We were lucky to catch up with Jame Geathers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jame, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My mission is to create a legacy of empowering women to fulfill their full potential.

Specifically, BIPOC (black, indigenous, women of color), women with mental health diagnoses and female entrepreneurs. I identify as each of these types of women and I know the challenges that we are confronted with.

Jame, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have spent the last 16 years in the Human Resources field. My company, Synergetic Virtual HR Consulting LLC, provides cost-effective human resources solutions to small businesses. The mission of my company is to provide support and structure to small businesses so that they can continue to create opportunities in their communities. Through creating policies and structure I help business owners create the culture they desire for their organization and set clear expectations for their teams. What I am most proud of about my business is that I empower small business owners to realize their dreams while living mine.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

The first advice I give my clients is always put expectations in writing. Many small business owners and managers are hesitant to create written policies because they feel it locks them in to an arrangement that will hurt them in the long run. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Having written policies have 3 benefits:

– Creating written policies allows the business owner to define the culture for their team instead of allowing their team to do so.
– Creating written policies provides your employees with written expectations of behavior. Without having written expectations your employees are left to assume and most likely their assumptions will not match your vision for your company.
– Creating written policies provide documentation in the event of a less than pleasant end to an employer/employee relationship. Whether dealing with the Department of Labor for a termination or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission due to a claim of discrimination, written policies can be serve as evidence of an equitable workplace.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2013 I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. In all transparency, I was suspected of having the illness as early as 8 years prior to the official diagnosis but I chose not to accept it until then. Being given that diagnosis was devastating. Dealing with the symptoms of the disease and the shame made living each day feel like an impossible feat. I constantly worried about hiding my manic and depressive cycles out of fear of being hospitalized or having custody of my daughter taken away. Once I began being treated, I had to add the side effects of the medication to that juggling act. As difficult as it was, it was nothing compared to dealing with all of that while being an entrepreneur. As a business owner I was no longer only concerned about my household but also that of my team and my clients. The first few years as I worked to build my reputation as a Human Resources expert, I worked just as hard to function at a high level regardless of what my chemically imbalanced brain wanted to do. Just as I felt I was thriving I was dealt another blow. In 2019, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Unbeknownst to me I had been experiencing symptoms for several months but I was too busy to notice. When I finally dragged myself into the emergency room I could barely walk or breathe. After 10 days in the hospital I was wheeled out with instructions for the next phase of my life. My diet, fitness, medication and everything else would have to change if I wanted to live. While both of these diagnosis were uncomfortable and devastating, each of them made me more resilient, compassionate and determined to leave a legacy of empowered women. Each challenge presented me with the option to pivot or give up. For me, giving up is never an option. They also reminded me of the gift that is in each day and each person that I am blessed to have an impact on.

Contact Info:

• Website: Jamegeathers.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jame.geathers/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/jamegeathers
• Other: https://synergeticvirtualconsulting.com/ https://bipocmentors.org/