We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. DaShaunda Turner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. DaShaunda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

First, let me preface my response with “Everyone takes a risk every day.” It is critical to understand the importance of taking calculated risks. In other words, one shouldn’t cut corners when it relates to research and development. You have to be willing to roll with the punches and not give up in the face of adversity. My life-changing risk was when I left a promising career to build my business. While working, I started to plan my strategy and reached out to colleagues who were already in business. For me, I did not have a big bank account full of savings. I just knew that it was time and that if I put forth only a fraction of the effort for myself that I put forth for my current company at the time, I would be a force like none other, creating opportunities for myself and so many others in different ways.

Here is the kicker, I left to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams in May 2019 and ran dead smack into the infamous COVID-19 Epidemic just a few months later.

I would be dishonest if I told you I was not worried and I did not shed a tear or even throw a tantrum. I decided to focus and invest in my development through a mentorship program. There I learned how to become successful in the coaching and consulting business in economic downturns. I was able to work on my strategy. As you can see, I am still standing and growing.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Certainly! I am Dr. DaShaunda Turner, AKA Dr. D. I am an author, speaker, and the founder of D Global Partners Consulting, LLC, a consulting firm helping with people strategy and leadership development, and Dr. DaShaunda International, a coaching company offering personalized coaching, mentorship, and support services to help women service business owners embrace their visions and “Profitize their Passion.” We offer these services tailored to their unique needs and challenges, helping these ladies grow their businesses without the hassle of hustling so they can build their bottom line without burnout, making their entrepreneurial vision a reality without regret.

My commitment is centered on catalyzing profound transformations in organizations and individuals, with a specific focus on empowering women of color international business leaders and executives.

My mission is simple… To help women discover and align with their authentic purpose, enabling them to create meaningful global impact.

My journey began in the corporate world, where I poured my heart and soul into climbing the career ladder. Degrees, skills, and dedication were my arsenal, but the path was grueling.

There came a point when the relentless pace left me burnt out, hollow, and disenchanted. Despite the achievements, I found myself on a path that didn’t align with my passion or purpose. It was a tough decision, but I chose to step away, to pause, and to reassess.

During this hiatus, I delved into introspection, reconnecting with my core desires and strengths. That’s when it hit me – my experiences, education, and struggles weren’t just personal trials. My journey became a blueprint, a roadmap to help others navigate these very same challenges.

Armed with newfound clarity and a burning desire to make a difference, I embarked on a journey of entrepreneurship. It wasn’t easy. There were doubts, setbacks, and moments of uncertainty. But each stumble became a stepping stone, each failure a lesson of growth. Now mind you, I had a vision several years earlier during a time when I was between jobs. In my secret prayer time, it was revealed to me that I was selling myself short and there were greater things in store for me. During that same encounter, I had a vision of a global consulting business where I helped other individuals start and grow their businesses through strategy and leadership development. I continued developing as a college instructor, Operations Director, and speaker focusing on how I could use my unique set of skills to move forward into the entrepreneurial world.

Using my gifts was not just about building a business; it was about creating a sanctuary for others who are struggling with similar issues. It became my mission to create a haven where women could find inspiration, guidance, and strategies to rediscover their purpose and flourish in their own ventures.

Today, as I examine the winding path that led me here, I am grateful for every twist and turn. The journey from burning out to building up wasn’t swift, but it led me to a place where I can empower others to forge their paths, embrace their uniqueness, and thrive in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Understand that pivoting in business is a part of business growth and a way of survival. When I first started my business, I focused on offering Human resources support and consulting services. I soon found out that the audience with whom I resonated was nowhere near the level of need for human resources support. Instead, I discovered a common problem; the struggle to grow the business to a level where human resources are needed. It was constant burnout, and the consistent theme was “I’m good at what I do but I’m not good at business.” This is where Dr. DaShaunda International was born to provide coaching and mentorship services to help business owners grow their businesses to a level of needing staff, and then develop that staff. My entire model changed, and I’m glad I did because now, I get to help grow businesses to the point where D Global Partners Consulting can continue the business growth journey from a consulting and development perspective. But most importantly, I get to witness these individuals experience their entrepreneurial dreams as a reality, and in some cases, beyond their wildest dreams! What a feeling of honor and humbleness to be used to serve, assist, and support.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

First, understand that culture has to be in place before you start building a team. I’ve seen too often small businesses bring on staff before setting the tone of what staff should look like. There has to be a workforce strategy in place that includes recruiting, hiring, training, development and feedback skills, and so on. A lot of times, we tend to react according to what we need at that point. The derivative is that there is no clear expectations or boundaries which establishes a disconnect between the mission of the company and the staff. Second, recognize that you manage tasks, but you lead people. I’ve seen where it was the other way, and it was a disaster. When I think of management, I think about control. You can only control metrics. You cannot control people, but you can lead people which means inspiring, empowering, and respecting your team members. I have found these concepts to yield successful and sustainable results in managing a team and maintaining high morale as a C-level executive in the corporate world and business ownership.

Be on the lookout for my inaugural ELEVATE Retreat for Women service business owners! Experience Empowerment Leadership Enrichment Vision Accountability Transformation Excellence like none other and catapult your business to new heights.

I would love to speak at your next event.

Follow me on my social media pages for more information on upcoming events.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.drdturner.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdturner/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrDTurner
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dashaundadturner/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrDTurner

Image Credits
Reneka Swims Photography Donzaleigh’s Photography