Check Out Dezirae Rhodes’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dezirae Rhodes.

Dezirae, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story is one rooted in resilience, leadership, creativity, and a passion for creating opportunities for others. Growing up, I learned early the importance of discipline, hard work, and believing in myself. Much of that foundation was built through athletics. I was a competitive softball player throughout my youth and had the opportunity to play at the collegiate level, where I experienced firsthand the commitment, teamwork, and perseverance required to pursue a goal.

My athletic journey played a major role in shaping who I am today. As a student-athlete, I learned how to balance academics, competition, and personal growth while developing the confidence and leadership skills that would later carry into my professional and personal life. Sports taught me that leadership is not just about being recognized, it is about showing up, supporting others, staying resilient through challenges, and helping those around you become better.

After completing my education, I built a career in federal service, where I have been able to utilize my skills in leadership, operations, project management, and problem-solving to support meaningful missions. Throughout my career, I continued to recognize the importance of mentorship, representation, and creating environments where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

That passion eventually inspired me to create Women Never Stop, a women empowerment initiative focused on encouraging women to pursue their goals, build confidence, and support one another through every stage of life. I wanted to create a space where women could have authentic conversations, build meaningful connections, and be reminded that their dreams are valid. Through events, discussions, and community engagement, my mission is to inspire women to continue growing, invest in themselves, and recognize the power they already possess.

In addition to my professional and nonprofit work, I am also an entrepreneur and creative who enjoys creating experiences that bring people together. Through my business, The Complete Setup Co., I transform ideas into memorable experiences through event design, décor, and creative details that allow people to celebrate meaningful moments. I have always enjoyed bringing visions to life while collaborating with and supporting other small businesses and vendors within my community.

Whether through event planning, supporting small businesses, mentoring young women, or pouring into the next generation, I have always been passionate about leaving people better than I found them. For me, entrepreneurship and community work are not just about building something for myself, they are about creating connections, inspiring others, and using my gifts to make a positive impact.

Looking back, every chapter of my journey from athlete, to professional, to entrepreneur, and advocate has prepared me for the work I do today. Each experience has reinforced my belief that success is not just measured by personal accomplishments, but by the lives you impact along the way. My mission has always remained the same: to inspire others to believe in themselves, embrace their purpose, and understand that they are capable of achieving more than they may ever imagine.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has not been a smooth road, and many of the challenges I faced have shaped the person I am today. One of the most impactful experiences was navigating my collegiate athletic journey. I had the opportunity to attend different institutions, including both (PWI) and (HBCU), which allowed me to experience different campus cultures, environments, and support systems. While each institution provided unique experiences that contributed to my growth, one challenge remained consistent across both environments: the need for stronger academic advising and career guidance for student-athletes.

Coming into college as a student-athlete, I had big dreams not only athletically, but academically and professionally. I wanted to challenge myself, explore opportunities beyond sports, and pursue goals that aligned with my long-term aspirations. However, I quickly learned that many student-athletes, particularly women, often face barriers when trying to balance athletic commitments with ambitious academic and career goals.

As a biracial woman who identifies as Black, I experienced moments where I felt unsupported and encountered situations that challenged my confidence and sense of belonging. Those experiences were difficult to navigate, especially as a young athlete who entered college believing that my potential would be encouraged and nurtured.

One of the biggest challenges I witnessed was how academic advising and support systems influenced the paths student-athletes took. Many athletes enter college with dreams of pursuing competitive fields, including STEM and other demanding majors, but are sometimes encouraged to take fewer credits, choose easier academic paths, or prioritize athletics over their broader career goals. Over time, those messages can cause students to question their abilities and feel as though certain aspirations are unrealistic.

These experiences opened my eyes to the importance of mentorship, representation, and intentional guidance. I realized that the individuals supporting students during their collegiate years have the ability to either empower them or unintentionally create barriers. That realization became one of the driving forces behind my decision to pursue my doctoral degree.

