We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Yvette Rice a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Yvette, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
After a 15-year hiatus from my engineering career, I returned to the Marketplace under the guidance of the Lord. Initially, I felt fear, insecurity, and doubt. However, I soon realized that the same Holy Spirit Power and Gifts I had experienced as a minister and senior leader alongside my husband in our local congregation were also available for my daily life in the Marketplace.
A few months after returning to work, this realization transformed me from a woman filled with self-doubt into a successful Program Manager for a multi-million-dollar contract. I reclaimed my career with what I call “God-fidence.” What is God-fidence? It is the God-endowed confidence that operates through believers by the Holy Spirit.
From that pivotal moment in my office, I recognized that God had strategically placed me there to understand how the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as discussed in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, should be active while leading others in the Marketplace, whether as career professionals or business owners.
With over 35 years of leadership experience in the Marketplace and Ministry, I have authored multiple books, including the Amazon bestselling title I co-authored, Women Leading by Faith: Make a Difference Now! The wealth of wisdom and knowledge I gained throughout my career is part of my destiny as a businesswoman and Executive Leadership Consultant. I am eager to share this knowledge with other women because it is time to equip them to harness their unique Spiritual Gifts and strengths. This will enable them to make a profound and lasting impact on those they lead in the Marketplace and the world around them.
The problem I am solving as the owner of LLVE, LLC:
An estimated 45 million women working in the United States identify as Christians. However, fewer than one-third of these women are actively involved in a faith community. In the current hostile climate of “Christian Nationalism” in the U.S., many “Women of Faith” find themselves feeling as though their Christian beliefs are being weaponized.
According to UC Berkeley News (Humanities, Law, Politics & Society, Research), millions of U.S. Christians reject the political stance of Christian Nationalism, which is contrary to their religious values. Despite their concerns of being categorized unfavorably in this political climate, many women in the Marketplace recognize that they have been divinely placed in their leadership roles to be a shining light for the Lord, lead their organizations fairly, while helping their teams, peers, and employees discover their God-given purposes. Unfortunately, in this present Marketplace environment of existing gender biases and religious chaos, seeking to fulfill their God-given mandate as “Women of Faith” becomes even more difficult, leaving them unfulfilled relative to their “Marketplace Calling.”
According to the article “Living Out Their Calling at Work,” “Many Christian working women are not affirmed in their spiritual gifts or their natural gifts, talents and abilities…. These gifts are not often acknowledged by their peers or management. Neither are they often affirmed in their home, and it’s rare that women are affirmed or even invited to use their gifts in their church.” This lack of nurturing, affirming, and developmental opportunities that encourage the integration of faith and work excludes a market of millions of talented women who believe they were placed on this earth to make a difference in the lives of the people in their circles of influence and those they lead in the Marketplace, globally.
I acknowledge that not every one of the 45 million women will choose my company as their partner for Leadership Development and Executive Coaching. However, for Women of Faith Executives who are ready to lead with “Kingdom Clarity,” and who recognize that their Marketplace Assignment is both purposeful and aligned with their divine calling, I believe my company is the premier Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting firm they need to thrive.
I excitedly chose the words “Faith-Filled” because I understand the significance of women of faith desiring to live their lives according to God’s Will and recognizing that their success is based upon trusting in God’s promises in the Bible to empower them to accomplish everything they have been purposed to achieve. At my company’s Faith-Filled Leadership Institute for Women, our mission is to embolden these women to unlock their full potential and equip them to achieve extraordinary success in the Global Marketplace and beyond using our industry knowledge and expertise along with those Biblical Principles. Although there are other organizations and companies offering professional and leadership development opportunities for women of faith, they are usually associated with specific denominational institutions and classrooms. This scenario is not the case for our Faith-Filled Leadership Institute for Women.
Our unique Value Proposition states, “We are a women-owned business comprised of female executives from diverse industries and backgrounds, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). We collectively offer over 60 years of personal experience and industry knowledge, along with more than 35 years of theological and clergy instruction and expertise to enhance women’s Professional and Leadership capabilities through our uniquely developed Faith-Filled Executive Leadership Programs. Leadership Development created by Women of Faith for Faith-Filled women in the Marketplace.”
Relative to our products and services, LLVE, LLC is committed to providing a safe community for “Women of Faith” in the Marketplace looking for excellent Faith-filled Leadership and Personal Development. Our programs will …
Help Women:
o Discover resilience through those turbulent times, such as Marketplace biases, career interruptions, and business owner challenges, using Biblical Principles as our guide for recovery.
o Build their God-endowed Confidence (God-fidence).
o Discover their Spiritual Gifts and how to utilize them to succeed as leaders in the Marketplace.
o Become the best version of themselves as a “Woman of Faith in the Marketplace.”
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.
As the owner and President of LLVE, LLC (pronounced “LIVE,” which stands for Ladies Living in Victory and Excellence), I am a woman who believes we should achieve success in both life and business. I offer a unique approach to Leadership and Ministry. After a 15-year hiatus from my engineering career, I returned to the Marketplace with fear, insecurity, and doubt. However, I soon realized that the same God who strengthened and empowered me within the walls of our local congregation and other congregations I ministered in also empowered me for my daily life in the Marketplace.
