Community Highlights: Meet Vicki Flier Hudson of Highroad Global Services, Inc.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vicki Flier Hudson.

Hi Vicki , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story is full of twists and turns. When I was a child, I wanted to be an astronaut. Like so many kids, I dreamed of riding the space shuttle to the stars. My original major in school was aeronautical engineering. But I discovered that while I was okay at math, I didn’t enjoy it, and I was ignoring my natural strengths. So after a lifetime of aiming for the stars, I set that dream aside.

I graduated, got a corporate job, and started saving money to travel the world. After about a year, I asked my company for a leave of absence to go to Asia, and they said no. So I quit and went anyway.

That was the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

Over the next several years, I worked at that company and then took more “leaves of absence” to study different cultures. I lived in Thailand, India, and Nepal, and worked in China, France, Belgium, and many other countries. Along the way, I was learning domestic and global business skills at the same time.

In 2004, I finally said, “You could keep hopping back and forth forever, or you could do something meaningful with everything you’ve learned.” I chose the latter.

I founded my company, Highroad Global Services, and never looked back. I taught cross cultural business skills and coached executives on how to do business across borders. Over the years, I have reinvented my business and myself several times, but always around the same North Star: helping people bridge differences, improve business results, and grow their leadership.

Today, as an executive coach, I love working with senior leaders. They shape so much of the tone and outcomes of an organization, and I love partnering with them to do that in the most effective and authentic way.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Up until recently, the road had been smoother than I expected. When I left my corporate job in 2004, it was to do something I truly felt meant to do. I was using my natural strengths and authentic ways of being to work as a global leadership coach. Sure, the business had the occasional downturn, but when that happened I would usually reinvent the way I approached things. I would pivot or shift the work or the strategy, always in line with my values as a leader. It worked!

Most of the challenges have come more recently, as the world undergoes massive shifts. Particularly in the U.S., polarization and division have intensified, and companies are struggling to redefine what diversity, belonging, and equity look like in the current moment. In my view, the work must simply go on, regardless of what we call it, but it is a more difficult conversation now.

At the same time, those obstacles have also created opportunities. Conflict has always been an area I studied as part of my coaching education. A few years ago, I became a registered mediator with the state of Georgia. That training allows me to serve my clients more effectively and partner with them as they navigate increasing conflict in the workplace. I also have the chance to work with C suite leaders on their vision, values, and authentic center. As a public speaking coach, I have the privilege of helping amplify diverse voices. In some ways, my career has never been more rewarding.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Highroad Global Services, Inc.?
My company exists to unlock the power of high impact communication, especially for leaders. We specialize in executive coaching and consulting across three key areas of communication: powerful presentations, cross cultural competence, and conflict management. Our clients have transformed hesitation into presence, complexity into clarity, and difference into connection.

What sets my coaching apart is both its breadth and depth. As a trained and highly experienced leadership coach, I have worked with a wide range of clients, from CEOs to airline pilots. I most often partner with senior leaders and have a strong track record of positive coaching outcomes, with clients achieving goals such as vision casting, increased visibility, and more effective influence. I can coach across a broad range of leadership challenges and am dedicated to helping clients show up as their best selves.

At the same time, I bring clear areas of focus. I coach leaders to speak in public with confidence despite fear and to use their strengths to create powerful messaging. As a mediator, I help them navigate difficult conversations with clarity and effectiveness. And my international experience brings a unique set of global business skills to the table.

I am passionate about coaching and speaking. Every day, I have the chance to help leaders speak their message boldly and improve human lives.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I am the lead singer in a professional Rush tribute band called The Spirit of Rush! The band has been together for 12 years and we play all over the Southeast.

I’m also a space geek. Perhaps not surprising if you knew me when I wanted to be an astronaut, but many of my presentations today center around lessons from space for effective teams here on Earth. I have been to Kennedy Space Center in Florida every year for years! I even had a chance to work there as a coach, a dream come true.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.highroaders.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickiflierhudson/
• Other: https://www.thespiritofrushband.com

Image Credits
Eric Johansen
Wendy Fenner