Meet Dr Rita Renee

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

Dr Rita, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.

Don’t Shrink to Soothe Them
Why I Stopped Apologizing for Being Fully Me
By Dr. Rita Renee

At some point in adulthood, I realized something sobering: I was shrinking—not because I lacked confidence, but because my confidence made them uncomfortable. I was dimming my light to soothe their egos. Playing small to make others feel big. But here’s the truth I had to face: no dream, calling, or identity worth living can survive in the shadows. So I stopped shrinking to soothe them—and started standing in the fullness of who I am.

Even with years of experience, hard-earned credentials, and a clear vision, the criticism came.
“She’s always doing the most.”
“She wants to be the center of everything.”
“Why does she always have to speak up?”

But what they labeled as “too much” was really just enough—for the purpose I was born to fulfill.

For a while, I softened my voice, edited myself in rooms I’d outgrown, and over-explained my right to lead. I thought being humble meant being silent. I thought I was making space for others. What I was really doing was betraying the woman I worked so hard to become.

The turning point didn’t come with applause or validation—it came with exhaustion. I was tired. Tired of tiptoeing. Tired of seeking permission. Tired of carrying the emotional weight of making sure others weren’t threatened by my presence.

So I let go of the need to be liked and held on to the need to be honest—with myself.

These days, I persist not to prove anything, but because I know who I am and why I’m here. The opinions of others no longer govern the volume of my voice or the size of my vision.

If standing in your power makes someone uncomfortable, let it.
If being fully you feels like “too much” to them, that’s their mirror—not your muzzle.

I no longer shrink to soothe them.
I stand.
I speak.
I soar.

And I do it without apology.

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?

Spreading the Word: Dr. Rita Renee and the Power of the Unmuted Voice
I’m Dr. Rita Renee—international speaker, author, business strategist, and founder of Your Ultimate PowerHouse Coach. My work is rooted in helping high-impact women come off mute, step out of the shadows, and boldly embrace their voice, vision, and value without apology.

Through my signature coaching programs, workshops, and books, I empower women to unlearn the limitations imposed by fear, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and comparison. Whether you’re launching a business, sharing your story from the stage, or navigating leadership, I believe the world needs your voice—and I help you use it with clarity and confidence.

What’s most exciting about what I do is seeing the transformation: watching women who once played small begin to walk boldly in purpose. I don’t just teach branding or public speaking—I guide women to own who they are before they tell the world what they do.

🔥 What Makes My Work Different:
My brand isn’t about hype—it’s about healing. It’s where strategy meets soul. I bring over 30 years of leadership experience in healthcare, ministry, and business, along with deep insight as a survivor, to create spaces that are safe, structured, and spiritually grounded. I believe women are not broken—they’ve simply been silenced too long. That changes here.

📣 What’s New:
I’m an upcoming TEDx speaker, delivering a talk titled “Belonging Over Boxes: Why We Must Rethink DEI and Reclaim Excellence” this August in Raleigh, NC.

My latest book, PowerHouse Speaker: UnMute – From Shadows to Stage, just launched and is already transforming the way women think about visibility and courage.

I’m hosting the PowerHouse Connection Workshop this fall—a transformational experience for faith-based women in leadership and entrepreneurship.

I’m currently expanding my platform to include the “Permission to Pause” video series, which teaches busy women how to lead from a place of stillness, clarity, and strength.

At the heart of it all, my mission is simple: To help women rise, not by becoming someone new, but by becoming more of who they’ve always been.

🔗 Learn more at www.ultimatepowerhousecoach.com
📱 @DrRitaRenee on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The Three Most Important Qualities That Shaped My Journey
By Dr. Rita Renee

Looking back on my professional and personal journey, three qualities have consistently shaped my growth, impact, and resilience:

1. Conviction Over Comparison
One of the most outstanding skills I developed was the ability to stay grounded in my own calling, even when others misunderstood it. Early on, I wrestled with comparison. I thought success looked a certain way, sounded a certain way, and came in a particular package. But the moment I stopped measuring my journey against someone else’s highlight reel and started trusting God’s blueprint for me, everything changed.

Advice: Take the time to clarify why you do what you do. Build from conviction, not competition. Ycan’tn’t copy purpose—and when you walk in yours, comparison loses its power.

2. Strategic Communication
Whether speaking on a stage, leading a team, or navigating difficult conversations, learning how to communicate with clarity, confidence, and compassion has changed everything. I’ve always had a strong voice, but learning when, how, and with whom to use it has turned that voice into influence.

Don’t just focus on what you say—pay attention to what’s received. Learn to listen deeply, speak with intention, and adapt your message without diluting your truth. Communication is a leadership superpower.

3. Emotional Maturity and Healing
Behind the titles and accomplishments, I had to do the hard work of healing. From childhood trauma to public setbacks, I learned that emotional maturity isn’t just about keeping it together; it’s about learning from every experience without letting it define you.

Advice: Prioritize your inner life. Do the soul work. Invest in counseling, mentorship, and spiritual growth. The best version of you won’t emerge from pretending’ll’ll rise when you give yourself permission to be whole.

In every stage of your journey, you’ll face challenges. But if you stay rooted in who you are, speak with purpose, and continue to grow from the inside, you’ll discover that every obstacle is just another opportunity to rise stronger.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

Should You Go All-In on Your Strengths or Try to Be Well-Rounded?
By Dr. Rita Renee

I believe in leading with your strengths—but not hiding behind them.

Here’s why: your strengths are the vehicle, but your growth areas are the roadblocks that keep you from accelerating. If you only nurture what comes easy, you’ll eventually hit a wall built by what you chose to ignore.

Early in my career, I leaned hard into what I did well: leading, speaking, building relationships. I was bold, energetic, and could inspire almost anyone in a room. But behind the scenes? I avoided anything that felt overly technical or operational. I didn’t like data. I wasn’t organized with systems. And I convinced myself, “That’s not my lane.”

Until the day my business plateaued.

I had amazing ideas and a heart to serve—but I wasn’t tracking cash flow, managing time effectively, or leading with long-term strategy. My strengths got me seen, but my gaps were keeping me stuck.

So, I invested in myself.
Not in more spotlight, but in structure.
Not just in coaching others, but in getting coached myself.

I took courses. I asked hard questions. I hired help when necessary, but I didn’t expect anyone to carry what I wasn’t willing to lift first.

Because here’s the truth: no one owes you success.
Not a system.
Not a company.
Not a friend.
Not a platform.

We can acknowledge challenges and still choose not to be defined by them. I’ve lived through trauma. I’ve been underestimated. I’ve had doors closed in my face. But the moment I realized I didn’t need a handout—I needed discipline—everything changed.

Yes, go all-in on your strengths—but be responsible for your weaknesses. Learn what you need to learn. Do what you’ve been avoiding. Build the parts of yourself that are still under construction.

Success doesn’t belong to the most gifted. It belongs to the most willing.

And if you’re waiting for someone to make it easier, you’ll be waiting forever.

But if you get up, get serious, and do the work?

There’s no limit to what you can achieve.

“Your strengths will open the door. But your willingness to grow will keep it open.” —Dr. Rita Renee

Contact Info:

Image Credits

photos: In God’s Image

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your