In Conversation
Vivian Shepherd for Bold. Brilliant. Unstoppable.
Read the transcript
Vivian Shepherd: Speaker: Vivian Shepherd , Branch ManagerWhat does being an Influential Woman mean to you?Vivian Shepherd : So what does being an influential woman mean to me? Honestly, this is a great question. I have like 5 key points. I think number one to start off with is owning your voice, knowing when and where to speak up at. I think influence definitely starts with people hearing and knowing like the real you. Um, number 2, I would say is like leading by example. Um, I feel like if you're going to be an influence to anybody, there are certain characteristics that you have that they would like to embody. So that is something definitely, um, that I hold myself, um, that's a standard I hold myself to and everything like that. So that's one, Number 3 is definitely lifting others up, which kind of goes with the second one leading by example, but I feel like if you're able to lift other people up, you show them that, hey, you know, I can kind of help you out here and then hopefully they pass that along to someone else. And I feel like that's where the influencing momentum really does stem from. Um, number 4, I would say is making intentional choices. I feel like if you're going to be an influence in any way, shape or form, you definitely have to know how to make, um, good choices and kind of having a way to, you know, differentiate your decision making. And then number 5 is creating an impact, whether it be big or small, whether it's in your personal life or in your professional life. I feel like if you can make an impact, um, For the next person that will definitely help you and that is definitely um influencing to me. So that is my answer.What's one piece of advice you would give to younger women chasing their dreams?Vivian Shepherd : I think one piece of advice that I would give to younger women chasing their dreams is do not box yourself in. I feel like coming out of high school, you have, you know, like a one track mind on what you're set to do and then you may choose to go to college or, you know, enter the workforce or do a trade. That In itself is going to change the way you think, um, and where you feel like you are going to be. So I would definitely say do not box yourself in, especially when you're young. Soak up everything in. Um, if I think for me like I knew from a younger age I wanted to get into business. I did not know the different avenues that you could take into business until I was, um, in my early 20s, maybe around like 23, so I would definitely say, um. Don't box yourself in and then if you do find an older woman that you really like, um, ask her if she would be up to mentoring you. I think that definitely helps as well, um, especially when you're going to step into anything in a professional field. Having a mentor is such a blessing. Somebody that you can run and talk to and vent to, and, you know, overall they can help you, um, escalate your career at the end of the day. So that's definitely my advice. Um, don't shrink yourself to fit in and Try all these different avenues while you have the time in your early years.
Her Story
About Vivian
Vivian Shepherd is the Branch Manager for Wise Staffing Group in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she leads branch operations, sales, and recruiting in a competitive and fast-paced market. Responsible for full P&L performance, KPI tracking, compliance, and revenue growth, Shepherd oversees the entire staffing lifecycle—from business development and client acquisition to candidate placement and retention. She is known for building high-performing teams, strengthening client partnerships, and delivering customized workforce solutions that help businesses scale efficiently.
With a professional background spanning corporate sales, marketing, and healthcare recruitment, Shepherd previously served as a Recruitment Specialist with Barton Associates, where she connected physicians and healthcare professionals with specialized opportunities in cardiology and critical care. A graduate of the Los Angeles Film School with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, she combines strong business acumen with a people-first leadership style. Her experience across sales and marketing roles gives her a well-rounded perspective on growth strategy, talent acquisition, and operational execution.
Shepherd currently operates as a hands-on leader in the Las Vegas market, managing recruiting, client relationships, payroll, reporting, and new business development. Brought in at a critical time for the branch, she quickly secured new contracts and began placing full-time leasing agents and property management professionals, reinforcing her commitment to building careers—not just filling jobs. Passionate about helping individuals secure stable, long-term employment, Shepherd takes pride in delivering life-changing opportunities while driving measurable results for her clients and organization.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Vivian
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would definitely say that you have to be a go-getter and really hit the ground running. I think that is the best advice that I could give anyone, and be sure about what your goal is. Like, what are you going to be bringing to the table in staffing? You know, I think with staffing, it's forever changing, and to really know your market is another good one. Even to know where you're at geographically, you know, that definitely really makes a difference. I see that even with this company that I'm with now, Wise Staffing, we have 72 offices, and offices bill more than others, and the top people always want to know why. One thing I feel like they don't look at is the geographical location. We have one in Cincinnati that is doing great. Vegas, we're not doing so great, but that's because it's not that many jobs out here if you're not a part of hospitality. So those are definitely little words of advice that I have.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think some of the challenges that I've been seeing lately is just simply companies don't have any money. I think we are truly going through a recession, and as much as they are interested in hiring, once they look at the numbers, then go back and look at their budget, they simply just cannot afford it. They don't have the volume to hire. I think that's really been the challenging piece of it right now. They like us to focus on warehouses and stuff like that, but I have not been able to even meet with a warehouse. It just seems like right now property management and the clerical work is where it's at in Vegas. The Vegas market is difficult because if you're not a part of hospitality, there's not that many jobs. When you're a visitor, the first place that you think of is the Strip. People don't even know that there's more to Vegas than just the Strip. If you're staffing in Vegas, you're automatically like, okay, well, I need to get in with the MGM or the Sahara, but those top people are not even giving you the time of day if they haven't heard about your company. We have a ton of bars out here, there's nothing out here but bars, and it's funny because we can't staff for those. They said we can staff servers, but Las Vegas, it's nothing but drinking that goes on out here, so the number one thing that we need workers for, we can't staff for that. Long term, I see expansion. California is on my radar. I want to get to the point of asking our bigger bosses, like, are we able to maybe staff in California and still keep the Vegas location here and we roll the billing through here. I think that would be a great way.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Resilience, adaptability, and persistence are the values that guide both my work and personal life. Working in this city has taught me how to hustle, trust my instincts, and keep pushing forward until I turn a “no” into a “yes.” As a mom to my two sons—one of whom is autistic—I’m deeply committed to patience, advocacy, and supporting autism causes, while creating a life centered around growth, love, and opportunity.
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