We recently connected with Sandy Dorsey and have shared our conversation below.

Sandy, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

From a young age, New York City felt like a part of me, even though I had never been there. It was a place that represented creativity and diversity. I was determined to make it my home and make a difference. My passion for helping others and initially I was interested in broadcast journalism and entertainment but I was called to speech-language pathology, where I could use my voice to empower others.

I landed my first job as a speech- pathologist at a middle school in Harlem. It was a dream come true. Spending my days in a vibrant community that reminded me of my early childhood and all things that are real. You know in NY people speak their minds! So I learned alot about life during that time. I was excited to make a difference in the lives of these children and later with my patients at Harlem Hospital, who were full of potential, despite the tough challenges many of them faced. They shared so many stories about their lives and were so resilient. Seeing the students grow, gain more confidence, and start to see a glimmer of light to dream beyond their current circumstances was incredibly inspiring and fulfilling.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My short time in broadcast journalism and the media taught me the power of communication and having a voice. As a speech-language pathologist, I use all the skills I learned to connect with my clients, and community, encourage them, and help amplify their voices. Being a speech-language pathologist is more than just speech therapy and teaching people to talk. We are more than pronouncing s’s and r’s. There are so many different aspects of speech-pathology rooted in building confidence and inspiring others to fully express themselves in whatever means they can communicate.

I really believe to be fulfilled, you have to do for others and making a positive impact on others’ lives. Being the founder and CEO of Smiles for Speech feeds my spirit because it is a blend of my passion for communication, travel, and helping uplift and encourage those in need.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What has truly helped me build my reputation as the founder of Smiles for Speech is my commitment to connecting with the community, treating others like family, and being present to enjoy the journey. By building genuine, relationships and creating a supportive network of people I can trust, people know how deeply passionate we are about this work. I have learned to be very direct and stand on my values that come with this God given purpose. This has allowed me to create a warm and inclusive family-like environment. I also strongly believe in gratitude and appreciating the privilege of being able to do what I do. Its not always easy but each step of the journey I have seen how much I have grown and alot due to the people that have been there for me, my phenomenal team. They have helped me learn so much with the way they each use their unique skills and shape the way we operate as an organization, especially when we have to handle difficult situations. I could not have built this organization by myself.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to give myself grace and know that you can’t please everybody. Some people may have hidden agendas even on mission trips to serve. I realized that I often try so hard to make everyone happy often led to compromising my own needs and values. It was important for me to understand that I have to set boundaries and prioritize my own well-being, take care of myself better. It has been quite the journey, but this shift made a huge difference! It allowed me to build more authentic relationships and make intentional, clear decisions that align better with my personal and professional goals. Being mindful of others will always be part of my value system, but mutual respect and open communication are non-negotiable. So, now I am able to enjoy my work with less stress and weight on me so I can best serve the needs of the community and offer volunteers an even better experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://smilesforspeech.org
• Instagram: @smilesforspeech
• Facebook: Smiles for Speech
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandydorsey?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Youtube: Smiles for Speech