We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lisa Nicole Wilkerson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lisa Nicole, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
I believe that being successful begins with defining what success is for oneself. Then, as one measures her/his life events against that definition, it is easier to gauge whether s/he is hitting the mark.
In the seventh grade, a classmate asked me what my definition of success was. After pondering his question for a moment, I answered by saying, “To look back over your life and to not regret anything.” That definition still holds true for me.
To look back and not regret requires me to do three basic things:
1. determine what I desire to be, do, and/or have,
2. put forth efforts that place me on a trajectory to meet those goals, and
3. do so with an attitude, a focus, and a persistent work ethic that I can be proud of.
When I meet those criteria, usually desired outcomes manifest. When they do not manifest, it is easier to accept that it was not meant for me to be, do, and/or have the desires because the efforts I put in were genuine. Either way, I move forth — or look back — and have no regrets because the efforts would cause learning, growth, and enlightenment from what was or was not meant to be.
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?
From broadcast journalism to Broadway, and from corporate America to academia, I have had the privilege of working at the highest levels of the storytelling industry my whole career, and I am proud to be the only Broadway theater award-winning communication strategy and presentation skills leadership coach and speaker. My experiences performing on Broadway and being a voiceover artist on an Emmy-nominated PBS American Masters docu-series, a tv news reporter, public relations professional, and adjunct professor at New York University Stern School of Business, all played a role in me creating Communicate with Broadway Confidence™ workshops and coaching sessions that are interactive, client-centric, results-oriented, and fun.
As a coach, I facilitate opportunities for ascending and established business leaders, who are experiencing communication challenges, to hone strategies to identify their core leadership values and align them with how they express themselves professionally to showcase a stronger commanding presence. And, I give them a taste of Broadway in the process. My Broadway Confidence™ methodology integrates traditional communication skills teachings with “Broadway basics” (performing arts tools, tactics, and concepts) to train clients to more confidently and consistently craft and deliver effective presentations of all kinds, as individuals and in teams. Because I believe this type of work is best learned by doing, my layered approach increases retention of the material through stimulation of left-brain logic and right-brain creativity, to help clients be more open, present, and grounded.
Why Broadway? When it comes to highly effective message crafting and live delivery, the Broadway theater industry sits at the apex. To that end, my Broadway and business backgrounds allow me to coach through a lens of high-caliber organizational communication concepts. Moreover, my extensive training in professional dance, theater, voice, sports, fitness, and my knowledge of overall wellness, allows me to have a hawklike ability to see the nuances in clients’ physical and energetic expression during presentation deliveries, and offer impactful feedback that is personalized and in depth. My multi-disciplinary experiences allow me to connect dots most coaches cannot to help get clients the results they are seeking. I meet them where they are, elevate what works well for them, and help to redirect what is less effective.
The concepts I teach are the same ones I use when preparing and delivering presentations of my own. The fundamental underlying principle upon which all of my speaking topics stand is my signature slogan: “Everything You Need You Already Have, and Everything You Have Is Good Enough™” I offer concepts and clear-cut methods on achieving success by sharing personal stories, insights, and calls to action to youth and professionals in various industries, including business, the arts, not-for-profit, and sports. My goal is to inspire and empower.
I have had the privilege of coaching and speaking to professionals and students in journalism, law, the arts, medicine, and various areas of business. Institutions and clients I have worked with include the NYU Stern Executive Education certificate program, Columbia University speechwriting course MPAs, the Opportunity Nation non-partisan organization, Council for Urban Professionals, Tokio Marine North America Services insurance company, Horizons for Homeless Children, Convergent Energy and Power, The Learning Conference, Broadway Inspirational Voices, and various NYC medical schools.
Overall, I bring a broad-ranging set of professional experiences and skills to the table, as well as an immense passion for this work, and my innovative approach to communication skills leadership coaching and speaking sets me apart from the industry standard.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I have pivoted a few times in my career, but the most dramatic occurred when I transitioned from working at a public relations agency to a full-time career in the performing arts. I traded an inner office and an assistant for the open stage.
From age three to 18, I was dedicated to studying and performing various types of dance but stopped taking lessons consistently when I started college, because dancing was not the focus of my studies or career. I took the occasional dance lesson as it fit into my class schedule, but took none in the first year plus following graduation. That all changed when an associate invited me to attend a dance class with her and I agreed. It sounded like a fun way to step back into yesteryear.
While in the class, something odd happened. I felt a sensation in the back of my brain; it felt like a gentle spark that caused an awakening. At that moment I thought, ‘Wow, I forgot how much I loved to dance.’ It was the pivotal moment that jumpstarted what would eventually become a major career and life transition. From that day forward, I began taking classes consistently, again. Quickly, dancing moved from being a hobby to a passion. I was working at Burson-Marsteller Public Relations and would race from the office to the dance studio to take class for three hours every weeknight, and at least three hours on Saturdays. (I gave myself Sundays off.)
Because I was in a bigger city with a larger entertainment industry than my hometown, the scope of what I realized I could do with my dance skills expanded. I started auditioning for small gigs here and there, and booked just about everything. Some gigs allowed me to travel, and all were fun and exciting. Because I was booking increasingly more performing arts jobs and had proven to myself that I was good enough to be in that field full-time, eventually, I realized that I had to make a career decision. It was no longer doable to maintain my full-time corporate job and build a bonafide performing arts career. Something had to give, so I devised a plan. First, I took on a part-time job to ensure a continued stream of income if I ultimately decided to leave Burson-Marsteller. Then, I made a pact with myself: if I could secure a contract for a “real” performing arts job, I would resign from the firm. I was awed when that day came sooner than I had expected. Not typical in the performing arts field, I was offered a coveted union contract to perform in a multi-city musical theater production. The moment of truth had arrived. I knew I would not renege on my pact with myself, but I was scared, none the less. Ultimately, I drafted and submitted my resignation letter to the firm, jetéd into my new career, and never looked back.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
A popular quote states that “people may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” It is vitally important to understand this concept to be an effective communicator, and I pride myself in making the people I work with feel like they matter.
As a communication skills leadership coach and speaker, I always emphasize that a basic human desire is to be seen, heard, and validated. When my clients, students, and audiences feel as such, they allow themselves to trust and be open to me more readily. And, their openness allows our time together to be productive, fluid, and enjoyable. I believe that this is what causes them to spread a favorable word about me and my work to others, and offer my name when opportunities come up for coaching and speaking needs. This, in turn, has helped me build my reputation among people I have yet to meet.
People I have met seem to enjoy working with me over and over again, and the feeling is mutual. I believe people like working with me because I am good at what I do, have innovative ideas, and am passionate about this work. In addition, I over deliver, am kind to others and exude a positive attitude, and have a good balance between being an effective leader and team player. Moreover, I genuinely like to see people win and enjoy celebrating colleagues and clients’ victories. Seeing their wins is a part of what motivates me to coach.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @LisaNicoleWilkerson, @TheGoodEnoughStuff1
- Facebook: Lisa Nicole Wilkerson
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-nicole-wilkerson
- Youtube: @BroadwayConfidence1
Image Credits
Two (2) “Horizons 25th Gala” photos: Spector Photography
One (1) “Inspira” photo: Darnell Gourdine Photography