We’re looking forward to introducing you to Wilma Davidson Ed.D.. Check out our conversation below.
Wilma, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
We rescued a puppy a year ago and she has been such a joy! When we said we were rescuing her, many people said, “You’re getting a dog now? Are you nuts?”
We hadn’t had a dog for over twenty years. (Our last dog lived to be almost 18 years old, and when she passed, I was so bereft, I thought I could never go through that again.) But Harley is such a loving and sweet girl and it is pure joy to see her so happy with us! Since our last name is Harley, we could not resist naming her Harley Davidson!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
What do I do? I help people put their best foot forward–when writing or when speaking in public. That is, I help
teens write their college application essays; help salespeople create their proposals and pitches; advise senior executives how to put together their board reports and present them with power. I also create and edit technical and business documents as well as edit books. I also write them, too.
I have also taught these skills in academic classrooms as well as corporate classrooms for several decades. A former professor-in-practice at a major university, I’ve had the good fortune of presenting workshops and seminars for a variety of high profile corporations in the U.S. and abroad.
A student once said, when describing me, “Where there’s a Wil–ma, there’s a way.”
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I was a compliant, well-behaved, studious young person, always trying to do my best. But it was when I learned to swim (my mother insisted my brother and I learn), that I fell in love with the water and the feeling of controlling my destiny that it gave me.
I went on to get my Life-Saving Water-Safety Instructor certificates–and taught others how to swim when I worked at the Y and summer camps.
Teaching others how to swim capably and even save others made me feel powerful–and, decades later, I received a note from a former student who had married and had a child. She wrote to thank me for helping save her child’s life after the child fell into the pool. She said she clearly heard my voice and instructions on what to do as she saved her child. When I read that note of thanks, I truly felt my life had purpose.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
My middle name should be “Persistance.” I have rebranded myself several times during my life–not because I failed, but because I wanted to stay relevant. It would have been easier to say, “Oh, I don’t really need to work, so I can let up and just be a mom. “As an example, my first business venture was a partnership with another person that ended after two years. She pursued a different career path and I could have quit. Instead, I reincorporated and began anew, solo. It was invigorating building my client list and doing everything myself. How revealing to learn that I could! I might not have discovered my capability if our partnership had not dissolved.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Closest friends would likely say that my RESPECT for others is fundamental to who I am. Likely they would also say that my KINDNESS and CALM in situations is inspirational. Because I believe that everyone deserves respect and that all of us have the ability to tell stories (essential in writing and speaking), I approach teaching with that positiveness and belief in others. Thus, I get others to believe in themselves–just as I learned to believe in myself.
Outside of my friends’ description of my characteristics of kindness and caring, they would say how important my family is to me.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am definitely doing what I was born to do! My parents both valued education and were adamant that my brother and i receive a good education–, so in one respect, I “was told” to value learning from my earliest years. That expectation became my own, however, because I found such value in being curious and learning. During my “growIng up years”, most females became teachers, and though I initially thought I wanted to be a doctor, I realized that I didn’t enjoy the sciences. I was a natural teacher, however, (teaching swimming), so I became one. Teaching in public classrooms, I pursued graduate degrees culminating in a doctorate with a focus on business communication. See, I got to be a doctor after all! Helping people write and speak better!
Whether it’s an academic or a a corporate classroom, I still love teaching others how to be effective when they write or speak–and I enjoy the challenge of editing material for others as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wilmadavidson.com
- Linkedin: wilmadavidson, Ed.D.
- Twitter: @davidsonwilma
- Facebook: WilmaDavidson, Ed.D.
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