We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mel Vanderpool a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Mel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

It has always been my hope to help others achieve their dreams beyond their imaginations. I hope that I will be remembered as a person that saw the purpose in others even when they couldn’t fully envision it for themselves. After I’m gone, I would hope that people will remember me as a person with great ambition who never let obstacles stand in her way. It is a blessing to be gifted with a heart of service and I believe it is my purpose to serve those who come to me for guidance and assistance with reaching their goals. It is this philosophy that birthed the mission for my company, Dream, Build, Grow. My legacy is that I helped people recognize their Dreams, discover how to build the vision and watch it Grow.

Mel, 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 am a New York native currently residing in Fort Lauderdale, FL. I have over 20 years of experience in higher education, and event/talent/brand management. As an innovative thinker with a no nonsense approach, it has helped to propel my brand a step above the rest. Realizing that I didn’t want to force myself into a box, I needed a way to package all of my gifts and talents under one roof. After speaking with a friend the word “magnanimity” was presented. It suited me perfectly. I cook from love, write and speak to inspire and free others, serve to make others happy and feel special and find a way to repurpose things to prove nothing is wasted in God. I am Magnanimous Virtue in Purpose (MVP) and thus HER THE MVP and MVP Management was founded.

I started my first company at the age of 17 and have tackled the many adversities of entrepreneurship. With an MBA in Project Management, enjoy putting the pieces of the puzzle together. My long time love of music and the arts in conjunction with my knack for design, planning and negotiation has put me in place to provide exceptional service to my clients.

MVP Management, is a full service management company providing services to Talent, Events and Brands. MVP has planned events for a number of clients with the belief that a clients needs are and will always be paramount. Whatever your dream, it is our goal to help you build it and watch it grow beyond your greatest imagination.

In addition to founding Her The MVP and MVP Management, I also founded MAPS (multimedia, arts and performance scholarship), a scholarship program designed for high school seniors with a passion for the Arts, and Mary’s Kitchen and private chef and catering company. In 2020, I was recognized by the Global Trade Chamber as 100 Successful Women in Business.

I am also the author of “Do You See What I See?”, a motivational children’s book, and a contributing author in “Beneath The Crown” and “Valid Transparency” as part of the Diamond Writers, where I am also one of the hosts on the Hustle & Shine podcast.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Being a woman in a pretty male dominated industry, when I first started I was met with much skepticism. People often assumed that I lacked the knowledge or skills needed to perform the job. I recall being referred to as a “groupie” on several occasions or showing up for business meetings only to find out that the other party was only interested in something else. Had i not stayed true to my goal and pushed through those boundaries, I would not have succeeded and allowed other to let me fall short of my purpose. But I had to meet these obstacles with determination. I had to face the biases, overcome the stereotypes and persist despite the challenges.

Although it presented its share of unique hurdles i had to climb, it also offered opportunities to break barriers and inspire change. I had to learn to embrace my strengths, foster connections with supportive networks, showcase my skills and let my achievements speak for themselves. Hopefully, my resilience and success can contribute to a more inclusive future for others in the industry.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think knowledge, honesty and transparency have helped me build my reputation. I’m not afraid to say, “I don’t know”. I don’t pretend to know things I don’t nor do I shy away from seeking help or mentorship. I don’t set false expectations. I’m honest with my clients about what I can and can’t do but am sure to always deliver on what I say I can.

I also continuously go above and beyond to ensure that my clients receive the best from me and themselves. I don’t settle for mediocracy and thus my clients know that they will receive top tier production at every turn.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.herthemvp.com
• Instagram: @her_the_mvp, @managementmvp, @marys_kitchen15
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herthemvp/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@herthemvp

Image Credits
Visuals By Herman Jamal Bonaparte More Live Than You LLC