Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sue Perez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Sue thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

TAKE A RISK: SUE PEREZ
There’s a moment most people never see — the moment you walk away from what’s “working” because it’s no longer aligned. For me, that moment came after two decades behind the scenes in TV and film, working with networks like HBO, NBC, CBS, and other major media outlets. I had built a successful career as an Emmy Award-winning makeup artist, traveling on location throughout the continental U.S. and working in the heart of New York City. I was the one helping others shine for their close-up. And while I was excellent at it, something inside me was whispering: “It’s your turn.”

When COVID hit, everything shut down — the sets, the studios, the job security. Then, just a few years later, the strikes followed. By then, I had already started to pivot, coaching clients who were still client-facing over Zoom. I helped them with image, content creation, and pitch deck preparation — anything to help them show up with clarity and confidence.

I had a choice: wait for things to go back to how they were… or rise and reimagine.

I chose to leap.

That’s when I created Dynamic Video Coach, a brand born from necessity and vision. I realized that even during a global shutdown, people still needed to show up — online, on camera, in front of clients. They needed to speak with confidence, lead with presence, and connect with impact. I had the tools, the industry knowledge, and a deeper calling to serve — not just to make someone look good, but to help them feel seen.

It was risky. I walked away from what was safe. From steady newsroom contracts. From a world I knew. But I trusted the voice inside me that said, “There’s more for you to share.”

I began studying psychology, knowing that beauty and presence mean nothing without the internal confidence to match. That’s when everything shifted. I stopped waiting to be booked last-minute in someone else’s production — and started directing my own.

Now, that voice has become a platform.

Today, I serve clients at every level — from federal organizations like the Department of Education, to global entities, and community-based nonprofits. I work as a facilitator, educator, and coach, designing programs that don’t just motivate — they move people into action.

Whether it’s leadership development, presence coaching, or instructional design, everything I create is built to foster real change — the kind of change that ripples outward and creates lasting impact.

Taking the risk to rebuild and rebrand wasn’t just a career move —
It was a reclaiming of my voice and my mission.

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

Meet Sue Perez: The Dynamic Muse of Confidence, Creativity & Conscious Change
My name is Sue Perez, and I’m the founder of Dynamic Video Coach — a transformation-based coaching and education brand at the intersection of presence, psychology, and personal power. I help creatives, educators, and purpose-driven leaders show up on camera, in meetings, and on stages with confidence, clarity, and soul-aligned presence. I blend two decades of experience in media and beauty with trauma-informed coaching, psychology, and instructional design to help my clients break through fear and activate their impact.

Before I stepped into this work as a coach and educator, I was behind the scenes — literally. I spent over 20 years working in film and television as a professional makeup artist, with clients on networks like HBO, Showtime, NBC, and CBS, from red carpets to live newsrooms. My work earned me an Emmy Award, and while I loved the craft, I began to feel a calling to something more — to help people not just look confident, but feel it from within.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the entertainment industry came to a halt, I took a leap. I launched Dynamic Video Coach in response to what I saw: people still had to show up on camera — for virtual events, business presentations, interviews — but many lacked the confidence, clarity, and presence to do it well. I began coaching them on how to look and sound polished, yes — but more importantly, how to connect with their audience through authenticity and inner strength. From content strategy and messaging, to voice, posture, mindset, and storytelling — I coach the whole person.

Now, as I earn my degree in psychology and deepen my understanding of trauma, identity, and communication, I’ve expanded my work into education, corporate training, and leadership development. I currently work with a wide range of clients — including federal organizations like the Department of Education, global nonprofits, and community-based initiatives — offering programs, workshops, and curriculum that foster real behavioral change and leadership rooted in compassion, clarity, and confidence.

What sets me apart is my ability to bridge the emotional and the professional — to bring together beauty, psychology, and strategic coaching in a way that helps people feel seen, heard, and empowered. I don’t believe in “fake it till you make it.” I help you embody the version of yourself you’ve been too afraid to step into.

