By: Lisa Nichols
The Career Mastered Women’s Leadership Network (CMWLN) is a group of women whose success extends far beyond their career progression. United by a commitment to purpose, impact, and service, the following three women exemplify the heart of the Career Mastered community, each using their unique platform to empower others.
Velita Faulk’s career reflects the type of inspirational story she wants to help other women walk out. From her start on an assembly line in the automotive industry to her current role in Supply Chain Management to her entrepreneurial experience, “The common thread in my career that excites me the most is helping others.” After becoming a Notary, she recognized the role that connected her with those in the legal and title fields, opening the door to many different opportunities. This discovery revealed to her that becoming a Notary could change the trajectory of a person’s career, particularly for those who are underemployed. Faulk then started her own Notary company and founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational and professional development resources to women seeking to break a cycle of low-paying jobs.
She coaches her clients in creating their own notary businesses, supporting them both in learning how to express their value and how to manage their businesses.
Describing her experience in the Career Mastered Women’s Leadership Network, Faulk says she appreciates “having someone to talk to who genuinely wants you to succeed.” The selfless nature of the community is why she joined CMWLN, and she is eager to continue building relationships with her fellow members. When she thinks back over her career journey, the advice she offers is “Never say it can’t be done when you haven’t tried.” Learn more about Official Ink Notary and Michigan Notaries Unite here: officialinknotary.com/ and michigannotariesunite.org.
Fabi Preslar is another Career Mastered member who is leveraging her extensive career and business experience to support other entrepreneurs. Her firm, SPARK Publications, is a custom publisher of nonfiction entrepreneurial books (business, coffee table, cookbooks, workbooks) and magazines with the great purpose to grow businesses, brands, and platforms for successful leaders and business owners. As a consultant, Preslar helps business owners achieve more clarity within their core and as a speaker, she brings a positive, authentic, and candid style to deliver relevant messages and information about business ownership, women in business, and independent publishing.
Her accolades include a 2021 International Stevie® Gold Award, for Chief Happiness Officer of the Year, along with countless distinctions over the years which have honored her influence and leadership as a Woman and a Business Owner locally, nationally, and across the globe.
A veteran member of CMWLN, Preslar received the Career Mastered Leadership in Action Award in 2017.
Her guidance for business owners stems from her personal journey, sharing her years of experience in business and life to empower them to run their business more aligned with their values and vision. Check out SPARKpublications.com to see how her firm helps to publish magazines and books and FabiPreslar.com for details about booking her as a speaker, hiring her as a consultant, or purchasing her book, Fabulous F Words of Business Ownership: Redefining Choice Words to Fuel Your Small Business.
Next, we turn our spotlight to Barbra Gentry-Pugh, a Nurse, Certified Biblical Counselor, Author, Entrepreneur, and Mentor, who is currently growing her services to include a new online course. The Kairos Life Plan is her soon-to-be-launched signature program, designed to facilitate “personal healing, restoration, and spiritual transformation.” This program grew out of her experience as an RN, as she observed that there was an emotional and spiritual aspect to the physical healing her patients needed.
Rooted in her belief that “we’re all on this earth for a purpose,” Gentry-Pugh’s mission is “empowering women of faith to face real-life challenges by providing real-life solutions for living healthy and balanced and impactful lives through transformational relationships.” Her motivation is investing in the lives of people and helping them balance the emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of life. For more about her book, Every Beat of My Heart, or The Kairos Life Plan visit barbragentrypugh.com.
Gentry-Pugh enjoys meeting women through the CMWLN and says this network of women who are contributing significant value to the world is incredibly rich and inspiring.
Her advice for other women who are committed to purpose, impact, and service? “Don’t allow yourself to put off opportunities that will help you be a better person, grow, and change your life or someone else’s life.”
Lisa Nichols is a Career and Leadership Consultant who partners with leaders to create human-centered teams. She loves networking, drinking great coffee, and inspiring others to own their brilliance. Connect with her at lisanicholsconsulting.com or linkedin. com/in/lisacnichols
