We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alexis Derriso. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alexis below.
Hi Alexis , 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?
My confidence and self-esteem came was bought on in my early childhood. Growing up with 5 siblings and I was the youngest. So when I was told that I couldn’t to something or I was to little that made me more determined to prove they were wrong.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I grew up in Flint, Michigan and graduated from Northern High School were I as always active in sports, so being competitive was like second nature.
My father would always tell tales of his experience in the Navy. The places he travel and the people he met. I always enjoyed hearing the stories especially the part of meeting so many people from different parts of life.
When my third oldest brother became of age he joined the Marines and again the stories he told made me more determined to join the military when I graduated from high school. I wanted to follow their footsteps, so I joined the Army.
Little did I know, my view of the military from a female eyes told a different story compared to the stories of my father and brother. I found out quickly that men veterans tell War Stories and women veterans have Battle Cry’s.
The way a female veteran is treated in the military is like no other. Not only does a female have to prepare to fight for her country, she has to prepare to protect her body from her fellow service men, build an extra layer of confidence and self-esteem so that she can prove that she is worthy of being treated the same as her male counter parts.
When it comes to battle, no one cares what sex you are as long as the mission is accomplished. But off the battle field, women veterans are still fighting harassment, being treated less than, looked over for promotion just to mention a few.
After serving 6 years in the Army, I worked and retired from the VA Medical Center. After witnesses the continued lack of support to our Women Veterans I founded Motown Women Veterans Association in 2019.
Motown Women Veterans Association is a non-profit organization that see to the needs of our women veterans to help them overcome barriers so that they can regain a since of womem hood to transition back into civilization.
MWVA host events so that women veterans can come out network and prehaps meet a bubby like minded sister.
For more information visit our website, motownwva.org where we post upcoming events and resources. Also every Tuesday from 10:30am-11:00am I host a TV talkshow on TV33 on Demand, Expose under the Sun, where I invite guest who have resources to help Veterans.
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?
My three qualities of skills are the ability to become a great listener, take chances, and think outside the box.
When you learn the mastering of listening, you learn so much from others now matter how big or small. Take the information and use it to your advantage. Some may consider certain situations as “Ear Hustling ” but this is why you are blessed with ears to listen and learn.
If you have a dream or goal you want to succeed in, take the chance. You only have one life to live for yourself, not others. You have to blockout the naw sayers, think positive and never give up.
Think outside the box, not every thing in life is developed from a cookie cutter. Always look for ways to improve your life, business, family or anything that you hold dear.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Motown Women Veterans Association is always looking to collaborate with other organizations who mission is to help Women Veterans locally and nationwide.
United We Stand ÷ We Fall
Even more now than ever!!
I can be reached at:
Phone: 248-301-1900
Email: motownwva@gmail.com
Website: motownwva.org
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Motownwva.org
- Facebook: Alexis Derriso
Image Credits
NA, the pictures submitted are my own.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
