What is your name and what do you do?
My name is DeShara Doub and I’m a mental health practitioner, Black history and cultural researcher, and social worker.
How long have you been doing what you do?
I have been in the mental health field going on 7 years, when I founded my practice Vision of Promise LLC. I have unofficially been a preserver of Black history and culture since elementary school, but formally within the last around 13 years.
How do you balance your personal life and professional aspirations, particularly in a demanding career?
Honestly, I am still trying to master the art of the personal/professional balance (so give me some tips LOL). But in my quest to perfect it, I have created boundaries that protects my dreams and my mental health. For starters, my personal life is just that…personal and is reserved for people that are invested in my genuine success. I also take the same approach to my professional aspirations. I share when it’s ready to be launched, not in its planning or manifesting stages.
Practically, I live by a planning calendar. I place everything on there: meetings, projects, travel, and personal time. You have to block personal time like you would anything work related, because it is that important. So far, these things have served me well in maintaining a balance.
What have been some of your biggest accomplishments?
I had the incredible honor in October 2024 to be celebrated by the University of Louisville and the Louisville Alumni office as the Emerging Leader award winner. As the first Black recipient of this award, I am incredibly humbled and honored to receive this recognition from my two-time alma mater. I’ve also received other incredible honors, especially in Louisville like being nominated for 40 Under 40, Way to Go Woman in Leadership by Today’s Woman Magazine, a Kentucky Senate recognition for leadership and a U.S. Congressional recognition for community service. These are my biggest accomplishments (so far…claiming it), but it reminds me that my divine assignment of being of service to others is seen and valued.
What have been some of your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
One of my biggest challenges is recognizing when the season for people and things have come to an end. Sometimes we hold on to people and situations (whether jobs, community involvement, items in our homes, etc.) because of the nostalgia or the “value” we’ve placed on it/them. I have really tapped into my faith around overcoming this because it’s so hard to let go of things that you have loved and cherished. But an importance lesson I’ve learned is to reflect on the why. For example, why am I holding onto this sweater that is damaged and can no longer be worn.
When you reflect on it, you could be holding onto it because you loved the color, or it holds a sentimental value. So, you must reconcile when it’s time to either let it go and thank it for the memories, or you can repurpose it into a pattern for a memory quilt. Either way, you are still honoring the contribution it had in your life, and this is how I’ve navigated some of my biggest challenges.
Can you share an experience where you witnessed the power of sisterhood or community among women?
There is nothing like women who walk in their destiny’s and align in purpose together! That kind of sisterhood is truly a superpower and a divine connection that could change the world. I love seeing the examples of sisterhood that includes things like Galentine’s, or sisterhood brunches, Girls Trips, and even girlfriend photo shoots. I don’t think women realize how much that can fill your cup and truly empower you to hold your head up higher and walk with an infinite level of confidence.
These experiences have happened in so many ways: organically through shared common interests, in religious spaces, sororities and social groups…and I have been so grateful to be in community with some extraordinary women that have loudly (and many times quietly) been a place of renewal and encouragement that can’t be explained nor faked.
How has mentorship played a role in your personal and professional development?
I would truly not be the woman I am today without incredible women that shaped my life, before I knew what mentorship was. My earliest memories of women’s influence on my life was from church. I saw outwardly confident women, women who were serving through children’s ministries and auxiliaries, women that sung in the choir…there were soooo many women that probably never knew how much they inspired me. But when I realized what mentorship was, there were many women (particularly on my personal journey) that truly poured into me. Many of them I’m still connected to today! There were many teachers, professors, community members throughout my academic and professional paths that truly played the role of a mentor too. One particular woman inspired me to pursue my Ph.D., and I am so grateful to her for seeing something in me that I didn’t think I was capable of.
But mentorship is so critical to shaping the life of women, young and “well-seasoned”, and it doesn’t just apply to our youth. That is the message I want to convey, mentorship is life-long and so important. So be the influence that you wish you had or model women that were instrumental in your life…you never know what a girl and woman is experiencing and how only another woman can change her whole outlook on her circumstance and her life.
What role do you think social media plays in promoting or hindering women’s empowerment?
I believe social media is a good tool to keep up with people you know, because unfortunately times have changed and there are limited ways to stay connected. However, social media could be an excuse for people to not stay truly connected to people…like only a good phone call or scheduling time to connect face-to-face can do. This also applies to women’s empowerment. Social media could be a form of affirmation for women to know they are seen and appreciated, but it could also be a mirror into people’s true feelings. Comparison is truly a hinderance of joy, so it’s important for women to differentiate what social media’s purpose is and what it’s not!
How important is self-care, and what practices do you adopt to prioritize your well-being?
Audre Lorde said it best; self-care is truly an act of resistance and self-preservation. Self-care is how we maintain joy, good health, and our life’s mission. To me, self-care is a non-negotiable! It is a part of my daily life consciously and unconsciously. Some things I do to prioritize self-care is creating a life that I don’t constantly need a vacation from (catch that word): slow and intentional mornings (prayer, nourishing my body), incorporating wellness within my daily life (I love walking), finding gratitude daily, and ensuring that I do something that brings me joy everyday (like watching something that makes me laugh, decorating my space with relics that reminds me of a life well lived, cooking something yummy, etc.).
I also do something fun and adventurous at least quarterly (if not more), like take a road trip or do something exciting. Something I’ve done within the last couple of weeks is choosing to fully celebrate Mardi Gras and my cultural heritage, which has been so memorable and amazing! Most importantly, prioritize your emotions and spiritual well-being. If you need a good cry, do that especially in a safe place. If you wake up in the morning and know you’re not feeling well, give yourself permission to take the day off (if you are able). Being sacrificial hasn’t ultimately served no one, so self-care is a critical aspect of self-love and making yourself the number #1 priority.
What legacy do you hope to leave for future generations of women?
Now sis, you’re really getting deep with this question… I hope my legacy is one of service and of living in the purpose that God designed specifically for me. I want future generations of women to look back at my life and know that adjusting another woman’s crown doesn’t diminish yours. Encouraging another woman doesn’t take away from you. It is important that every generation reaches back and uplifts another. This can be through being a mentor, volunteering for a youth or collegiate program, choosing to be the change you wish to see, and most importantly living your life on purpose unapologetically.
I hope future generations of women see me as someone who displays fearlessness…or at least is divinely protected. I have traveled the world and engaged in so many experiences solo, because I’ve decided to no longer wait on an invitation or for someone else to experience life’s joys with me. Lastly, I want my legacy to always include the love I have for my Black culture…PERIOD! I have made it my life’s mission to engage with everything I can around my cultural heritage, from traveling to Ghana, to visiting the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina, to participating in the Black Mardi Gras culture…I love my people! I think that sums it up, truly a legacy of sisterhood, scholarship, and service!
Are there any words of encouragement you would like to give?
I remember seeing this quote years ago and it truly is the mantra for my life: “The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called failure, a loop called confusion, speed bumps called friends, caution lights called family, and you will have flats called jobs. But if you have a spare called determination, an engine called perseverance, insurance called faith, and a driver called God, you will make it to a place called success!” I’m unsure who’s the original author of this poem, as there are many people online that claims it, but I appreciate the message.
Life truly is a destination, and it’s up to you to make the most of the journey despite the circumstances that will cross your path. Keep Going! No matter who or what attempts to stop you, break your spirit, or even show you their true colors, KEEP GOING! God has an ordained path for you that NO ONE and NOTHING can take away! YOU GOT THIS SIS!
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