Author and active military officer Della Mack is bridging the gap in this go-to guide for leadership development with premier insight to tackle obstacles faced by women who are brown, black, and tan in the work environment. Â
Della is originally from the small city of Walterboro, in South Carolina.  In August of 2017, Della founded Mack’s Perspective, LLC, an online consulting company that helps entry to mid-level women smoothly transition into their career position and leads with confidence. Della obtained a B.S. in Experimental Psychology graduating Cum Laude in 2014 and commissioned in the US Army.
While serving in the military, she obtained her M.S. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Walden University in 2017.  As she progressed through the ranks, leadership development and effective goal-setting implementation for women leaders became a strong passion. Â
Della also published a book entitled “Confident is She: A leadership guide for women of color to navigate the work environment with poiseâ€. “Confident is SHE” offers advice to become the subject matter expert in your field and tips to be an effective leader.  The more you learn HOW to lead, your confidence as a leader will increase.  Women of color do not always have access to coaches, mentors, or a community before becoming a trailblazer. Â
The author currently resides in Augusta, Georgia. Learn more about her and her work and book below.
Fancy: How would you describe your swagher? What makes Della, Della?
Della: Well, I would say one of the things that make me uniquely Della is my charisma and will to highlight the positivity in any situation. While I am very professional when needed, I do enjoy letting my hair down, being my goofy natural self, connecting with people on a more personal level, and experiencing life as it comes. My swagher can be easily seen as a true combination of my parents. There is a polished, composed professional trait that comes from my mother and my dad is easily the most energetic, charming man who can make anyone he encounters feel good about themselves. So, when you put both of them together you get a well-educated, charming Della with spunk.
Fancy: What sparked your interest in the military?
Della: I will have to attribute my initial interest in the military to my dad. He retired from the Army and has always had such a love for serving, the opportunities it afforded us, the relationships he made, and the experiences he gained. His stories were always entertaining which cultivated the spark as I grew up. In high school, I participated in the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) without any desire to officially join the military. Nevertheless, after accepting a full Army ROTC scholarship to the University of South Carolina and completing the program, I commissioned into the US Army.
Fancy: Do you think you have always been a leader or was it a role you had to grow into?
Della: As far back as I can remember, being a leader always felt natural to me. I thoroughly enjoyed creating new ideas, analyzing details, and making decisions. People in my circle knew me to go against the norm and kind of do my own thing. Although as a child I was always a leader, I grew into owning my leadership style as a young adult.
Fancy: Were your military experiences inspiration for your consulting agency?
Della: Yes, it was. I initially struggled with finding a mentor and a community that was indulgent with understanding the challenges faced in the workplace as an officer, to be precise, a female officer. Coming straight out of college into a leadership position was a major transition that I methodically yet efficiently lead through my experiences. One of the things I learned upon my journey thus far, was that there are different sets of challenges women go through as supervisors, military or civilian, and to a certain extent, even more as women of color. Nevertheless, the Army has definitely empowered me to lead soldiers and train them with the skills needed to survive in combat. So, in retrospect, I ultimately had to step up to the plate and really learn how to be an asset to the organization and be effective. The journey wasn’t always easy, but it was definitely rewarding, and it has really encouraged me to be who I am today. My experiences with different leaders and experienced personnel instilled a passion in me to help other women in management positions navigate diverse, strong personality organizations and truly show up. I became a Leadership Development Consultant and Career Strategist for women in new management positions right after graduating with my M.S. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. In August of 2017, I founded Mack’s Perspective LLC.
Fancy: In what ways does Mack’s Perspective help women transition into their new positions?
