Verdell Taylor

I attribute my success to the disciplined, adaptable mindset I developed during 25 years of military service, where I learned to consistently adapt, overcome challenges, and stay focused regardless of circumstances. When I first started in business, I earned very little in my first months, but I approached each day with determination and optimism, committed to doing the work until results followed. I’ve been deeply shaped by my family—my daughter, who supported me early on and works as a paralegal for the State Attorney General, and my grandmothers: one who taught me resilience and integrity, and the other who instilled financial discipline and an entrepreneurial spirit. Their combined influence, along with staying positive, blocking out negativity, and treating business as something valuable to be nurtured, has been central to my growth and success.

The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my two grandmothers, who shaped me in very different but equally powerful ways. My maternal grandmother, Louise, taught me resilience and discipline—she encouraged me to stay strong through challenges, maintain composure, and “never let them see you sweat,” while always doing my best and doing the right thing even when no one is watching. My paternal grandmother, Bessie, instilled in me the importance of preparation, education, and financial discipline; she constantly pushed me to plan ahead, save diligently, and think like an entrepreneur long before I understood what that meant. Looking back, I realize their combined guidance gave me both the toughness to endure difficult seasons and the mindset to build and prepare for long-term success, which continues to guide my career today.

My advice to young women entering this field is to make sure you fully understand what the work involves and feel confident that it aligns with your strengths and comfort level, especially since working with blood is not for everyone. In my experience training phlebotomy students, I’ve seen individuals realize during clinical practice that it isn’t the right fit for them, which is why hands-on experience is so important before committing fully. I encourage students to complete thorough clinical training, build real confidence through repetition, and ensure they are truly prepared for the job market, since many employers require practical experience beyond certification. Most importantly, this profession requires genuine passion, compassion, strong character, and emotional resilience, as well as the ability to adapt and remain composed when faced with difficult patients or challenging draws.

The biggest challenge in my field right now is that many training programs do not offer enough clinical placement opportunities, which leaves new graduates certified but without the hands-on experience required to be hired. As a result, many qualified students struggle to enter the workforce despite passing their exams. At the same time, this creates a meaningful opportunity to strengthen the pipeline by expanding clinical training access, mentorship, and real-world practice. Through more structured clinical placements and outreach—potentially including nonprofit initiatives—we can better prepare new phlebotomists, build their confidence and competency, and ultimately help bridge the gap between certification and employment.

The most important values in my work and personal life are compassion, integrity, and resilience. In my field, I believe you must lead with compassion and genuinely care for people, especially since many patients are nervous, so I focus on creating a calm, supportive environment. I also value treating my business as something meaningful and worth nurturing, where patience, empathy, and professionalism all matter just as much as technical skill. Personally, I live by the principles I learned from my family and military background—doing the right thing even when no one is watching, always striving to do my best, and adapting and overcoming challenges—while also valuing the strong support system I have in my daughters and family.