We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Portia James. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Portia below.

Portia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

This question touches me on so many levels. It’s hard for any CEO to get away for a few days, but having the freedom to travel has been a core motivator for me ever since I can remember. There are so many demands and challenges that come with running a business. While taking vacations may seem like a luxury, I would argue (and research has proven) that vacationing is crucial to maintaining both personal well-being and business sustainability.

I try to take as many vacations as I can, and I’m getting better at it as I develop in my career. The more I grow professionally, the more time I need away just to recharge and think. I also find that traveling with my husband and kids connects our family by helping us to build core memories for my kids – they get to experience the fruit of those long nights and early mornings and all of that time I spend locked in my office.

The key to balancing vacation time with business responsibilities lies in meticulous preparation and a reliable support system. Before I leave, I ensure that my team is well-prepared and empowered to handle daily operations. Delegating responsibilities and fostering a culture of accountability are essential. Additionally, leveraging technology and communication tools allows me to stay connected when necessary without being tethered to the office. For entrepreneurs who feel apprehensive about stepping away, my advice is to trust your team, establish clear processes and guidelines, and set boundaries around your availability. Taking a break when needed is essential to preserving your creativity and energy, ultimately benefiting your business in the long run.

Portia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, working with children on the Autism spectrum since I graduated college in 2006. In 2020, I launched Behavior Genius® – an Applied Behavior Analysis company in Southern California. After experiencing a major growth spurt over our first 3 years in business, I realized that other black Behavior Analysts trying to go into business for themselves would hit all of the same pitfalls that I did. I knew that I had to share the highs and lows that I had experienced with small business owners who would use that knowledge to open companies that centered children of color who have been historically underserved.

My sister and I founded Genius Operations™ in the summer of 2022 with a very specific mission to help black Behavior Analysts, like myself, build companies that thrive, contribute positively to their communities, and serve to make a real impact on the lives of minority children and their families all across the US.

The thing I’m most proud of thus far has been building a culture at Behavior Genius where acceptance and belonging are the standard. I’ve realized with everything I have learned over the last few years that building a culture that welcomes people from all walks of life is not easy, it’s not automatic, and it’s not something that any of us can stand by and hope for. It takes radical intention, focus, and humility. It takes commitment from every member of the team. But it’s a thousand times worth it. We’re all worthy of being a part of a community that meets us right where we are at, gives us the space to be ourselves, fully unmasked, and accepts us for who we are.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I have had to unlearn (and I am still unlearning it daily) is that you cannot code-switch or people-please your way into the good graces of others. The human experience is multifaceted and fragile. And as such, we tend to see others through the lens of our own insecurities, experiences, and traumas. And no matter how careful we are with our words or how well-meaning we may be in our approach to friendship, feedback, or even frustration, we will get it wrong one day. We will disappoint. We will lose our patience. It doesn’t matter how many times we get it right. It’s when we get it wrong that we are able to see who is truly in our corner.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I would have to say understanding their needs. I’m not a parent of a child with Autism; However, I am a mother. I understand very deeply the often unspoken needs of parents and I can also list all of the small things that I am sure I have at times taken for granted. So, I make it a point to ensure that parents feel especially seen and heard. Whether it’s ensuring to the best of my ability that language is not a barrier to their child’s treatment, to offering a safe clinic-based setting where parents can drop their child off and catch a breather, to hosting special activities that children with Autism may otherwise miss due to certain factors that impact their ability to access the space… I try to think of how I can pull the parent into that child’s world as much as I can so that every parent has the same opportunities to create memories with their children as any other parent would naturally have. Understanding your client’s deeper needs – beyond therapy – I’m talking about connection, belonging, rest, understanding, validation, support, etc. We tie those little hidden truths into every service line that we provide, to the extent that we can. It makes a big difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.behaviorgenius.com
• Instagram: @behaviorgenius; @geniusoperations; @missportia
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/portiacjames/