BEHAVIORAL COACH. AUTHOR. SPEAKER. US ARMY VETERAN

DR. SHIRLEY BOYKINS BRYANT

is a veteran of the United States Army, who retired at the rank of SGM after serving honorably for 23 years She is an Author, Youth Behavioral Coach and Chief Operating Officer of Let's Talk About It - Behavioral Coaching LLC and Educating Our Youth, which is a non-profit organization. She is employed as a Human Resources Policy Manager for a federal government organization and Adjunct Professor for Bay Atlantic University, Washington D.C.

Shirley has a Doctorate Degree in Human and Organizational Psychology; she is a certified Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Behavior Practitioner and has a Diploma in Modern Applied Psychology

Shirley has been a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. for more than 23 years and has served in positions of leadership, and is also a member of the Kappa Epsilon Psi Military Sorority, Blacks in Government, and Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)

She has written and published research titled "The Lived Experiences of Federal Human Resources Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Co-Authored several Amazon International Best Seller Anthologies titled The GOD-Fident Woman, Step Into Leadership Greatness: Leaders Producing Leaders, Veterans Unchained, Perfection Doesn’t Exist and more recently I AM WOMAN.

CONNECT: https://lets-talk-coaching com

DR: To be very honest, that was a huge surprise. I began by mentoring young people in community groups, and once someone saw what they perceived to be a positive relationship with me, they asked me to return and start coaching the youngsters on their behaviors That's how it all began, and I spent time counseling and mentoring young people The more time I spent working with kids, the more I realized how important this field of study was Additionally, because I have a teenage son, I always stress the need of "talking about it" We have addressed a lot of problems just by talking about them Thus, "Let's Talk About" Youth Behavioral Coaching was launched

R: What would you say is most rewarding in what you do?

DR: The most fulfilling aspect of anything I do is knowing that I make a difference in the lives of those I come into contact with. Whether it's creating HR policies that have an influence on how the organization's workers live, making sure my college students have the resources they need to succeed in their classes, or mentoring a young person to a level of accomplishment in a subject that was formerly considered difficult

R: What advice would you give someone who wants to transition from being an employee to entrepreneur?

What advice would you give someone who wants to transition from being an employee to entrepreneur

DR: Ensure that whatever business area you decide to explore, the decision is based more on Passion than Money. I believe that our Passion is closely connected to our Purpose, therefore one would do it, even when the profits are low. However, if one is in it strictly doing something for the money, the propensity for their measure of success will be seen as positive only when the profit level is high.

Dr. Shirley Boykins Bryant

Interview with a Women To Know In 2023

R: What are three traits you feel an entrepreneur must have?

DR: Three traits I feel an entrepreneur must have are Passion, Discipline, and Tenacity

R: How do you persist in the face of challenges within your business?

DR: Focus on the WHY - first of all! Continue to network and remember that I am in this for the long haul. It takes work to build a successful business.

R: How do you measure success?

DR: Success to me is determined by one's legacy. That is how much my successes and the work I've done have a good influence on the community I've worked in, the people I've helped, and the lives of the people I love

R: 100 years from now when people learn about you, what do you want to be known for?

DR: 100 years from now, I want people to learn that we are all connected - what impacts one individual has the potential of impacting an entire community or even the world. I want to be known as someone who truly cared about understanding and connecting with our youth. Based on the aforementioned descriptors, I've left a positive and impactful legacy that will last long after I'm no longer present.

R: Give three tips to new business owners, and leaders

DR: Focus on the WHY, remember your product and service is not for everyone, and that's okay Do the work necessary to market your product and/or service. Be visible and find a mentor who has experienced the same journey. Understand that the output you receive will be based mostly in part on your input.