Meet Danielle McCamey

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danielle McCamey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danielle below.

Danielle, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

There have certainly been moments where being the only one in the room felt isolating. However, I’ve come to see it as an opportunity. As I’ve grown and embraced my authentic self, this space has become a platform. It allows me to create a path for others who might follow, bringing different perspectives and experiences. Being your authentic self is the only way to be effective. I have found that when I have shrunk myself to fit in, I did not exude the same confidence and connection with my work and experiences. When you are your authentic self, you give others the opportunity to see you for who you are and to learn and grow from your unique presence. You give people permission to shine and to be themselves. Which is extremely powerful.

The hope is that one day, this room won’t feel so empty, but will be filled with a diverse group of people who can find opportunities to be themselves and champion the communities that have inspired their journey to be here today.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My superpower is nursing. I use my super power as an acute care nurse practitioner now turned academician to build communities that create opportunities for nurses of color through networking, mentorship, and advocacy to increase diversity in nursing practice.

What excites me right now is the opportunity, as founder and CEO, to lead DNPs of Color, a nursing organization focused on doctors of nursing practice of color.

The DNP is a terminal clinical doctorate, and these nurses are educated at the pinnacle of nursing education, enabling them to implement nursing science into practice. DNP-prepared nurses often focus on improving patient outcomes in real time. The DNP is an exponentially growing group of professionals because the degree has made doctoral education more accessible, with program structures offering greater flexibility to balance schooling with other commitments. As a result of this exponential growth, DNPs of Color has become the premier organization to support this group of nursing professionals. This organization is creating professional development opportunities to amplify this growing body of nursing professionals and to foster a community of belonging, validation, and psychological safety. These crucial elements help these professionals thrive in spaces where they might be the only one from academia, leadership, or clinical practice.

We have a lot of exciting things happening! We just launched our Future DOC and DOC Talk Speaker series, highlighting the subject matter experts within our community. We also started our second cohort of our publication mentorship program called MyDNP Manuscript. In addition, we kicked off our diMENsions in DNP program, highlighting the contributions of barbershop culture in wellness and Black men’s health for Men’s Health Month. We just celebrated the class of 2024 with our ninth virtual commencement, recognizing the newly minted DOCs. Finally, this year we will be hosting our fourth annual conference in Philly. The theme is The Power Playbook: Leadership, Advocacy, & The Arts.

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?

Three qualities that have been the most impactful in my journey: Be kind, be flexible, and be consistent.

Be kind because we, as people, go through so much in our lives, and you never know what others are experiencing. It is always best to err on the side of kindness because that might be the one thing they need to make it through the day.

Be flexible. Going with the flow of life and the journey is way more fun. Letting go of perfection and perceived control will allow you the opportunity to grow and make your life much fuller. You can make all the plans in the world, but since things change constantly, being flexible will help you adjust and move accordingly.

Be consistent. Consistency wins every time. Some progress is better than no progress; every little bit counts.

The advice I wish I had early in my career is the following:

1. Get more than one mentor; at a minimum, have four:

Mentor 1 is your personal mentor. They know you as a person, like a parent would.
Mentor 2 is your career strategist. They help you navigate how to become what you want to be when you grow up.
Mentor 3 is your #GOALS mentor. This might be someone famous or not as accessible, but you admire their impact on the world and align your work with that same energy.
Mentor 4 is the historical mentor. This is someone who has passed on, but their work still speaks to you and offers knowledge and guidance for your journey.

2. Re-evaluate yourself every three years in a job to ensure you are growing, teaching, and advancing to the next level. If you are not, it is time to go. If you are, stay up to five years and then move on.

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?

I grew up in a single-mom household. I think the most impactful thing my mom did for me was to be the ultimate role model for success despite all the odds being stacked against her. She has always exuded grace, grit, strength, love, kindness, and inspiration. She helped to give me those same qualities that have been the foundation of my success in my career, and that I impart to others. Her story is inspiring, and to know my mom is to love her. There are so many who claim her as their mom, and she loves every minute of it! She is the queen of innovation and cliches and she has taught me and so many how to think outside the box and to not let your circumstances define or confine you.

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Image Credits

VEEA Photography
cinematicimagery
DJ Harvey Dent

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