This realization of “God-fidence” transformed me from a woman plagued by self-doubt into a successful Program Manager overseeing a multi-million-dollar contract. I reclaimed my career after many years away from the Marketplace. Through the different chapters God has orchestrated in my life, I have gained a wealth of wisdom and knowledge that I am eager to share with other women. It is time to equip women to harness their unique Spiritual Gifts and strengths, enabling them to create a lasting impact on those they lead in both the Marketplace and the world.
My work transcends professional success; it focuses on empowering women to thrive in all aspects of their lives. Using a Biblical approach, I promote developmental systems that foster resilience, build God-fidence, and cultivate excellence. As a Subject Matter Expert, I am dedicated to breaking gender barriers and enabling women to contribute significantly to their industries, lives, and ministries globally. I utilize my God-given gifts to empower and transform women worldwide through keynote speeches, my weekly VLOG titled “5 Minutes to Victory” on Facebook, my podcast “There’s More to Your Story,” and the upcoming YouTube channel “Women, The Word and The Marketplace with Dr. Yvette.”
As an Executive Leadership Coach and Small Business Development Consultant, I encourage women to enthusiastically pursue their dreams and purposes, regardless of obstacles, through my Faith-Filled Leadership Institute for Women under the LLVE, LLC umbrella. Additionally, I have leveraged my expertise and business insight to partner with Senior Executives of Fortune 300 corporations, producing books, professional development training curricula, and insightful articles related to leadership, personal development, mentorship, executive coaching, and small business advancement that incorporate Biblical principles.
I also co-pastor New Genesis Community Church alongside my husband, Bishop Sam Rice, Th.D., in Alabama. Beyond my professional accomplishments, I serve my community as a member of the Decatur-Morgan CEO (Creative Entrepreneurial Opportunity) Program Board of Directors and as the 2025 President of “The E-Center” (formerly Decatur-Morgan County Entrepreneurial Center) Board of Directors.
I am committed to lifelong learning and growth in my career and ministry. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and a master’s and doctoral degree in theology from the North Carolina College of Theology Satellite Extension Program in Wilmington, North Carolina. Additionally, I am a 2021 Welch Scholar Distinction MBA graduate of the Jack Welch Management Online Institute at Strayer University, specializing in Leadership.
I have authored or co-authored the following books.
• Amazon Bestseller – Women Leading by Faith: Make a Difference Now! (ISBN-13:978-1951501396)
• Mountain Moving Made Easy (ISBN-13: 978-0-9755217-5-5)
• Mountain Moving Made Easy Workbook (ISBN 9781951501020)
• Women in Leadership: Living Beyond Challenges (ISBN 978-1-951501-00-6)
• Teams, Leaders, and Change – TLC: Accelerating Women in STEM, Paperback ISBN: 978-1-951501-15-0; eBook ISBN: 978-1-951501-16-7)
• Teams, Leaders, and Change – TLC: Accelerating Women in Leadership, (Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-951501-14-3; Paperback ISBN: 978-1-951501-15-0; eBook ISBN: 978-1-951501-16-7)
• Teams, Leaders, and Change – TLC: Accelerating Women in Leadership Workbook, Paperback ISBN: 978-1-951501-15-0
• The ABCs of Influence (ISBN: 978-1-951501-17-4)
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Resilience is “the ability to adapt to stressful life changes and bounce back from them.” Before 2020, my company conducted most of its Leadership Development Training and Executive Coaching onsite. However, like many others, we faced significant challenges when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
During this time, I also pursued my master’s in business administration through Strayer University’s online program while providing caregiving services for my ailing mother. I had to make critical decisions to transition from in-person to online Leadership Development Consulting and Training to keep my business afloat. Fortunately, I was familiar with using Zoom for my master’s program, which helped me connect with my clients.
I viewed the pandemic as a forced opportunity to expand my reach and attract new clients nationally through online markets. However, I was aware of the competition, as many companies offered free webinars during the shutdown’s initial phase.
As my mother’s primary caregiver, I learned to pace myself by keeping my laptop close, staying organized, and establishing my priorities. During this challenging period, I developed self-control, emotional awareness, and enhanced problem-solving skills while cultivating a renewed sense of humor. I often laughed to avoid crying while placing my Faith in God to keep me moving forward.
Five years later, I encountered another transition, but the resilience lessons I learned then made the process much easier.
Have you ever had to pivot?
The journey of pivoting from a career to becoming a full-time mom is life-changing. Ten years after building a career in engineering, I decided to make that transition. I realized how much I valued being a woman in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) industry during the 1990s. I felt like I lost a part of my identity when I stepped away from the Marketplace. I fell for the misconception that I was “just an at-home mom,” instead of recognizing that the sacrifice I chose to make was for the betterment of my children. Not every mother has that option, nor does every mother desire it. Now, I am grateful for the opportunity to witness the positive impact of my decision on our children’s lives, and I find joy in having assisted other women who make similar choices.
During this transition, I also had to redefine my identity and discover new capabilities when I started my first at-home business, far from the STEM field. It turned out that entrepreneurship was deeply embedded in my nature. I seized this opportunity for growth in leadership development and went on to author my first book.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://llve-llc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/llve_llc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LLVELLC/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clotileyvetterice/
- Other: Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/llve-llc/?viewAsMember=true
