VR Small

I attribute my success to staying grounded in my values, remaining teachable, and having the courage to evolve.

Every season of my life and career has taught me something different. I've learned that what gets you where you are today won't necessarily get you where you're meant to go tomorrow. Success requires a willingness to keep learning, adapt to change, and sometimes challenge the way you've always done things.

I've also learned that ideas, by themselves, don't create impact. Execution does. That's why I've always believed that information is only valuable when it's applied. Whether I'm mentoring an entrepreneur or leading an organization, my focus has always been on building systems, relationships, and opportunities that help people achieve meaningful, measurable results.

I've never been afraid to ask for an opportunity or to hear "no." Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my life began with a simple question. Rejection has never defined my future. It has refined my perspective and strengthened my resolve.

Most importantly, my faith and my values have kept me grounded. They remind me that leadership isn't about recognition. It's about stewardship. It's about using the opportunities I've been given to create opportunities for others.

If there's one thing I hope people take away from my journey, it's that success isn't measured by what we accomplish for ourselves. It's measured by the lives we help change and the opportunities we create for others.

"I've learned that success isn't something you achieve. It's something you steward."~VR Small

The best career advice I ever received was simple: Ask for what you want.

Years ago, a mentor told me, "If you don't ask for what you want, you're never going to get it." That advice changed the trajectory of my career.

People often ask me how I secured opportunities for VWEC, from space for our center to speakers, sponsors, strategic partners, and so much more. My answer is always the same:

I asked.

I remember wanting to launch a major initiative here in Dallas. Everyone around me said it would never happen. They told me it was too big, too ambitious, and unrealistic. Then, just a few months later, I watched someone else do exactly what I had envisioned.

Do you know the difference?

They asked.

In that moment, I made a promise to myself: Never again will I allow someone else's doubt to keep me from pursuing what I believe is possible.

The worst thing that can happen is someone says no. If they do, you've gained clarity, and you can redirect your energy toward the next opportunity.

But they might say yes.

That realization was a reawakening for me.

Never stop asking for what you want. Don't allow fear or the opinions of others to deter you from reaching for the stars. Be bold enough to hear the "no" for yourself, because every "no" builds the confidence, resilience, and courage to ask again.

And eventually...

That "yes" will come.

So keep asking. Keep believing. Keep showing up.

Your next "yes" may be just one question away

Get connected and stay connected.

One of the biggest misconceptions about entrepreneurship is that you have to build your business alone. You don't.

Business is not something you want to do by yourself, it's not something you have to do by yourself, and it's certainly not something you should do by yourself.

We are surrounded by resources, mentors, and organizations designed to help entrepreneurs succeed. Many are already funded by your tax dollars, and many others are completely free. Especially in the early stages of business, use every resource available. Being resourceful is one of the smartest financial strategies you can have.

One of the greatest lessons I've learned is this: You don't know what you don't know.

Before founding the Veteran Women's Enterprise Center, I served in executive leadership roles and had experience managing a nonprofit. I was confident I understood what it would take. Then I discovered that nonprofit finance, budgeting, and forecasting operated very differently than what I had learned throughout my career.

That experience humbled me and reminded me that expertise in one area doesn't automatically translate into another.

That's why I constantly encourage entrepreneurs to do their homework. Understand your industry. Conduct meaningful market research. Validate your assumptions before making major investments.

One of the leading reasons businesses fail isn't because entrepreneurs lack passion. It's because they build something the market doesn't actually need, or they price it in a way the market won't support.

Test your ideas. Listen to your customers. Refine your approach before scaling.

And throughout that journey, stay connected.

Find your village. Invest in those relationships. Learn from those who've gone before you, and don't be afraid to ask for help.



Success isn't built in isolation. It's built in community.

"Expertise may open the door, but humility is what keeps you growing."~VR Small

I believe our biggest challenge is also our greatest opportunity: transforming how we lead and do business in a rapidly changing world.

As leaders, we have to stay aligned with our industries while having the courage to innovate and, when necessary, disrupt the way we've always done things. AI is part of that future, but only if we use it intentionally to maximize both our time and our impact.

At VWEC, we used to track client performance manually. Today, we're building an AI-enabled platform that allows us to see, in real time, how entrepreneurs are progressing. We can identify where they're succeeding, where they're struggling, and which specific concepts need reinforcement. Instead of asking someone to repeat an entire course, we can focus on the exact area where they need support.

More importantly, AI helps us become better mentors. Sometimes entrepreneurs don't ask for help because they're embarrassed by what they don't know. Our performance data allows us to start those conversations with confidence, removing the burden from the client and ensuring they receive the support they need.

As a national organization, this transformation will allow us to serve significantly more women without sacrificing what makes VWEC different.

We will never become a "check-the-box" organization that measures success by how many people log into a platform. We measure success by outcomes.

Technology should never replace relationships. It should strengthen them.

That's why one-on-one mentoring will always remain at the heart of our work. AI helps us work smarter, but it's the human connection, accountability, and application that drive lasting results.

At VWEC, we don't just deliver information. We ensure it's applied. We do the work, because impact matters.

This question is especially meaningful to me because it speaks to the values that have shaped both my life and my leadership.

I joined the Navy at 17, and I truly embraced its core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Combined with my spiritual foundation, those principles became more than words. They became the standard by which I try to live and lead.

To me, Honor means doing what's right, treating people with respect, and giving credit where it's due.

Courage means standing firm in your convictions, even when it's difficult, when others disagree, or when doing the right thing comes at a personal cost.

And Commitment means staying the course. When challenges arise, it's easy to walk away. Real leadership requires resilience, grit, and the determination to keep moving forward, especially when the path isn't easy.

Those values took root early in my life, and over time I realized they aligned perfectly with my faith. They weren't competing philosophies. They reinforced one another.

One lesson I've carried with me is that integrity isn't tested when everything is going well. It's tested when someone has treated you unfairly and you still choose to do what's right.

We can't control how others behave, but we can always control how we respond.

For me, that's what Honor, Courage, and Commitment ultimately represent.

It's integrity in action.

"Your character is revealed not by how you treat people who support you, but by how you treat people who don't."~VR Small