Inclusive Leadership Development - Wild Iris Consulting

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Vashti Boyce, Founder of Wild Iris Consulting, LLC, located in Portland, OR, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business, Wild Iris Consulting, LLC, is a Black, womxn, queer-owned leadership development consulting firm. Wild Iris’ aim is to create anti-racist, inclusive, and trauma-informed leadership teams. My leadership development customers are mission-driven organisations that are actively participating in re-creating and transforming their workplace. The majority of the work that I do is focused on the leadership of an organization, the people who make the decisions, and mold organizational culture. My aim is to provide leaders with the awareness, knowledge, and tools they may not currently have to become better leaders for the people that report to them. In addition, I also provide early career development coaching to womxn and non-binary POC and LGBTQ+ young professionals. These folks, like myself, oftentimes do not have access within their organizations to people whose identities reflect their own, so when it comes time to search for mentors and coaches, we get left out of the conversation. Usually, we’re labeled as “not a good fit” (i.e., the same as) those offering mentoring or coaching services, if our names even get mentioned at all.

Tell us about yourself

My academic background is in psychology; I have a Master of Arts in Humanistic Psychology, which is the psychology of the human experience, so subjects like “Feminist Psychology,” “Psychology of Spirituality,” and “Psychology of Stigma & Damage” were courses I studied. My working experience has been in Community-based mental health as both a frontline worker and in management - I have an MBA in Healthcare Administration. I am also a black, queer, (invisibly) disabled, 1st generation American that has been working since I was 15 years old. I’ve spent almost 25 years watching (and experiencing) the abuse and trauma that bad leadership creates. Not one to keep quiet when I see injustices, I decided that I would pivot my career trajectory and use my academic, professional, and volunteer experience to make workplaces as minimally traumatic as possible, especially for those of us with marginalized, under-resourced, and over-exploited identities.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment so far was being able to hire myself full-time and quit my job with a local non-profit in 2021. Achieving this meant that I was finically stable and that my client base had grown to some level of sustainability. I didn’t take out any business loans, and I didn’t have any angel investors, so being financially secure before leaving the “security” of my 9-5 was key!

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

The best thing about being a business owner is that no one tells you what to do, and no one is looking over your shoulder or keeping track. This is also the worst thing about being a business owner. There’s some level of discipline and organization that you need to have to be successful and stay sane! Especially right now, when my business is a one-human shop, and I’m responsible for everything, which can be overwhelming. I invest in utilizing other BIPOC & queer professionals to support me when tasks are well above my skill level, like my taxes and my website design.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Get clear about what it is you want to do, what impact you want to have, and who you want to impact. Stay flexible and curious, and automate as many tasks as you can to stay on top of it all.
2. If it’s accessible to you, get a therapist and a business coach
   those are two separate people but are absolutely vital in helping you keep a balanced life and on track with your goals, both personal and professional.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Do as much research as you can on all the different aspects of the business, even if you ultimately end up contracting/hiring for specific tasks/duties.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.wildirisconsultingllc.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WildIrisConsulting/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wildirisconsulting/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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