A Note from Shmeka Gibson:
My name is Shmeka Gibson and I am a mother of two daughters. I have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Master of Science in Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology/Focus in Inferential Statistics. In my free time, I love to draw and rest. I balance a lot of responsibilities, children, work, school, teaching, writing, running my businesses, being a friend, sister, and daughter, and sometimes, I sit back and enjoy all the growth around me.
With the many hats I wear, my most exciting job is being a college professor. I enjoy being able to educate my students on Psychology and how applying the learnings can enhance their professional and personal goals. This is like the work I do, with my business, Innate Success Corp., we offer an array of services to educate anyone that would like to understand and alter their perceptual views to modify behaviors. I present with over 15 years of experience in clinical/counseling psychology, data analytics, grant writing, HR, project management, business coaching/consulting, and organizational development.
Hi Shmeka, it's very nice to interview you for the Heart Of Hollywood Magazine.
Thanks for the opportunity. My name is, Shmeka Gibson and I am an author, international speaker, business owner, and college professor. I am the founder and CEO of Innate Success and Founder of Changing the Mindset Inc.
What was your journey like obtaining your Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Master of Science in Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology/Focus in Inferential Statistics?
The journey was not easy. I experienced quite a few bumps and challenges along the way. I received my undergrad in Psychology from Christian Brothers University, My Master’s in Psychology from the University of Phoenix and my Ph.D. in I/O Psychology were pursued at Capella University. I thought I wanted to be a therapist, so prior to what I do currently, I worked as a behavior interventionist and a trauma-informed counselor with youth and adults.
I struggled with my purpose and what my ultimate career goals were because of this, I felt I needed to develop a plan. When I reached age 25, I develop some 10-year goals for myself which included finishing my Ph.D. I originally enrolled in a counseling program, but later changed it to I/O Psychology and Inferential Statistics when I decided to venture into the world of organizational development, coaching, and consulting and that was the foundation and drive for the development of Innate Success.
If I could turn back the hands of time or if I could give some advice, I would’ve waited before getting my graduate degrees consecutively without taking time off. I did not fully understand the impact of student loan debt and I was not completely sure about my career path. Due to a lack of understanding of student loans and how they would impact my financial future, I struggled with securing homeownership due to an overwhelming amount of debt. And because I was unsure of my career path and I did not want to pay back student loan debt, I continued to attend school to avoid student loan payments. Nonetheless, I made it, and if I had to do it all over again…. I would take a different route, but I would do it again.
What do you enjoy most about being a college professor?
With the many hats I wear, my most exciting job is being a college professor. I enjoy being able to educate my students on Psychology and the many principles of Psychology and applying the skills learned to enhance their professional and personal goals.
How did Innate Success Corp come about?
Innate Success Corporation started in 2018 as SG Consulting and Data LLC. After 3 years of growth and support, SG Consulting and Data LLC. was updated and rebranded. The name change occurred in July 2020 and Innate Success's doors open for business in January 2021. Innate Success Corp. provides a variety of business options, tools, and resources needed to develop business owners, organize business practices, enhance the leader traits in individuals, and promote potential business leaders. Innate Success Core which is one of our 5-subsidiary businesses provides contract services to organizations in need of organizational infrastructure development and program management, research, and applying to funding opportunities and data analytics.
Our other popular business under the Innate Success model is I.S. cares which house the Mentorship Program. Each cohort consists of 10 business start-ups to help enhance business practices, organizational and programming development. Each organization goes through a 4–6- month rigorous training program that provides them with all the skills needed to upscale and upskills their business to increase an efficient business infrastructure and prepare them to be a grant-ready organization. The goal is to create business infrastructure and stability to upscale the economy and communities.
After a year of work with my consulting business, I decided to create a proof-of-concept model, called Changing the Mindset© because the business needed a guide to use when helping clients be successful. The model became a trilogy of books, and a bullying and technology non-profit was created called "Changing the Mindset Inc.". This organization teaches the youth nationally and internationally about bullying prevention and how to excel in the skills of technology.
In what ways do you make a difference in the world?
I have not made a difference in the world, but I can speak to the community that I’m a part of. I feel the community made a difference in me. I had to change my mindset when it came to being a service-based business. It wasn’t about me being the best consultant, it was about making an impact in the lives of businesses. The community didn’t really need me, I needed the community. The community needed my services. I desire to give more of myself every day to those that need it. There are enough people doing what I do, there are not enough people that do it as I do. So, I needed the community and the people a part of it to produce greatness, without it, there’s no purpose. I want to be remembered for the impact I made in people's lives and how it changed the community.
How has your line of work made an impact on your life personally?
I have grown significantly in my business over the past 3 years. I continue to invest and educate myself in business. When I offer the mentorship program, I participate as well. I use that time to make sure that I’m enhancing my business practices and elevating our services and products. I’ve learned that being a business owner comes with a lot of responsibility and through this journey, I’ve become resourceful, mature, and resilient.
What is an inspirational lesson the pandemic has taught you?
I do not think anyone was prepared for the life shift due to Covid-19. I was not affected by the virus health-wise, but the impact of the virus and the disruption it created in the economy was devastating. In March of 2020, I had to make the decision to leave my home and return to my parents’ home due to my clients closing deals and canceling contracts because of the financial impact of Covid. This was concerning to me, as a single mother of 2 children, I became afraid, depressed, unsure about the future and I began to lose faith. Returning to my parents’ home felt like a defeat for me. Many people may read this and feel that it may not be that big of a deal, at least I had somewhere to go right?
However, being an independent woman, who rarely depended on anyone, this was a blow to my confidence, esteem, psychological stability, and faith. Everything I felt I worked for was taken away by a virus. However, when I returned to my parents’ home, something changed for me, life shifted, and faith was restored. I had time to redirect my thinking and set some new goals for myself. I began to focus on things I had control of, which was my daughters and I health and safety. Anything else, I turned it over to God and let him work in my favor.
As I begin to learn more about myself and the next phase of my life, I prayed and fasted my entire stay and in those short 3 months, which felt like years, God started to reveal some ugly truths about myself and how to cleanse to move past the wilderness. Those long nights of praying and crying yielded some positive outcomes for me. This strong woman that was once led by power, success, and money, now leads with God’s guidance and is obedient to the word and his voice. I no longer question the first thought, I no longer question people’s intentions, I no longer question the direction for my life. I receive it and walk with purpose.
What is a super fun fact most may not know about you?
Lol…. I can whistle “The Andy Griffith Show” theme song…lol…. And of course, I’m challenged to do it at every event I attend…lol
What else would you like for our readers to know about you or the work that you do?
Currently, we offer free monthly professional and personal development workshops for anyone to enhance a skillset.
To learn more visit: https://www.innatesuccess.com/workshops
We offer a business mentorship program twice annually.
To learn more visit: https://www.innatesuccess.com/mentorship-program
How can we keep up to date with all you have going on?
View my Linktree: It has all my information about Innate Success and Changing the Mindset:
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