We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Verniese Lorielle Moore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Verniese Lorielle, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My purpose found me! Sometimes, it will hunt you down until you yield!
On April 23rd, 2010, I was given 6 months to live. I heard those dreadful words over the phone that shattered my world. The nurse whispered “Verniese the biopsy came back as Lymphoma”. I was 2 years into medical school, training to heal the sick and now in my 20’s I was facing death. It was the toughest, yet the most purpose-defining time in my life. It was the start of a journey that exponentially propelled me into extraordinary living. It was at this point, that I learned the difference between truth and facts. You do know there is a difference between the subconscious understanding of truth vs. facts, right?
The fact was “I had stage 3 cancer”. The truth I accepted was “I am going to live”. Growing up as a Christian, I was taught about healing and miracles. It was the only force in my life that I heard of, that promised a supernatural manifestation in the natural realm. It was a concept that I heard of, but never really put to work.
Now, it was me! Alone! In a room! With Cancer!
It was time to find out if what I had been taught, worked. I decided to take a deep dive into healing and purpose. I decided if I was to ever discover the power of Biblical scriptures that I was taught, now was the time. I began to frame my mind around the truth I accepted. I mean, did I really have a choice? I went through chemotherapy and have ultimately been declared cancer-free for 13 years and cured for 8 years. So you see, I was a patient long before I became a physician. I was suddenly thrust into the fight of my life, which included an intense chemotherapy regimen and an adjusted schedule in medical school to accommodate my new health challenge. Oddly, I was prepared for a battle that I never imagined I would have to fight. I was prepared for my impending Victory! I was fortunate enough to have responded to therapy immediately, and subsequently declared cured from Lymphoma in August of 2015. Among many, this has been the greatest challenge and now greatest Victory of my life.
My healing journey really defined and made my purpose as a physician clear. It has given me great empathy, compassion, and love for my patients.
Initially, I hid my story because I was ashamed, but on occasion, when I pushed past those feelings and shared freely, I could visually see hope enter the hearts of my patients through their facial expressions and body language. This gives me the greatest satisfaction to motivate and encourage others. I’m addicted to that feeling. It has solidified and confirmed my purpose as a physician! I’m a walking billboard of healing and recovery for those who have been assigned to me in this life.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Currently, I am a practicing physician at the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group at Kaiser Permanente, which is a large multi-specialty and integrated healthcare organization, in Northern Virginia. I am in the Advance Urgent Care Department, where we diagnose and treat common urgent and complex medical conditions in a 23-hour observation unit. We have access to state-of-the-art technologies with the capability of performing advanced imaging studies and administering IV medication. There is 24/7 access to specialists who provide recommendations on complex cases. This position has been very rewarding, in that I have the opportunity to fulfill my purpose with each shift, work for a great healthcare organization, work with amazing colleagues who have become close friends, and most importantly I have the awesome experience of working with my husband who is also a physician on a daily basis. I never have to pay for my lunch when he’s at work!
Most recently, while still practicing medicine, I decided to embark on an amazing journey to pursue my passion and love for Handbags. I have spearheaded a highly specialized team of industry leaders who together, we are creating a luxury handbag line, in Italy, to be launched in September of 2024. It’s quite the production! We are creating a brand where women feel empowered, sophisticated, accomplished, and sexy while donning our bags. We are driven by the mission statement “To Ignite Women Through Purpose, Passion, Beauty, and Fashion”. The name of the brand is VIE LORIE which was derived from my name Verniese Lorielle. This name has a powerful meaning that truly defines many pivotal events in my personal and professional life and is uniquely tied to my desire to empower women. The “VIE” means Life in French and “LORIE” means Laurel or sweet bay tree, which is the symbol for Victory.
VIE LORIE- “LIFE OF VICTORY”
Given the brand’s morals, this name is quite fitting to introduce the world to my passion for luxury handbags!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most? What advice would you offer entrepreneurs who are early in their journey?
Three qualities that were most impactful in my journey would be my Faith, Persistence and Optimism. These qualities are directly related to my mindset. My journey to anything worth achieving has always started with my mindset and thoughts, how I viewed the challenge, how I viewed failures and how I viewed my ability to overcome.
Recently, I’ve learned that these qualities were a direct extension from the lessons taught during my childhood. I was blessed enough to have parents who put a great emphasis on my thoughts. They were great at preparing me for the world and being strategic in planning and praying. What a wonderful gift I was given, which I am now “unpacking”. This has come full circle in watching them interact with my children. I hear them teaching the same lessons and it has been very nostalgic for me. I’ve learned that many of the lessons I live by today started with my dad saying “Don’t say I can’t” or my mom saying “If there is a will there is a way”. These lessons of Faith, Persistence, and Optimism were persistently instilled in me in which, I am living its awesome impact today.
Advice that I would give entrepreneurs, who are early in their journey is to carefully curate your close circle of support. Be careful who you are listening to and evaluate their credibility. Do not listen to people who have a negative perspective of a journey they have never walked, and do not allow the fears of others to become your fears. I am surrounded by entrepreneurs, and it has been the most valuable resource in which I pull from daily.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client for VIE LORIE appreciates the luxury experience from the introduction to the brand, to exploring the products on the website, and then unboxing their purchase. They pay attention to the major details, such as the quality and feel of the leather, where the product was made, and the placement of the hardware. They are equally focused on details that the average consumer may ignore, such as, where the leather was sourced, the factory conditions in which the product is made, the exclusivity of the brand or the political beliefs of the designer. Specifically, for this reason, VIE LORIE has partnered with a celebrity designer who has had an amazing career and track record.
I am uniquely positioned in a community surrounded by many who are among my ideal clients, which gives me direct access to the mindset and desires of the target audience. It is an excellent reference in which to delicately curate the VIE LORIE brand. My ideal client has patronaged the most elite brands and will likely make comparisons that will certainly keep us on our toes. They are accustomed to a lifestyle of luxury, will give valuable feedback, and will likely be very intrigued by one of their own venturing into an area so far from medicine. I am certain they will research myself as the founder and will be morally and socially aligned with the brand before becoming a customer.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vielorie.com
