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

Hi Veronica , thanks for joining us today. Risk 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.

The biggest risk I have ever taken is putting myself first and starting my own business. Let me be clear when I say ‘putting myself first’ is not from a self-centered ‘it’s all about me’ mentality. No matter what your personality type (I’m a consul), there has always been an innate desire for me to get to know my strengths and weaknesses for myself and walk in the purpose God has for me. I wanted my business values and services to give my clients the best of me and I couldn’t do that if I didn’t know and trust in those abilities myself. For, I am the business of VNIZEH Consulting Inc.

I swore I wouldn’t be a crazy entrepreneur like my Nigerian daddy who dragged me to community festivals and – spending my Saturdays at his retail shop where he sold everything from books, oils, and even cassette tapes of the latest artists. But entrepreneurship was in my genes and I stopped fighting it. When my father passed of cancer he held degrees in accounting, an MBA, and a Ph.D. He was brilliant and knew how to work hard, but like many exceptional Black African professionals who chose to enter corporate America, he couldn’t fully maximize his talents to the insecurities of managers and supervisors who couldn’t mentor or engage him on projects that would grow him and the business. I faced the same walls working in global management consulting including outright racism and sexism. I used to clock in anywhere from 165-200 hours on my timesheet in a bi-weekly pay cycle while trying to stay married and raise my then two-year-old son. I was seen by no one but my El Roi. I used all my training, both good and bad, from my corporate experiences to start my business with these lessons learned:
1. Always know what you are good and bad at for yourself.
2. Never be afraid to say no.
3. Your health and soul are not for sale.
4. Your Peace is non-negotiable.
5. Your tombstone will not be on the company letterhead.
6. Don’t let the world define your standards for success.
7. Always choose the most excellent way.
8. Never ask permission to be great.

Taking the risk of starting my own business has given me more of the priceless gift of time; I never have to ask anyone permission to spend time with the people I love.

Veronica , 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?

VNIZEH Consulting Inc. creates the ‘HOW’ for the ‘WHAT’ our clients want to accomplish – together. VNIZEH is a purpose-driven, people-centered, people-focused business consulting firm helping organizations get to solutions with equity and integrity.

My business is God’s platform for both my ministry and testimony – with a goal of disrupting HOW things are done in an organization.

I was born to an Indian mother and Nigerian father, who broke all the rules with their love to come together. I carry the rich history of two nations in my blood and have been welcomed into a third living as a Black American where I had been blessed with many opportunities as an immigrant.

Facing divorce, disease and the death of my father, I gave life to my business on paper in May 2018 on the twelve-year anniversary of the day my mother was murdered by then fifteen-year-old brother who currently remains incarcerated. (And yes, please take a minute to process all of that – I’m still processing and praying.)

My global private sector training in big four management consulting in the midst of all that I was dealing with personally allowed me to serve and learn from clients across various industries from healthcare, education, utilities, and real estate in areas such as project management, compliance, strategic advising, training and program development.

A notable global private sector project has included living in the Middle East and working on a team to help a nation’s health system in Doha, Qatar meet international accreditation standards for Cornell’s medical residency program to create a pipeline of physicians in the country.

Other projects have included hiring and training youth, some formerly incarcerated, for the Los Angeles County Library in California, one who recently went to the White House to receive an honorary award from First Lady Jill Biden. This is the heart and purpose of my work and the capital I am trying to raise – to give second chances and new hope to young men of color, starting with my own brother in prison. The proudest part of my business is hiring and mentoring young consultants through my P.O.U.R. Consulting Intern Program.

Other clients I have partnered with have included The Obama Foundation, United Way, Supportive Housing Community Land Alliance and the nation’s top pediatric hospital. My business is also a recent proud alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Entrepreneur’s Program.

In addition to running my business, I am currently advising and coaching executives who are leading government projects that range from housing, healthcare, and criminal justice. I also serve in my community as the president of my neighborhood association.

I hold a BS in Chemistry from Wright State University, an MA in Health Administration from USC and a Certificate in D&I from Cornell. I recently published my book of poetry and writing collection as an ode to the lives of my late parents.

