We sat down with Dr. DeShonda Jennings, a purpose-driven leader in early childhood education whose journey is rooted in resilience, faith, and impact. From building sustainable childcare businesses to mentoring educators and families, her work reflects a deep commitment to legacy and leadership.
In this conversation, Dr. Jennings shares the experiences that shaped her, the lessons that refined her leadership, and the purpose that continues to guide her work.
What challenge or limitation in your early life first taught you how to be resourceful, determined, or resilient?
One of the biggest lessons in resourcefulness and resilience came during a season when life hit me from multiple directions at once. I was raising my children, running my childcare program, and quietly carrying financial pressure that most people didn’t see. There was a time I had to face bankruptcy to protect my home, and that season humbled me while also stretching me.
I couldn’t afford to quit, break down, or wait for someone to rescue me because I had little eyes watching me every day, my own children and the children in my care, and they still needed stability, love, and leadership no matter what I was walking through. That period taught me how to make something out of what I had, how to budget with intention, how to ask for help without shame, how to turn my skills into income, and how to keep showing up even when I felt uncertain.
It showed me that resilience isn’t about pretending you’re strong, it’s about deciding you’re not done. Looking back, that challenge didn’t break me, it built me and shaped the woman who now teaches others how to build sustainable businesses and lasting legacies. I don’t just talk about perseverance, I lived it first, and that’s why when I encourage others, it comes from a real place.
What failure grew you?
One failure that truly grew me was realizing that working hard does not automatically mean working sustainably. Early on in my childcare business, I said yes to everything. Long hours, low rates, overextending myself for families, and pouring from an empty cup because I wanted to prove I was committed and capable. On the outside it looked like dedication, but on the inside I was tired, stretched thin, and not building the kind of business that could support my life long term. I was operating in survival mode, not leadership mode.
The moment I recognized that my business was running me instead of me running it felt like a failure because I pride myself on structure and accountability. But that wake up call changed how I moved. I learned to set policies and stand by them, to charge my worth, to build systems, and to protect my time and energy. I also learned that burnout helps no one, especially the children and families who depend on you.
That experience grew me into a stronger leader and a wiser business owner. It taught me that success isn’t about doing the most, it’s about doing what’s aligned and sustainable. Now when I coach others, I help them avoid that same trap because I know what it costs. My failure became part of my foundation, and I’m grateful for the lesson it brought.
What hardship made you stronger?
A hardship that made me stronger was walking through seasons where I had to lead others while still healing and growing myself. There were times I was carrying the weight of my family, my business, and my community all at once, and people looked to me for answers when I was still figuring things out behind the scenes. That kind of pressure will either shape you or shut you down, and I had to choose to be shaped.
There were days I was tired, days I questioned myself, and days I wondered if the vision was too big for one person. But every time I thought about giving up, I thought about the families I serve, the childcare business owners who look to me for guidance, and the legacy I want to leave for my children and grandchildren. That kept me moving even when the road felt heavy.
That hardship built my strength in a quiet but powerful way. It taught me how to pray through decisions, how to lean on community, how to rest without guilt, and how to lead from a place of purpose instead of pressure. Now I understand that strength isn’t about carrying everything alone, it’s about growing through what you go through and using it to light the way for someone else. Every challenge I’ve faced has added muscle to my mindset, and that strength shows up in how I lead, how I serve, and how I live today
When did your work become bigger than money?
My work became bigger than money the moment I realized the families and childcare business owners and educators I serve were depending on the knowledge and leadership I carry. Of course income matters because we all have responsibilities, but there came a point where I saw that what I do changes how children are cared for, how educators see themselves, and how families experience support. When a childcare business owner tells me they stayed open because of something I taught them or a parent shares how their child is thriving in a quality program, that reaches deeper than a paycheck.
The real shift happened when I started thinking about legacy. I began asking myself what my children and grandchildren would say about the work I did and the lives I touched. That changed my focus from just earning to impact. I realized I’m not just running businesses, I’m helping raise standards in childcare, helping owners build sustainable programs, and showing women that they can lead, earn, and still honor their well being. I want my children and grandchildren to see that you can build something that outlives you and blesses other people at the same time.