My research focuses on the relationship between academic advising and career readiness among Black female undergraduate students because I want to better understand how institutions can create stronger pathways of support. I believe students should not have to choose between athletic success, academic achievement, and career preparation. They deserve advisors and mentors who see their potential, encourage their goals, and help them create a pathway toward success.

While those experiences were challenging, they ultimately gave me purpose. They inspired me to become the advocate and mentor I wish I had during certain moments of my own journey. Through Women Never Stop and my work with young women, I am committed to creating spaces where women feel supported, encouraged, and reminded that their dreams are possible.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is centered around leadership, service, empowerment, and creating opportunities for others. Professionally, I work in federal service, where I specialize in operations, project management, strategic planning, and supporting mission-driven initiatives. My career has allowed me to develop strong skills in problem-solving, collaboration, and leadership while working in environments that require attention to detail, accountability, and the ability to create solutions.

Beyond my professional career, I am also an entrepreneur, creative, and advocate. Through my business, The Complete Setup Co., I specialize in event design and creating memorable experiences that bring people together. I enjoy taking someone’s vision and transforming it into an experience that reflects their personality, celebrates important moments, and creates lasting memories. I am also passionate about supporting other small businesses and collaborating with vendors to help strengthen the community around me.

One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is founding Women Never Stop, a women empowerment initiative created to encourage women to believe in themselves, pursue their goals, and build meaningful connections. Through Women Never Stop, my goal is to create spaces where women feel supported, inspired, and reminded that they do not have to navigate their journeys alone.

What sets me apart is that my work is rooted in both professional experience and personal passion. I have experienced what it feels like to need support, mentorship, and encouragement, especially during critical transitions in life. Those experiences have shaped the way I lead today. I do not just want to achieve success for myself, I want to create pathways for others to succeed as well.

I am also proud of my commitment to education and research. As a doctoral student, my research focuses on the relationship between academic advising and career readiness among Black female undergraduate students. This work is deeply connected to my own experiences as a student-athlete and my desire to improve the support systems available to future generations.

At the core of everything I do is my belief that people thrive when they have access to encouragement, resources, and someone who believes in their potential. Whether through my career, entrepreneurship, mentorship, or community work, my purpose is to create impact and leave people better than I found them.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The quality I believe has been most important to my success is resilience. Throughout my journey, I have learned that success is not defined by the absence of challenges, but by the ability to keep moving forward, adapt, and continue pursuing your purpose despite obstacles.

My athletic background taught me resilience at an early age. As a student-athlete, I learned the importance of discipline, consistency, teamwork, and showing up even when things were difficult. Those lessons carried into every area of my life, from my professional career in federal service to entrepreneurship, leadership, and my academic journey.

There have been moments when I had to navigate uncertainty, overcome setbacks, and advocate for myself. Instead of allowing those experiences to limit me, I used them as motivation to grow and create opportunities for others. My experiences as a student-athlete and the challenges I witnessed within support systems for young women became the inspiration behind my commitment to mentorship, Women Never Stop, and my doctoral research.

I also believe resilience is connected to having a strong sense of purpose. My purpose has always been bigger than myself. Whether I am serving through my career, creating experiences through The Complete Setup Co., empowering women, or mentoring the next generation, I am driven by the desire to make an impact.

Resilience has allowed me to transform challenges into lessons, setbacks into opportunities, and personal experiences into a mission to help others. It reminds me that growth often happens in the moments when you choose to keep going.

Pricing:

• Pricing varies depending on the scope, size, and customization of each project. For The Complete Setup Co., services are customized based on each client’s vision and event needs, including event design, décor, and creative experiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/womenneverstop?igsh=anRzdmphdXE1MGY3&utm_source=qr
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecompletesetupco?igsh=MW5jY3E4bDl6dWRpNg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1SckGvQFap/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/coachdezirae?igsh=MWp4MHdscjg4c2VuYg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr