We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Olymphia O’Neale-White recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Olymphia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

As someone who has matriculated throughout all levels of education, I am baffled to realize how little financial literacy and career enhancement is emphasized in learning environments. As a professional social worker, I understand finance is directly related to stress and impacts many psychosocial challenges clients can experience. This is the same for social work professionals, who also receive little to no financial literacy to ensure post-graduate success. To prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career, I believe courses related to financial literacy should be required in both K-12 and higher educational environments. Teaching young adults and professionals about capital, credit, student loans, funding retirement, employment, the stock market and financial responsibilities related to independent adulthood could drastically improve the living conditions and wellness of the community.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Dr. Olymphia ONeale-White, and I am a clinical social worker, entrepreneur and educator. A few years ago, my desire to support social work professionals and students turned into Through My Lens Consulting Services LLC or TMLCS. Within my business, I provide professional consultation, education, and document writing services to clients and organizations. This supports social workers in gaining skills and knowledge that enhance their professional portfolio, job readiness, and performance.

I got into this industry because I saw a need for the social work profession. I provide all forms of job readiness services, including job search, hourly consultation, group lectures, and interview preparation.

I also support clients in negotiating salary/benefits, improving their résumé, or creating a curriculum vita. One of the best parts of my job is supporting clients through interactive lectures and training. My educational curriculum is thorough and relevant to both social work practice and job readiness. Examples of my courses include the “Resume Revamp Course”, “So You Want to Enter Academia” short course, and “Challenge the Narrative: Imposter Syndrome and Social Work Practice” lecture. As a social worker who has also navigated the job market and varying employment sectors, I have a unique view of these challenges and provide education based on both my personal experiences and research findings.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson that I’ve learned is that imposter syndrome only comes for those that are the most deserving…those that are dedicated to quality outcomes and determined to reach success. I personally experienced imposter syndrome as I navigated my professional career in social work. I often wondered whether I was good enough or capable of truly helping the clients that I served. I also questioned whether I was worthy of receiving the accolades I worked so hard to obtain. I had to unlearn the self-doubt I had to see my humility and desire for outcomes as strengths that would make me successful in the future.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

My side hustle definitely turned into a full-time grind for me. When I’m not practicing self-care or meeting my full-time job requirements, I’m investing in the social work community with TMLCS. When I first started doing resumes, it was for colleagues, friends, and anyone else that reached out. I remember charging barely $20 for three days worth of support and writing! Honestly, that speaks volumes about my desire to make a difference in the field of behavioral health. I have such dreams for TMLCS, and I look forward to seeing them come to fruition.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.throughmylenseconsultingservices.com/
• Instagram: @throughmylenseconsulting
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/throughmylenseconsulting/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-olymphia-o-neale-white-dsw-lmsw-88337b96

Image Credits
Brenton Fogg, Fogg the Brand Photography