That is also why I started writing books. My journey was not always easy, and I learned many lessons the hard way. I didn’t want the next person to struggle in silence or feel like they had to figure everything out alone. Writing became a way to turn my experiences into tools others could use. Each book carries pieces of what I’ve lived, what I’ve overcome, and what I’ve learned about business, leadership, and self care. It is knowledge my children and grandchildren can always point back to and say, this is part of what our mother and grandmother left behind.
Money is a tool, but purpose is the driver for me. The money follows when you walk in purpose, but the real reward is knowing your work made the road easier for someone else. That’s when I knew this was bigger than income. It’s about impact, it’s about legacy, and it’s about leaving footprints that my family and my community can walk in long after me.
What was the moment you knew this wasn’t just a job, but a true calling for your life?
I knew this wasn’t just a job when I started seeing the ripple effect of my work beyond my own program. There were moments when parents trusted me with their most precious parts of their life, their children, and I realized I wasn’t just providing a service, I was helping shape experiences that would stay with those children and families for years. Then I began mentoring other childcare business owners and educators, and I saw how one conversation, one strategy, or one mindset shift could help them stay open, grow, and believe in themselves. That’s when it hit me that this work carries weight and purpose.
There was also a quiet realization that this work aligns with how I’m wired. I naturally encourage, teach, and hold people accountable in love. I don’t just want to see people start, I want to see them succeed and sustain. When people started calling me for guidance, sharing their breakthroughs, and telling me how something I said gave them courage, I recognized that this wasn’t accidental. It was an assignment
For me, a calling feels like something you can’t easily walk away from because it’s tied to who you are. Even on hard days, I still care deeply about the mission. I still want children in quality environments, educators running strong businesses, and families feeling supported. This work blends my heart for children, my love for business, and my desire to leave a legacy. That combination is how I knew this is not just what I do, it’s what I’m called to do.
How do you protect your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being while carrying responsibility, pressure, and expectations?
Protecting my mental, emotional, and spiritual well being became non negotiable once I realized you cannot pour into others from an empty place. I carry a lot of responsibility between my family, my businesses, and the people I serve, and there was a time I thought being strong meant pushing through without pause. I learned the hard way that constant pressure without restoration leads to burnout, not impact. Now I protect my peace with intention. I create boundaries around my time, I schedule rest like I schedule meetings, and I check in with myself honestly about what I need.
Spiritually, I stay grounded through prayer and quiet moments with God because that’s where I get clarity and direction. Emotionally, I’ve learned not to carry everything alone. I lean on trusted people, I release what isn’t mine to fix, and I remind myself that I am human first, leader second. Mentally, I give myself permission to step away, reset, and come back refreshed instead of forcing productivity.
This is also why I started creating transformational self care retreats. I know firsthand that leaders, especially in childcare and service based work, spend so much time giving that they forget to refill. Those retreats are not just events, they are spaces for restoration, reflection, and realignment. I wanted to create what I once needed myself.
For me, protecting my well being is not selfish, it’s stewardship. When I am well, I lead better, I serve better, and I live better. I’ve learned that taking care of myself is part of the assignment,
not a distraction from it. That mindset allows me to carry responsibility and expectations without losing myself in the process.
What does integrity look like in your leadership, business, and personal life?
Integrity for me is doing what’s right even when it’s not convenient, popular, or profitable. In my leadership, it means I don’t teach what I’m not willing to practice. If I tell childcare business owners and educators to set policies, honor their worth, and protect their time, then I have to live that out too. It also means being honest about the journey. I don’t present a perfect story. I share real lessons from real experiences so people can grow from them and know they’re not alone in the process.
