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

Vickie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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.

One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was walking away from something that was working… to build something that felt right.

Back in 2021, I co-owned a successful apparel and promotional products company. On the outside, everything looked solid: revenue was coming in, clients were happy, and the business was growing. By most standards, it was a “don’t mess this up” situation.

But behind the scenes, I kept seeing the same pattern over and over again, not just in my business, but in every client I worked with. Business owners didn’t just need products… they needed structure. They needed systems. They needed someone to help them actually run their business.

And I couldn’t ignore it.

So I decided to walk away from that business and start over. No guarantees. No steady paycheck. Just a very clear belief that there was a bigger gap I was meant to fill.

I launched Branity with a focus on operational strategy and Fractional COO services before most people even knew what a Fractional COO was. That alone felt like a risk. I wasn’t just starting a new business; I was educating the market at the same time.

There were moments where I questioned it, of course. When you leave something stable, your brain gets loud. But I also knew staying would have been the bigger risk because I would’ve been ignoring what I was clearly being pulled toward.

And it turned out to be the best decision I could have made.

Today, I help business owners move from chaos to clarity, building the systems, structure, and leadership rhythms that actually allow them to grow. I get to work in the part of business I love most… the part that makes everything else work.

That risk didn’t just change my business. It changed how I show up in the world.

And if I’m being honest? I’d take it again in a heartbeat.

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

I’m Vickie Closson, a Fractional COO and business strategist, and I help entrepreneurs and growing companies turn operational chaos into structured, scalable systems.

But the truth is… I didn’t get here in a straight line.

I grew up in foster care in Texas, and that experience shaped a lot of how I see the world. When you grow up without stability, you learn pretty quickly how important structure really is. That carried into my career, even before I had the words for it.

I got my start in marketing and advertising back in the early ’90s, working across print, radio, television, and agencies. Over time, I found myself moving deeper into the operational side of business and eventually spending nearly two decades helping grow one company into seven under a single umbrella. That’s where I really learned what it takes to build a business from the inside out.

What I kept seeing, over and over again, was this:
Businesses don’t struggle because of a lack of ideas… they struggle because of a lack of structure.

That realization is what led me to start Branity.

Today, through Branity, I work with entrepreneurs and growth-stage companies as a Fractional COO and strategic partner. I help them build the foundations that most people skip: operational systems, leadership structure, KPIs, workflows, and accountability. I also help align their branding with how their business actually operates, because a brand that isn’t backed by execution will eventually break.

A lot of my clients come to me feeling overwhelmed. Their business is growing, but it’s messy. Everything depends on them. Their team isn’t fully aligned. And they feel like they’re constantly putting out fires.

That’s where I come in.

I bring structure to the chaos. I help them move from reactive decision-making to intentional, disciplined execution so their business can actually scale without burning them out.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just sit in a strategy seat; I work inside the business. I’m not here to hand you a pretty plan and walk away. I help implement it. I build alongside you. I think like an operator, not just a consultant.

I’m also very direct. I’m going to tell you what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change. Not because I want to be harsh, but because I know what’s on the other side when you get it right.

What I’m most proud of isn’t just the businesses I’ve helped grow, but the shift I see in the business owners themselves. When they go from feeling overwhelmed and stuck… to confident, clear, and back in control of their business, that’s everything.

At the end of the day, I want people to know this about me and my work:

Operational chaos isn’t a personality flaw.
It’s a systems problem.
And systems can be built.

You don’t need to work harder to fix your business. You need better systems. That’s where I come in.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Absolutely, continuous learning has been one of the biggest drivers of how I lead, think, and operate in business.

One of the most impactful experiences for me was the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. That wasn’t just a course; it was a complete shift in how I viewed business. It taught me how to think strategically, how to look at growth through a structured lens, and how to build a business with intention rather than just reacting day-to-day.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have mentors and people in my corner who don’t let me stay comfortable. Crissy Conner, The Visible CEO, has challenged how I think and pushed me to operate at a higher level in both business and leadership. Windy Steiner, not only my best friend and a straight-up genius in business who has owned and operated many businesses (check out The Noir Frequency), never lets me play small, and Angie Leitnaker has been a driving force in my personal development; all of them have helped me become the version of myself that can actually sustain the growth I’m building.

When it comes to books, I’m a constant reader. If I can learn from it, I’m in.

Anything by Grant Cardone has had a big impact on my mindset, especially The 10X Rule. There’s a concept in there that stuck with me: the people questioning your work ethic or schedule are often the same ones frustrated with their financial situation. That hit me hard. It reinforced that success requires a different level of commitment, and I’ve never been afraid to show up and do the work.

I also love Kevin Hart’s books, especially Monsters and How to Tame Them and The Decision. They bring a different perspective, more personal, more mindset-driven, and remind me that discipline and self-awareness play a huge role in success.

On the practical side, Eat That Frog! and Shut Up and Listen! have been great reminders about execution and communication, which can make or break a business.

But honestly, it’s not just one book or one program; it’s the combination. I’m always learning, always refining, always looking for a better way to think, lead, and operate.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized something about myself: I actually love learning. I joke that I want “to do school,” but it’s true. Growth, for me, comes from staying curious and staying open.

Because in business, the moment you think you know everything… is usually the moment things start to fall apart.

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

Resilience has been a part of my story long before I ever stepped into business.

I grew up in the foster care system in Texas, and that kind of environment teaches you very quickly that nothing is guaranteed. Stability isn’t something you’re given; you learn how to create it for yourself. For a long time, I didn’t fully realize how much that shaped me, but looking back, it built the foundation for everything I do today.

I’ve always said my past was a stepping stone to my future; it was never meant to determine it.

That belief carried into my career in a way I didn’t fully understand until much later.

In business, I’ve had moments where things didn’t go as planned, partnerships that shifted, roles that changed, and seasons where I had to make really hard decisions about what stayed and what didn’t. One of the biggest was walking away from a business that was successful on paper, but no longer aligned with where I knew I was supposed to go.

That wasn’t an easy decision. There’s a lot of fear that comes with stepping away from something stable, especially when other people might not understand why you would.

But resilience isn’t just about pushing through hard moments. It’s about having the clarity and courage to make decisions that move you forward, even when they feel uncomfortable.

Starting over with Branity required that kind of resilience. I had to trust what I knew, lean into my experience, and build something from the ground up again, this time with a deeper understanding of what businesses truly need to succeed.

And today, that resilience shows up in how I serve my clients.

Because I don’t just understand business challenges from a strategic level, I understand what it feels like to be in the middle of uncertainty, to carry the weight of decisions, and to keep going anyway.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:

Resilience isn’t about never falling off track.
It’s about knowing how to rebuild – stronger, smarter, and more aligned than before.

I would prefer sloppy success over perfect failure any day!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Branity.me
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vickieclosson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vickie.crossclosson
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickieclosson
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@vickieclosson1
• Other: https://www.VickieClosson.com