Opportunity, influence, and purpose materialized themselves in one social media post.
On November 14, 2019, after my dissertation defense, I posted a photo of myself in front of the title slide of my dissertation presentation PowerPoint entitled: Beyond the Skin: How African American Women Senior Administrators Develop An Authentic Leadership Style, and it went viral. In a mere ten minutes, the post had been viewed over a hundred thousand times and by the following week, there were over three million views.
Nestled in the abundance of congratulatory comments were an overwhelming number of leaders who wanted to know more about my findings and how to develop a leadership style that is authentic and true to self. From Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and the United States the demand was evident. I received thousands of heartfelt direct messages requesting more information on authentic leadership style development and if I provided services on how to navigate the process. Staring at several thousand friend requests on the social media platform, I knew I needed and wanted to do something impactful. As passion stirred in my heart, living on purpose took on a new meaning knowing that other people were ready and waiting to live their purpose, too.
So, within a few short months, I started my own company and began my journey of helping others through consulting, speaking engagements, hosting events, and life coaching. Because of one post, it's now been both my personal and professional mission to empower people and organizations with the necessary resources to optimize their potential.
OVA Consulting Firm is a globally minded company headquartered in Birmingham, AL, that specializes in services such as Professional Development and Training, Program Development and Management, Professional Speaking and Writing, and Policy Recommendation and Analysis. Our primary impact areas are leadership, entrepreneurship, economic and business development, technology, and DEI. We firmly believe that the most important aspect of our society is the human capital, which is why we are people-focused and process-driven. At OVA Consulting Firm, we value relationships, which is why we pride ourselves in fostering a culture of excellence that is built on values such as authenticity, trust, integrity, and honesty that help us deliver tangible results.
DR. OLIVIA JANAY COOK
RESEARCHER, PROFESSOR, AUTHOR, AUTHENTELLER, AND
TRANSFORMATIONAL SPEAKER.
Dr. Olivia is the Founder and CEO of OVA Consulting Firm, which is a globally minded company founded in July 2020 to work with organizations domestically and internationally to provide services that increase engagement and optimize potential. Dr. Olivia is a highly relational and charismatic leader who thrives on solving complex problems. As an authentic storyteller, or "authenteller" as she likes to call it, she is known for her inspirational messages and ability to encourage people to purpose. Throughout her career, she’s won numerous accolades, served on boards, developed inaugural programs, and written a book. A native of Auburn, AL, Dr. Olivia is a three-time alumna of Auburn University with a B.S. in Polymer and Fiber Engineering, and minor in Spanish, an MPA (Master of Public Administration), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Administration and Public Policy.
