Meet Dr. Dequies | Women’s Leadership Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Dequies and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Dequies, is there something you believe many others might not?
While I understand the motto “work smarter, not harder,” I have come to learn that in owning a business, that truly doesn’t apply. Yes, you need to work smart by discovering creative and technologically intuitive ways to be successful. However, the thought that you won’t have to work hard to own and operate a business is an erroneous assumption. If you’re starting a business, maintaining a business, and trying to grow a business, you have to work exceptionally hard. Now, if you are working in your purpose, it may not feel like you’re working so hard because you love to do it naturally. You are excited to do what you do every day. You will put in long hours, and you will work weekdays and weekends, not because anyone is forcing you but because you are your brand. You are the living, walking, breathing concept. For example, my purpose is to create an impact in the lives of women by empowering them to strategically meet their goals. No one has to encourage me to wake up and do that, I do that simply by walking in a grocery store and speaking to a woman I encounter. However, to turn that passion for what I do into a tangible business, I have to consistently build. My mind never stops thinking of ways to do it and do it better. That means I’m working all the time, even if it doesn’t feel like I am. I prefer “work purposefully, not aimlessly.” You’re going to work hard at some point in your life, but do you feel empowered doing so?

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business, WE Suite LLC, is a women’s empowerment brand with a goal to inspire women leaders to accomplish their goals. I am most proud of the supportive community I’ve built with women all across the world. It has not been easy, but it has been rewarding. The toughest challenge has been not giving up. I think that you hit various personal seasons of your life, such as health, family matters, etc. and that can really impact you and your state of mind to move forward. There are moments when you say I can’t do this anymore. However, when you look at your gift and your divine purpose, you don’t focus on relying on yourself alone, as a spiritually guided woman, I know when I’m tired and depleted, God restores me. I pray about it, and I keep moving. I’ve learned along the way to surround myself with my business friends to continue to remain empowered for myself. I can’t empower others if I am not empowered. I want the world to know that WE Suite is a community for women and if you’re just starting out or you are halfway there, WE are a sisterhood cheering for you! This is your space to become everything you were meant to be, it’s not just my business, its a movement for women.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friends were visiting, we would start with a good brunch at Toast on Lenox, an absolute must-have! We would visit Piedmont Park and do a little luxury picnic with a portable speaker listening to my go-to 90’s R&B playlist. We would get in a good workout at the belt line along ponce city market and then visit Bar Vegan for a nice little vibe. But fair warning to my vegans: it’s guilty pleasure vegan food. If my friends want a good morning smoothie or healthy snack, I’d take them to Kale Me Crazy. Another day out for us might look like Chateau Elan Winery for the afternoon and then later that night head on over to MCK for dinner and a sexy girl’s night out. We would certainly visit the rooftop at Spaceman for sure. As a lover of watching basketball, we must visit a Hawks game! By the weekend I’d take my girlfriends to get active in hot yoga (Yonder) in Sandy Springs. I’d take them to Shops of Buckhead and explore some of my favs there, we would pick one from:
PLANTA Queen
Le Bilboquet
Yeppa
Le Colonial
I have so many other favorite eateries (The Select, Optimist, OSHA, The Cape, Rumi’s, Barcelona Wine Bar etc..), these are just a few. If we want to watch a game, I’d probably go to Puttshack if it’s a chill night and if we wanted something a little bit private and low-key, the St. Regis. I’d finish the weekend with the Garden room and church at Renaissance in South Fulton. Basically, the ladies have to be ready to get moving!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to shoutout my network, which has truly inspired my development and success. I’d like to begin with the power of mentorship. My career success, both in higher education and later starting my business would have been extremely difficult without my mentors. You need mentors to guide you and to connect you to certain opportunities. You need mentors to provide insight about things you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to ask someone and receive the truth. Mentors have already traveled the path you are on and they have a lens that you do not.

I also want to shoutout my family who has always inspired me throughout my entire life to fully explore the world. I have been encouraged and empowered by my family to tap into my gifts at an early age. That encouragement to discover is why I love to learn. My faith has also inspired me to live out my purpose.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.dequies.l/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-dequies-lanier-0b389b75/

Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-suite-podcast-womens-empowerment/id1663692513

Image Credits
Tracey White Photography:
– White dress
– Mustard dress with black hat
– Black dress with red flowers
https://www.instagram.com/tjwhitephotog/