Introduce yourself — Where are you from?
My name is Jeri C. Perkins. I’m a Narrative Changer, Trailblazer, and Visionary. I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. My upbringing took place in the cities of Fairfield and San Jose in the Bay Area of California. My educational journey led me to Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Lincoln in Jefferson City, MO, where I both expanded my horizons and matured. Nowadays, I make my home in the Ahwatukee Foothills of Phoenix, Arizona.
What do you do?
I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and the CEO and founder of Impact Action Network Advocacy Consulting Agency, LLC. Where we “Educate to Liberate,” by providing students and professionals of color with access to resources to navigate power dynamics and conflict resolution in academic and workplace settings.
How do you see entrepreneurship fitting into the life of someone who has academic credentials? How can they use those credentials outside of academia?
Educational achievements serve as a source of credibility and a foundation for enhancing your prominence, authority, and earnings through an entrepreneurial mindset. You can leverage your academic credentials, knowledge, and expertise across disciplines and areas of study, education, and professional practice.
How does the educational system help or hinder academics who want to make an impact at scale?
The education system is working the way it was designed to work. The system desires to feed itself by creating academics, housing them in the institution of academia, and enslaving them through astronomical amounts of student debt and loans that they have to pay back over the course of their life span. Academia portrays access to upward mobility as the pathway to ending generational cycles of poverty. A strength and not a deficit. However, the culture of academia does not support the entrepreneurial development of students and professionals. Rather, it aims to exploit their brilliance, intellect, and work for its own monetary gain.
Could you touch on why amplifying your platform is important to you?
I was blessed to receive the mentorship of phenomenal female scholars of color while navigating racist and oppressive systems of higher education and institutions of academia. I feel a social responsibility to pay it forward, lift as I climb, and be the change that I want to see occur in the world. I have checked every box through my work with Impact Action Network and advocacy of students and professionals of color using the culture of academia as a strength and not a deficit.
What will that mean for you and the communities you are trying to impact?
Enhanced quality of life and holistic health and well-being outcomes. We deserve to thrive.
Over the last year, what are some mindset shifts that have been important for you in terms of increasing your visibility, authority, and income?
I have refused to acknowledge the “isms” that people subscribe to young female entrepreneurs and small business owners of color. For example: I rebuke the use of language such as, “Due your time. Pay your dues. Wait your turn. Nobody owes you anything.” Instead, I manifest my goals and milestones into reality by changing the narrative, blazing the trail, and creating a vision for the future. Education is the pathway to Liberation.
Who are some of your inspirations (in any medium) behind your work and goals?
My ancestors. I am their wildest dreams.
In an ideal world where do you see your career and what you are building 5 years from now?
I envision myself as a power player who leverages my different areas of knowledge and expertise to enhance the quality of life outcomes for students and professionals of color navigating academic, workplace, and professional settings in a variety of ways through coaching, training, workshops, speaking engagements, and beyond.
Any advice for others who are looking to begin their brand-building journey but are unsure how to start?
Invest in yourself! Since beginning the Power Your Research program I have increased my visibility, authority, and community partnerships as a result of the exposure I have received on digital media platforms.
In addition, I have invested in a book collection by authors of color to build my own table, such as:
1. Minda Harts: Right Within: How to Heal From Racial Trauma in the Workplace
2. “The Memo: How Women of Color Can Secure Their Seat at the Table
3. Elizabeth Leiba’s : I’m Not Yelling: A Black Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Workplace
These are educational resources that have increased my capacity to strategically navigate power dynamics and conflict resolution in academic and workplace settings.
What have been some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned along the way?
Never sell yourself short. I create my own narrative and vision for the future and blaze my own trail. People will try to groom you into thinking and feeling that your work does not have monetary value because you lack name recognition and notoriety. However, those same people will be willing to give you a platform to share your wisdom and knowledge for their gain. So, use discernment while navigating academic, workplace, and professional settings to determine the value experiences have in building your professional brand.
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