I’m proud of the fact that I’ve built a business rooted in truth, service, and spiritual alignment. I’m proud that I turned a moment of uncertainty into a platform for growth — not just for me, but for everyone I work with. And I’m deeply proud of the people I’ve helped — from educators and executives to content creators and students — to show up fully and lead with impact.

If you’re looking for someone who understands both the spotlight and the inner journey it takes to stand in it…

You’ve found your coach.

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

Managing a Team & Maintaining High Morale — Sue Perez

For me, high morale doesn’t come from hype — it comes from deep connection and clear intention. Whether I’m facilitating a training for educators or leading a creative project with my video team, I believe morale starts with how people feel in your presence.

The truth is, people don’t need another task — they need to feel seen, heard, and valued. I make it a point to start with empathy. I check in before I check off. I want to know: How are you doing? What do you need to do your best work? What feels out of alignment? That creates safety — and safety is the soil where creativity and commitment grow.

As a leader, I focus on these pillars: DVC – A Signature Framework

D – Direction (Clarity of message, purpose, and presence) Everyone needs to know the why behind the what. When people understand the greater vision, they show up with purpose.

V – Voice (Not just how you sound — but your truth, your authority, your resonance) I don’t wait for the big wins to celebrate. I honor the small, unseen moments too — the extra care, the follow-up email, the behind-the-scenes effort.

C – Confidence (Embodied, not performative — the kind that transforms how you lead and connect)
I encourage autonomy, collaboration, and creative input. I want my team to bring their full selves to the table — not just what they think I want to see.

Whether I’m working with a C-Level executive, mentoring neurodiverse students in District 75 schools, training Paraprofessionals, managing a video editor, or facilitating leadership workshops, I lead with presence, compassion, and the belief that impact and humanity must go hand-in-hand.

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

The Moment I Was Embarrassed by My Own Your Portfolio- Sue Perez

I’ll never forget walking through Manhattan with my modeling portfolio — glossy pages filled with fashion and beauty shoots, magazine work and television appearances and yet, when I ran into a friend unexpectedly on Fifth Avenue, I felt… embarrassed.

Not because it wasn’t beautiful. It was. But something inside me whispered, “Don’t show off. Don’t be too much.” That was the moment I realized: confidence isn’t about having the credentials.

I was showing my friend some of the most gorgeous images ever taken of me but I wanted to hide. It wasn’t enough being pretty enough to be a “model” because I wasn’t yet ready to own it.

That moment cracked something open in me. I realized that confidence isn’t about having a great portfolio or a long resume — it’s about being rooted enough to stand in your own light without flinching. It’s about believing you belong, even when no one says it out loud.

I had to unlearn the belief that playing small was safer. That shrinking was polite. That if I wanted to be taken seriously, I had to dim my shine. And then came another moment — years later — when I walked into a casting call and found myself standing among 200 other women, most of them younger, all of them beautiful. I was older than most of them. I had more experience, yes — but I also had more to lose.

At first, the old voice crept in: “You’re still competing.” But I was showing up with something no one else could imitate — my energy.

What set me apart wasn’t just the way I looked. It was the smile in my eyes, the warmth in my presence, and the way I made a genuine heart-to-heart connection with every single person I met in that room — not just the casting director, but the assistant, the makeup artist, the other models.

I made them feel seen. And that’s when I realized… Visibility isn’t about being the loudest or the youngest or the flashiest. It’s about being the most grounded in who you are. I booked a lot of jobs after that and my career as a model is one of my proudest accomplishments- a childhood dream when I was underestimated by many.

That’s the work I do now with Dynamic Video Coach. I help people return to that place inside — the place where their presence is undeniable because it’s real. I coach people to lead, teach, and perform with the kind of inner confidence that can’t be faked or filtered. The kind that rises from authenticity, experience, and heart.

So much of resilience isn’t about pushing through. It’s about coming home to yourself — again and again — and finally realizing: You don’t have to compete when you’re in your own lane.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dynamicvideocoach.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sueperez/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dynamicvideocoach9859

Image Credits

I own all credits and have releases for previous events.