Della: Mack’s Perspective LLC is an online consulting company that helps women in management establish an executive presence to improve their professional brands and lead confidently. I was inspired to start the company after experiencing how much time, stress, and tears women face early on before figuring out how to be a real asset to their organization to the best of their abilities and beyond. My company caters to all three of the main transition periods women may embark on within their leadership journey: job searching, after you get hired, and when you’re seeking career progression. We are well-rounded, but my signature service is “Woman, Own Your Space†helping new managers in Federal and State Government positions, establish and master managerial skills. If you’re looking for support in this area you can definitely connect with me more at https://macksperspective.as.me/nextstepcall
Fancy: How do the struggles of women of color and women of non-color differentiate in the workplace?
Della: This is an interesting question you asked. Now, I can only speak directly as a woman of color and my observations. Women have struggled with being respected in their roles, becoming a valuable member of the team, and receiving equal pay regarding their male counterparts. Women of color go through the same challenges, but societal injustices add to the ill-treatment faced. There is consistently a lack of representation for black, brown, and tan women in senior leadership roles. We often feel as though we have to work twice as hard just to been seen as equal to our peers. In addition, our hairstyles are analyzed, how we speak is criticized, and as a result, sometimes we lose sight of our worth. This is why it’s so important for women of color to have a community that uplifts and teaches us how to overcome.
Fancy: I noticed you’re natural. Was your hair ever an issue for you?
Della: Besides the constant questions asked when I use to wear different styles, there were never any major issues. In the military, there are hair regulations that female soldiers must adhere to and I made sure to stay in compliance. Nevertheless, I also felt there were negative stigmas on some hairstyles that would grab unwanted attention from senior leaders. For example, when locs became authorized in the Army, I was very hesitant knowing what society has said about them. Before I loc’d my hair, I conducted several interviews with people of different cultural backgrounds to see how I would be seen as a leader. The advice given was to make sure it was always neat and that’s what I have continued to do. I absolutely love my locs. It was the best hair decision I made for me.
Fancy: So what inspired your book, “Confident is She: A leadership guide for women of color to navigate the work environment with poise�
Della: My leadership journey was full of highs and lows. I felt I had a story to share, and I had a burning desire to teach the strategies I learned along the way. So, I wrote “Confident is She: A leadership guide for women of color to navigate the work environment with poise,†which was officially published in November 2018. It offers advice to become the subject matter expert in your field and tips to be an effective leader. In my opinion, women of color do not always feel like they have access to coaches, mentors, or a community before becoming a trailblazer and I felt this first-hand as I worked to find my voice. I wanted to bridge the gap in this go-to guide for leadership development with premier insight to tackle obstacles faced by women who are brown, black, and tan in the work environment. You can get your copy of my book at www.macksperspective.com/confident-is-she.
Fancy: How would you describe your ideal readers?
Della: My ideal readers are ambitious women of color who want to understand exactly how to establish a presence in an organization and improve their performance in spite of the challenges faced in the workplace. Whether in a leadership position or aspiring to be a leader, my readers will gain techniques to communicate with confidence, make meaningful connections with individuals in their industry, and understand the importance of self-care. This is the true meaning of work-life balance.
Fancy: Was there ever a time in your career when you considered giving up? If so, how did you continue on?
Della: In the military and as a leadership development consultant, I can get extremely frustrated, but giving up is never an option. Difficult experiences have helped me build character and I am still learning every day how to become a better me. As a religious person, I pray and feed my spirit with positive messages to encourage a positive mindset. This normally gets me back in action to figure it how to make things work in my favor. I definitely don’t believe in giving up.
Fancy: Do you have any upcoming projects or events that you care to share?
Della: Oh, sure I do. Beginning December 02, 2019, my new one-on-one program, “Job Hunt Bootcamp: Interview Mastery†will go live. It is a 5-week coaching program that supports women searching for careers in managerial positions. Ladies, if you desire to understand how to accurately convey their potential in a resume, speak with clarity in interviews, and secure a position that promotes growth opportunities then this is the course for you. You can go to www.macksperspective.com/jobhuntbootcamp to learn more and grab your spot.
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www.facebook.com/macks.perspective
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