Today we’d like to introduce you to Mae Dixon.
Hi Mae, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was raised by a single parent with 7 other brothers and sisters. I was the oldest of my last 4 siblings and became caretaker in my mom’s absence, so I learned discipline and responsibility very early and at the cost of my own childhood. As a means of escape due to a traumatic childhood, I used reading, music, and writing as a balm.
I married very early, started my first business at age 20, and managed my husband’s business. As an overachiever, I was the “first” to accomplish many things: my business received the first micro loan in our city; as a Realtor, I was the first to qualify a client for the First Time Home Buyer program; I became the first African American real estate broker in our area; I was and still is the only African American to become President of our Realtors Association; The first African American to become President of the Women’s Council of Realtors. I presided over numerous civic organizations and co-founded and was first President of our local Citizens Law Enforcement Council.
I retired from real estate and bookkeeping after 42 years. I founded an organization for survivors (including children) of Domestic Violence 22 years ago, and we are still serving in numerous communities. Serving has always been my passion, a desire to see people’s lives become empowered to become independent and successful… I am also an Amazon best-selling author with seven titles, all spiritually based for adults and teens.
Having faced many challenges in my life and career, it has been my faith and strong determination to keep moving, to treat all people with kindness and respect, and to be a continuous learner. Compassion is the real key to success, I believe.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life for me has not been very smooth, I’ve had to overcome domestic (mental, emotional, sexual and/or financial) abuse for most of my life beginning at five years old. As an African American and woman, I’ve encountered racism, blatant disrespect, and ridicule from my male counterparts especially. I had to grow a thick skin very early.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a creative in my profession (Mae Dixon, LLC). I am a Spiritual Transformational Coach, and I help clients to recognize their God-given talent while helping them to work through their trauma or simply improve their self-confidence. As an Author, three of my most popular books are The Secret Code of Girls: Maturing Young Girls into Confident Women, Restored by Grace: A Journey Like No Other, and Women Telling Our Story: Baring Our Soul From Behind The Wall. Stories told by women we served while they were incarcerated.
In my organization, A Will & Way Corp, we provide coaching and mentoring, Empowerment Gatherings for women, Youth Leadership Development Programs for teens, social media Groups for men (GEYM- Gentlemen Empowering Young Men),
while recruiting men for this program, we found that men needed mentoring themselves to overcome their own trauma, so we opened the group to all men, it is growing rapidly. We’re also reviving our “Men Talk” program that was started in the jail to assist men who were previously incarcerated and are recovering substance abusers. We also have a group (Women Telling Our Story) this is open to women from every walk of life who need encouragement and healing.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
This is a people business. Coaching is the fasted growing industry in the country currently. On every level, there is a need for emotional, mental, physical, and business support among children and adults. Many people seeking help are more apt to seek the services of a coach vs. a psychologist or psychiatrist to avoid being stigmatized.
Pricing:
- $500-$7,500 Speaking Engagements
- $50.00 per hr – Coaching
- $750.00 Leadership Development Training
Contact Info:
- Website: Mae Dixon, LLC www.Awillandwayinc.org
- Instagram: Instagram.com/maedixon616
- Facebook: Facebook.com/maedixonllc / Facebook.com/Awillandway.og / Facebook.com/WilliemaeDixon
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/williemae-dixon-2643a217a
- Twitter: Twitter.com/@maedixon63
