Victoria Thompson

I attribute my success to my Heavenly Father and to learning how to listen, trust, and obey spiritual guidance throughout life’s challenges. My journey has included significant hardship and experiences I later recognized as abuse, but through faith I learned to pause, pray, and surrender my concerns rather than react impulsively. Over time, I discovered and embraced my strengths, particularly my ability to organize complex systems, which a mentor helped me recognize as a true calling rather than something ordinary. I also learned the importance of surrounding myself with the right people—those who uplift, support, and value me—especially within women entrepreneur communities. Above all, I’ve learned to give myself grace, understanding that growth is a gradual process built one step at a time.

The best career advice I ever received was that I am not broken and I do not need to simply “work harder,” especially since I was already managing multiple responsibilities at once. Instead, I needed to find the right environment—one that values my strengths, supports my circumstances, and allows me to be truly effective. That perspective helped me realize that success is not defined by fitting into a rigid 9-to-5 system, but by working in a culture that recognizes people as more than numbers and allows for different ways of contributing. It also reinforced the importance of workplaces being adaptable to people’s lives, especially for women balancing family responsibilities, rather than forcing people to constantly adapt to inflexible systems.

My advice to young women entering this field is to trust that inner calling when you feel something needs to change—and act on it, even when it’s not easy. You will face pushback, doubt, and people who say change isn’t possible, but don’t let that stop you. We are often the ones who create the change we want to see, so if not us, then who? At the same time, learn to recognize and leverage your unique strengths, because we are not all meant to fit the same mold. Give yourself grace as you grow, stay open to learning, and remember you are never the only one going through challenges—there is always support and wisdom available. Most importantly, find your people, your tribe, and surround yourself with those who uplift and empower you, because real support means helping each other rise, not tear each other down.

The biggest challenge in my field is finding enough time in the day to accomplish everything while managing competing priorities, a struggle many professionals can relate to. At the same time, I see tremendous opportunity in how we can leverage technology and AI to become more organized, efficient, and effective in our work. These tools are powerful additions to our skill sets, but they require us to stay adaptable and committed to continuous learning. It’s also important to be intentional about how we integrate technology so we do not lose the human element in the process. Ultimately, the greatest opportunity lies in using innovation to empower people, increase transparency, and support digital sovereignty so that every individual has a voice that truly matters.

The values most important to me in my work and personal life are integrity, faith, and service to others. Integrity guides every decision I make, as I consistently ask myself whether my actions will help or harm others and whether I can stand proudly behind them in the future. My faith in my Heavenly Father is central to who I am, giving me strength, direction, and the ability to pause, pray, and listen before making decisions. I also deeply value equality and advocacy for underserved communities, which is reflected in my involvement with nonprofits focused on human trafficking awareness, elder care, and homelessness. Family is equally important to me, and I believe workplaces should support balance, caregiving, and self-care. Above all, I value authenticity and community—surrounding myself with people who uplift one another and create environments where everyone can thrive.