My most important work (which isn’t work) is being a mother to my dear son, Avi.

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

The most effective strategy for growing my business clientele is not making it about the work. Through the various clients I have worked with and learned from – I have obtained the innate ability to see what needs to be done fairly quickly. However, if I don’t invest the time learning about my client and contractor team members at the individual level to ascertain where their strengths and weakness lie – then I won’t have the ability to tap into lifting up their strengths to accomplish even the simplest tasks. . Building trust with my clients comes from establishing consistent communication practices [e.g. standing meetings, summary notes, and project management] and understanding the ‘unwritten rules’ of an organization. And yes, I make it a point to specifically ask my client ‘What are the unwritten rules of your organization?” For example, my current hospital client team have individuals who hold Ph.D.’s and are clinicians, however, no one uses title references on calls or meetings – they operate on a first name basis all the way to the executive leadership and board of the organization.

My clients trust and expect me to bring an outside objective lens to the work I am leading for them while honoring their practices and processes. My faith disciplines me to consistently operate with a servant mentality which is equated to true leadership.

A quote dear to me from one of the team members of my client, who I only worked with virtually: ‘P.S. You likely know this, but you have an amazing positive and affirming energy when you lead meetings. It is natural and not forced, which speaks to how you must carry yourself daily. Thank you for always being a bright light. ‘

To this day, I still have not needed to seek out a robust marketing/sales approach to bring in new clients. Work always seems to find me. My business strategy: People First. Project Second.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

I had just wrapped up my first full year as a consultant for the LA County Library, one of my first major projects as a new business owner. I was still trying to figure out what being a new business owner meant and yes, I am still learning!

I received a call early in the morning while I was starting my day in worship to prep for a transition meeting for one of my school district clients in Greenfield, CA. I remember standing outside and looking out into the early morning sky and my heart was full of gratefulness to God for blessing me with working less hours in my life, making more money and having time to spend with the people I love. An incredible leader from the LA County Library, Debbie Anderson, was on the line and called to regretfully share that I would not be able to continue as a second year consultant with the LA County Library due to unanticipated budgeting shifts. I was surprisingly not disheartened by the news. I had settled with myself long ago that the God who brought me through so much would ‘NEVER LEAVE ME NOR FORSAKE ME!’ God would make a way even when I didn’t know what would be next.

I responded in gratefulness, thanking her for the opportunity over the last year to implement the programs and processes I had developed for the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Peer Advocates I had helped recruit, hire and train. She was gracious as always and promised to stay in touch with me if anything changed. Less than a week later she called to share that they had found contracting dollars for another full year of consulting services for my business. I could not contain the joy in my heart for another year of the opportunity and the purposeful work I was going to be able to do with the Library. I was inspired to publish my first book during the second year of my Library project.

Two years later, while advising executive fellows hired through FUSE for the LA County Library, I would learn from Debbie and my former MBK Peer Advocate hire, Julio Catalan Jr., that the work I helped start would be part of the submissions to recognize the LA County Library with the most prestigious National Medal for Museum and Library Service Award. Julio was formerly incarcerated but provided with a second chance through the work I led for the Library. He accompanied the Director of the Library, Skye Patrick, to receive the prestigious award from First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, at the White House.

Here is what Julio had to say in response to my recent post I did about him on LinkedIn: Veronica Njodinizeh I am proud to call you my mentor. I will say it once and will always remember to say that you are the reason I am where I am today. You showed me, a person who thought my life was over, an opportunity to get a second chance in life. I did not sleep on it at all. I am MBK! Life is not over and you will forever be remembered on how it started with meeting you and MBK! Never give up on anyone because you never know the resilience they have to show for themselves! Much love from my family and myself. Thank you does not begin to cover the respect I have for you and the work you do. I am forever grateful.

Julio will be graduating with his bachelor’s degree next year.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vnizehconsulting.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-njodinizeh-b8767212/

Image Credits
Abidjan Nationale Assemble Photography Team; Eric Ellis; White House