother, I observed my mother interact with people professionally and she always went beyond the extra mile. She demonstrated punctuality and reliability. The importance of accountability was always a point of emphasis, as she taught me to hold myself accountable and to always do my best.

I think the most significant thing that drives me today is attitude. My mother had a great attitude and was always full of determination. The lessons I learned from her remains today and has guided me throughout my career and my life.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My life and my story is about making a difference in the lives of others. I have been working with young people since I was a youngster myself. Every job my entire life involved working with youth and/or family engagement. I have served as a counselor, recreation supervisor, youth director, social services, and law enforcement.

My career path in law enforcement progressed from local security work to the federal government. I served as the Commander of Law Enforcement and Investigations for the United States Forest Service. Serving in this capacity, I was often the only person of color and often the only female at the table. However, this did not deter me from accepting the position. My leadership skills was sought after not only because of my expertise, but my critical thinking, work ethic, and organizational skills.

While working in this capacity, I also accepted additional roles that furthered the development of others, such as Women’s Special Emphasis Program Manager, Emergency Preparedness Director, Planning Chair for Blacks in Government, and mentors for many aspiring leaders.

Being requested to speak at national conferences became a regular request and one that I enjoyed because it allowed me to give back. It provided a platform to share my story and also what it takes mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually to succeed.

Today, I am serving as the Co-Director of the Justice Circle of Nashville and the Director of INSPIRE, which is a youth initiative in the organization. This program is designed to build future leaders who will confront social justice issues, as they learn from their own journey, adapt, and overcome barriers.

Mentorship is a big part of the program, as well as teaching life skills through discussions and providing opportunities for community engagement and job shadowing. The goal is to open their minds and open doors for their future. Intervention strategies and programs are needed in our society more than ever and I am committed to assist in closing gaps, reducing barriers, and providing support and encouragement to our students.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The number one skill that I personally believe has been most impactful is self-awareness. This skill has helped me to be honest with myself. Clarifying what I can do well and what I can’t do at all. I’ve been able to look at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Each of these areas contribute to a successful outcome, as I’m able to ascertain where I can contribute, where I need to delegate, and areas of concern that may arise during a project, task, or operation.

The best advice I can give concerning self-awareness is to tune into your feelings, as well as your thoughts and behavior. Be honest. Recognize what influences and what holds you back. This will bring clarity to your goals, a better understanding, improved outcomes, and better decision-making.

Almost tied with number one is critical thinking. At a very early age, I was an information gatherer. When assigned to a task in groups, I enjoyed gathering the data, presenting, and sharing the potential pitfalls. I am very strategic in my approach, as problem solving requires paying attention to detail. Throughout my career, this skill has been quite helpful. In my family, it is something that I value as well. My family has referred to me as “Olivia Pope” the fictional character on the hit show “Scandal”. She was known as the fixer.

My advice on how to develop critical thinking, one must consider more than one point of view to the problem or issue at hand. Different sources may provide different information, which then creates the platform to analyze. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. I often work through “what if” scenarios mentally, which generates creativity, problem identification, and being more solution focused.

Last but not least, I would suggest that effective communication is a quality that will enhance relationships, save time, and get the job done successfully. Throughout my career, it was critical that the message given and/or received was as intended; as it could have meant life or death. However, many people are inattentive listeners. Even if disinterested in a meeting or discussion, be mindful that your body language will often tell the real story.

To improve communication skills, don’t shy away from it, even with those difficult to converse with. Ask questions for clarity. It’s a benefit to everyone, when all parties are on the same page. Walking away from a meeting with fragmented information will cause a lot of stress and potential harm. When communicating in the written form, also be mindful of your tone… yes, we have one even in an email. I try to control my emotions. I said I try to; as we are all passionate about what we are passionate about. However, if we want others to hear it, be respectful when sharing our opinions and ideas.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing my mother did for me was introducing me to Jesus Christ.

She raised all of her children in church, as she served as the Sunday School Superintendent for seventeen years. She modeled the way. She taught us how to be resilient and how to depend on Christ. I have had storms in my life, but I know you regulates the storm. I have had some mountains to climb in my life, but I have always relied on Him to show me the way through the challenge. Working through challenges has allowed me to grow instead of just removing the problem. My faith in God guides me.

My motto in life has always been to learn more than what is required, which creates the stage for continual learning. I always expect good things. Even when things don’t go as planned, I quickly remember that was my plan, not His. So, I’m prayerful in all things that He leads me to do. The main reason is because I learned as a child that getting in touch with Christ is the only way.

So, as I reflect on my childhood, the love and nurturing of my mother, I know that God is directing the INSPIRE youth initiative that I direct and manage. I seek understanding and wisdom and ask God to bless their lives and their futures.

I’m willing to invest time and effort into our youth because the transference of knowledge and skills will equip them to overcome inequities, set goals, and live life with purpose.