We were lucky to catch up with Desirie Sykes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Desirie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

In 2018, my entrepreneurial journey began with a sobering realization: the education system was failing to provide adequate care and support for students, leaving a significant gap in resources and parental involvement. Witnessing this firsthand fueled my determination to make a difference. I set out on a mission to empower parents and emphasize their crucial role in their child’s development.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the early stages of my business posed a challenge. With schools shut downs and home visits out of the question, it seemed like an “deal-breaking” obstacle for a new entrepreneur. However, I refused to be deterred. Instead, I viewed this setback as an opportunity for growth. While my competitors were struggling , I focused on strengthening my foundation, honing my skills, and forging key connections.

I immersed myself into the complexities of establishing contracts with insurance panels, crafting proposals for local school districts, and establishing a robust referral network. I proactively reached out to practitioners in my community, inviting them to join my referral list. Although I had no business and no one to refer to. The sound of being on someone’s referral list was very attractive and everyone wanted in. This was the beginning of me establishing a network and my foundation that has later resultign in word of mouth referrals and a referral list that is in high demand.

Despite facing initial uncertainties and setbacks, I remained resolute in my pursuit of success. Each obstacle became a stepping stone, driving me forward. Today, my business stands as a testament to resilience and perseverance, demonstrating the transformative power of overcoming adversity. As I continue this journey, my dedication to empowering parents and enhancing the lives of children remains steadfast.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Desirie Sykes, and I’m deeply passionate about making a difference in the fields of mental health and special education. I founded NESS Behavior Consulting Inc. and NESS Cares Inc. in 2018.

At NESS, we provide behavioral health therapy to in-home and school-based interventions for children who have behavioral challenges that impede their ability to learn.

What sets NESS apart is our dedication to treating the family unit as a whole. We not only provide services to the child but also ensure that parents have the necessary tools to navigate challenges even when the therapist is not present. I firmly believe that having a child with special needs doesn’t automatically equip parents with all the resources they need. It takes a supportive community and shared resources to thrive. At NESS, we offer parent training and staff development programs to bridge the gap between home and school environments. Additionally, I founded NESS Cares 501c3 in 2020 during my own mental health crisis. Faced with a system ill-prepared to support me, when I became the therapist who needed a therapist, I was inspired to create a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to resources for mental health and special education. My personal experiences have driven me to change the narrative, empowering individuals and families to better themselves and find the support they need.

For potential clients, followers, and supporters, I want them to know that NESS is more than just a business – it’s a movement for positive change. Whether you’re seeking support for a loved one with developmental disabilities or looking to be part of a community dedicated to fostering inclusivity and empowerment, NESS is here for you.

Any advice for managing a team?

Great question. The best advice I want to offer regarding managing a team is that in leadership, you must first understand that your vision is yours. While those you put in place to execute may share your passion and be inspired by your experiences, it’s important to recognize that it’s not their vision. It’s a pleasure to have a strong team who supports your vision and mission wholeheartedly, but who stays when it gets tough? And don’t be upset at those who had to leave because, again, the vision is yours.

Setting clear boundaries from the very beginning is also crucial. Some of the mistakes I’ve made in my entrepreneurial journey and in leadership involve allowing too much access to myself. I often view my staff as family, and when they are hurting or in need, I want to step in and rescue them. However, there have been times when I realized the importance of maintaining professionalism, especially when it comes to leadership interactions with staff. Honestly, it was my fault because I didn’t set clear boundaries. You can achieve this by putting clear policies in place and delegating work to others.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

Can i, haha!! I have stores for days on this. Managing a behavioral health business at my caliber is not easy. With over 30 clients and 20 staff members, it’s been quite a journey. Dealing with insurance funders can be challenging because they often don’t pay quickly.. Sometimes, we wait up to 90 days to receive reimbursement, but payroll is due every two weeks. Additionally, some school cases only pay every 30 days, and there can be pushback on invoices due to the need for additional documents. Even a small delay in billing or submission can mean waiting longer for payment.

Securing big contracts with the City is everyone’s dream, but it can be even more challenging because they often delay payments and don’t prioritize timely processing. While bills must be paid on time, managing payroll, insurance policies, and other expenses becomes paramount.

I’ve faced stories of missed payroll, threats of lawsuits from employees, and even defamation of my business and character. I’ve learned that having a great employment attorney on your team is crucial, as laws constantly change, often favoring employees. It’s essential to set up clear policies and delegate responsibilities to avoid burnout. Ultimately, managing people becomes as important as the services we provide, and it’s vital to navigate these challenges while maintaining resilience and focus.

There was a time when the city owed me over 100K, pushing me to make tough decisions like letting go of some administration staff and delaying payroll by almost two weeks. It was one of the most challenging periods for me, and I even considered throwing in the towel and shutting everything down.During this difficult time, I hoped for understanding and support from my staff. However, not everyone responded as I had hoped. I was reminded that this was MY vision, and I had to persevere. True leadership means facing your team and acknowledging where things have gone wrong, even when circumstances are beyond your control. As the leader of the ship, I had to accept full responsibility for the situation, even when facing defamation from those I once trusted.

Fortunately, it was only a few individuals who caused trouble. The rest of my team weathered the storm, and many have been with me for quite some time. Despite the challenges, we’re all growing personally and professionally, and our collective dedication to our mission remains unwavering.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.desiriesykes.com
• Instagram: @desirie_Sykes
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desirie-sykes-810024a6/
• Youtube: @nesstv18
• Other: www.nesscares.org