By Dendy Media

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dethra U. Giles.

It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?

I am the Chief Bridge Architect because, at ExecuPrep, we help people build and cross their bridge from “I want to be” to “I am” and the leader of that effort. I am a three-time TEDx Speaker, and international consultant, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and we could go down the list. But most importantly, I am a wife and a mom, and I know what it feels like to be stuck. The accolades sound impressive, but what matters more is using my journey’s authenticity to help transform people and companies to operate at their optimal levels. In one of my TEDx talks, I reflected on the day I sat in my office and had an UGLY cry. I knew I could change the world but achieving that wasn’t looking good. My current employer was a mess; the team I was to lead was in worse shape than discussed during the interview, and I was stuck. Nothing in my underprivileged upbringing had prepared me for this, I had no family members to use as resources, and I had no blueprint. I got up from that cry and made a declaration, “This will be my worse day and I will make it my business to systematize success, so no one else has to do this.” On that day I began, my journey to change lives and transform companies. And now you have CEO Dethra U. Giles helping clients build and cross their bridge from “I want to be” to “I am.”

I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?

Oh, the obstacles, where do I begin? As a Black woman, I have faced discrimination; some of it covert and some of it right in my face. I remember a leader in an organization where I was a subordinate saying the “N” word loud enough for everyone to hear and declared that no one would stop him. You can imagine there was no diversity on his leadership team and no ramifications for his actions. I don’t come from money, and at every step of my journey, things and people required money. I remember a million-dollar opportunity, but I would have needed a couple hundred thousand dollars to cover the project before the first payment. I didn’t have the money, did not know how to get the money, and had to pass on the contract.

But the biggest obstacle was my thinking. Whether it was believing the falsehoods that others fed me, self-doubt, not pushing myself far enough, or allowing fear to overtake my decision-making. I now have two daily pieces of self-talk that help me overcome every obstacle:
1. Impossible is an overused grammatically incorrect word. The correction is I’m possible
2. You do not have permission to be mediocre just because your average is someone else’s excellent.

Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?

Oh, the obstacles, where do I begin? As a Black woman, I have faced discrimination; some of it covert and some of it right in my face. I remember a leader in an organization where I was a subordinate saying the “N” word loud enough for everyone to hear and declared that no one would stop him. You can imagine there was no diversity on his leadership team and no ramifications for his actions. I don’t come from money, and at every step of my journey, things and people required money. I remember a million-dollar opportunity, but I would have needed a couple hundred thousand dollars to cover the project before the first payment. I didn’t have the money, did not know how to get the money, and had to pass on the contract. But the biggest obstacle was my thinking. Whether it was believing the falsehoods that others fed me, self-doubt, not pushing myself far enough, or allowing fear to overtake my decision-making. I now have two daily pieces of self-talk that help me overcome every obstacle: 1. Impossible is an overused grammatically incorrect word. The correction is I’m possible 2. You do not have permission to be mediocre just because your average is someone else’s excellent.

What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?

Have you ever been on a road trip with friends? You had a destination in mind, and you and your crew were so excited about getting where you were going, but half of the fun was getting there. The shenanigans you had on the way there were just as epic as the destination itself. If you missed the enjoyment of the journey, you would likely miss the success of the entire trip. “Success” is similar. Don’t be so focused on the destination that you forget to enjoy the journey. There is nothing so magical about a title, a corner office, an achievement that some supernatural council will award you your happiness and joy once you arrive. Life will fill your journey with bumps, ups, downs, and roundabouts; enjoy them: find joy in the journey; waiting to be happy is for the birds.

Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?

Success is a proper work/life alignment. I don’t believe in the myth of work/life balance; I want my work and my life to be aligned. Success is having a career that allows me to fulfill my purpose while working in my passion while keeping work in its subordinate place to my family. Success is having a husband that I love who loves me in return. Success is having children that see me as a value to their lives; having a mother that brags on me like I discovered a cure for cancer; working in the community and impacting children beyond the children I call my own and leaving a legacy on this earth that lives beyond me and is more significant than me.

What’s next for you?

In my second TEDx Talk, I spoke about the D.A.R.E. model for conversations on race at work. The model has been transformational for our clients. The tool gives leaders techniques to lead conversations about race in the office and optimize their differences for maximum impact on the company’s bottom line. We are expanding the model, developing the certification course and licensing program to allow organizations to bring the D.A.R.E. model to their organization. The certification course will welcome its first cohort in January 2021, and the licensing will be available in February 2021. Soon, H.R. professionals, D.E.I. teams, and senior company leaders will be prepared to train others in the organization to have productive conversations on taboo topics at work, conversations that will lead to increased revenues. The D.A.R.E. model is a game-changer for companies.

Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more.

We at ExecuPrep are here to change lives and transform companies. Reach us via email at info@execuprep.com, call us at 404-624-6073 and definitely follow me on Instagram at Dethra.Giles or LinkedIn a Dethra Giles