Work From The Inside Out 98: From Stuck to Soaring with Demetria Henderson
For 15 years, Demetria Henderson worked as a contractor doing statistical programming for various companies. She studied math in college, but it felt that she wasn’t quite connected to what she was doing. Her work met some of her needs. She could pay her bills and bought her first home, but in the back of her mind, she thought she’d like to get a Ph.D.
“You're working with folks, and seeing all these dynamics with people, how they're engaging and interacting with one another. And, being that black woman, you start to see things and I’m thinking, there has to be a better way. That always stayed with me through my entire time in corporate America.”
Demetria’s pathway to her Ph.D. was a ‘two steps forward one step backward’ scenario. She applied to Ph.D. programs initially and didn’t get in, admitting that she “didn’t know what the heck she was doing”. Five years later, she tried again but this time did her homework to position herself for a positive result, first applying for a master’s degree in organizational behavior so that when it came time to apply for a Ph.D., she would be a qualified applicant.
Today, Demetria advocates for equal access to opportunity and fair treatment for all in the workplace. As a consultant, she works with organizations to help them in creating and maintaining workplace cultures, in which all employees feel included and have a sense of belonging.
In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about Demetria’s journey:
- Demetria was 42 when she started her Ph.D. program in Business Management.
- She is also a Certified Professional Coach.
- Demetria works with mid-career professionals who are tired of being marginalized in the workplace and can grab a seat at the table without feeling like a sell-out so that they feel empowered and respected while making a meaningful impact.
- Demetria is a professor in organizational behavior at James Madison University’s business school in Virginia.
Learn more and connect with Demetria here:
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