We recently connected with Dr. Michelle S. Thomas and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Michelle S., so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
I started my leadership journey at the age of 19. During that time not only was I the only woman, I was the only woman of color within my position in this National Retail Chain. I quickly learned my first and most valuable lesson of success… “Business does not have emotions!”-Dr. Michelle. The only “drivers” of anyone’s success are education, preparations, and determination!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As a Global Keynote Speaker and Best-Selling Author I had the privilege to travel the globe speaking on some of the most amazing stages! Throughout that journey what I found was there was a “disconnect” with access to relevant tools and resources for women entrepreneurs. There are so many phenomenal women around the globe that are doing great work towards the success of women within business… however, women would have to spend time searching for those gems.
Through my 30+ years within building profitable businesses, the one key that I always understood about success… find a sustainable solution to a pressing need. Thus, The Exceptional Woman Enterprise was born! The Exceptional Woman Enterprise is comprised of multiple subsidiaries expertly designed to work within its “area of greatness” while maintaining a crossover “eco-system” of support of its sister subdivision. This allows us a unique position of an ETHICAL “Safe Space” for women to launch, build and grow their entrepreneurial dreams.
The building of The Exceptional Woman Enterprise has been a journey of discovery for me. As a researcher, I took years to dive deeper into the barriers that tends to impact women entrepreneurs, especially women of color. I wanted to ensure that our products and services would be relevant and highly effective for women within all 5 stages of their business journey. To do this effectively each entity had to have a clear set of expertise.
– The Exceptional Woman Network – https://www.exceptionalwomannetwork.com/ Provides women entrepreneurs with the education, training, and financial building avenues necessary to build a thriving business. Our members do not just bring themselves into our Network, they bring their ENTIRE BUSINESS into our Network. We do this to help each member build and grow as we do! Our local chapters specifically focus on the needs of the business environment of their communities, building a stronger economic environment for the businesses and the people of the community combined.
– The Exceptional Women’s Academy – Women entrepreneurs have exclusive access to our patented “Entrepreneurial Passport” training tracks, designed to provide the exact training they need for each level of their business journey. These Passports allow each woman to maximize her learning experiences by always receiving information that she can use to achieve immediate results.
– The Exceptional Woman Tour – https://exceptionalwomantour.com/ Our events division, provides virtual and in-person events for today’s business leader! Each quarter we have annual events with their own specific tone to allow the savvy business women access to tools that “speak” to the WHOLE Woman! We recognize that women within business have unique needs that does not impact our male counterparts as frequently as it does us. So our events address those needs, again in a “SAFE SPACE” for women to learn, lean, grow, and prosper! Our 2024 events are:
* February 24th – Our Annual “Lights of Legacy” Benefit Dinner. One of our primary focus for assisting women entrepreneurs is to start with out YOUTH! Lights of Legacy provides youth of underserves communities with certified training within high-revenue yielding industries, offering them and their community with access to expertise and positions that they normally would not gain for free. We encourage entrepreneurs, business owners, and National companies to join us in this program to gain interns, offer mentoring, and build new legacies for their businesses! Register here: https://brushfire.com/theexceptionalwomanenterprise/lightsoflegacy/562349
* March 23rd – The “Evolution” Virtual Conference – Where we bring together women experts from around the globe to offer solutions that will positively EVOLVE the INNER WOMAN into walking confidently within her purpose! This is a donation driven event, to help further the support of our young aspiring women that are struggling with loving themselves. Register here: https://brushfire.com/theexceptionalwomanenterprise/theexceptionalwomantourvirtualconference/562604
* June 5 – 9 – The Exceptional Escape Retreat – Our business retreat done “the right way!” Each year we travel to another economically growing country to learn and network with the LEADING business women of their country! This year we are retreating on the beautiful islands of TRINIDAD and TOBAGO! Join us here: https://brushfire.com/theexceptionalwomanenterprise/theexceptionalescaperetreat/562524
* August 1-2 – The Exceptional Woman Business Conference – Dallas, TX at The Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center. Our world renown business conference brings the latest technology, business systems, and cutting edge industry trainings helping every attendee grow their businesses successfully! Grow with us: https://brushfire.com/theexceptionalwomanenterprise/theexceptionalwomantourbusinessconference/562613
– Sixcess Industries Inc. – https://sixcessindustries.com/ Our minority owned business consulting firm, specializing in maximizing profits, operations, HR, and Sales for any size business. Sixcess Industries’s customized business programs ensure that each business achieves efficiency by streamlining processes, lowering costs, and increasing revenue. Learn more:
– Aecendt Global Marketplace – (launching in April 2024) Our unique mobile app, expertly created to quickly connect customers, clients, and businesses to the professionals they are looking for around the globe. Pre-Register your business here: https://form.jotform.com/Exceptional_Woman_En/business-registration-form
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Resilience – My journey into success was full of setbacks, trauma, and a true test of my belief system. Each time I had a setback, I had to “relearn” how to keep going. The upside of this was the “growth” that I found each time. The time it took for me to recover decreased with every lesson. I began to understand how to remain solution-focused over problem frozen. There were so many occasions that I wanted to quit and throw in the towel, but the resilience in me would not allow me not to finish what I started. That inner strength allowed me the confidence to get back up and in the words of Jay Z “dust my shoulders off” and drive towards success.
Ethics – Ethical behaviors is the CORE of my personal and professional successes! Especially within the world of business, challenges can cause some leaders to compromise their ethical beliefs to make profits. I’ve seen it happen, I’ve experienced unethical treatment, and heard the horror stories of victims of unethical promises. I am determined to show that real business success does not have to come at the cost of your integrity and ethical standards.
Multiple Industry Experience – Throughout my career I have had the privilege to lead within multiple industries and departments. If you had asked me this question 20 years ago, I would have equated this as something negative due to “societal” imagery of what a professional’s resume looked like. I am transparent about this hurdle that I had to personally overcome because there are so many people out there that also believes if their career isn’t a “straight pathway” then they cannot achieve success. Each one of those industries have led to the success of the multiple businesses that I own today.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We are always looking for vetted ethical businesses to partner with. Our ideal partners are:
– Women Entrepreneurs looking to grow their clientele
– Professional Business Coaches
– Business service providers willing to offer products and/or services to our members
– National Corporations – Offering business perks to women entrepreneurs
– Speakers for our events
– Mentors
Anyone interested in learning more can email us at partnerships@exceptionalwomannetwork.com and one of our Business Onboarding team members will connect to learn more about your offers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.exceptionalwomannetwork.com/
- Instagram: @YourBusinessSurgeon and @theexceptionalwomannetwork
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theexceptionalwomannetwork
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichellesthomas/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdT4h6swxT0MDDhhfZO2aqg
- Other: https://audioboom.com/channels/5095091-trailblazers-the-podcast-for-women
Image Credits
Photos by: Corrie Huggins Photography