In my business, integrity looks like clear communication, fair policies, and standing by my word. Families trust me with their children, and clients trust me with their goals and investments, and I take that seriously. If I commit to something, I follow through. If something needs to be corrected, I address it. If a client is not a good fit or I know I cannot truly serve them, I communicate that upfront. I don’t just take someone’s money and hope for the best. I would rather be honest and point them in the right direction than overpromise and underdeliver. My reputation is built on consistency and honesty, not just results.
Personally, integrity is about alignment. How I show up at home, in private, and in public should match. My children and grandchildren are watching my life more than my words. I want them to see honesty, accountability, and faith in action. I want them to know that success doesn’t come from cutting corners or stepping on people.
At the end of the day, integrity is legacy work. Titles, money, and recognition will come and go, but your name and how you treated people will outlive all of that. I lead and live in a way that allows me to sleep at night and feel at peace with what I’ve built and how I built it. That’s what integrity looks like for me.
How has your journey inspired, empowered, or opened doors for others?
My journey has inspired and opened doors for others because I chose to be transparent about where I started and intentional about how I climbed. I didn’t keep my lessons to myself. I turned them into pathways for others. I created platforms where childcare business owners could share their stories, become authors, step onto stages as speakers, and see themselves as leaders in an industry that is often overlooked. Watching someone go from doubting their voice to publishing their story or speaking with confidence is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
I’ve also created conferences and events that recognize and celebrate childcare professionals and parents because I believe the people doing this work deserve to be seen and honored. So many in this field give their all behind the scenes. Creating spaces where they feel valued, awarded, and poured into has helped shift how they see themselves and their role.
Beyond the events and programs, my journey shows others what’s possible. I’ve had people tell me that seeing me build a sustainable childcare business, write books, speak internationally, and
still prioritize self care gave them permission to dream bigger. It showed them they don’t have to stay small or stuck.
Most importantly, I try to open doors and then hold them open for others. Sometimes that looks like mentorship, sometimes it looks like resources, and sometimes it’s simply reminding someone that their story matters. If my journey does anything, I hope it shows people that their past does not disqualify them and their purpose is still valid. When one of us grows, it creates room for many more to rise, and I’m proud to be part of that ripple effect.
When someone hears your name or story, what do you hope they remember first?
I hope the first thing people remember is that my story is proof that your past does not get the final say. I’ve walked through homelessness, infant loss, financial hardship, and bankruptcy. I’ve known what it feels like to live check to check and wonder how things would come together. But I’ve also seen what God can do with a willing heart and a determined spirit. My life is a testimony of “but God.” Not because the road was easy, but because He met me in the hard places.
I want people to remember that if I could rise while carrying grief, pressure, and setbacks, they can rise too. I didn’t start with a blueprint or a safety net. I started with faith, responsibility, and a desire to create something better for my children and my future. Over time that grew into sustainable businesses, books, conferences, and opportunities to teach others how to build stability for themselves.
More than titles or accomplishments, I want my name to remind people of resilience and possibility. I want them to think, “She didn’t quit, and neither will I.” I want women, especially childcare business owners and educators, to see that their story has power and their struggles can turn into strategy.
If my story is remembered, I hope it’s remembered as a reminder that your lowest moment can become the foundation for your legacy. That you can go from surviving to building, from loss to leadership, and from struggle to impact. And through it all, that faith, perseverance, and purpose can carry you further than you ever imagined.
What unfinished vision or dream are you still committed to seeing fulfilled?
One unfinished vision I am deeply committed to is owning land in Ghana and building a home on that land. That dream is bigger than real estate for me. It is about legacy, roots, and generational connection. Ghana represents the Motherland, a place tied to my ancestry and history, and I want my children, grandchildren, and generations after them to have something tangible that connects them to that heritage.
As of this interview, I’ve had the opportunity to visit Ghana twice and share my books and my story in Cape Coast at the Voices of Change Conference facilitated by my coach. Both times I poured into the audience using my L.A.U.N.C.H. framework, teaching about growth, resilience, and building legacy. Those moments confirmed for me that my work reaches beyond borders and that legacy can be both global and personal.
Fulfilling the vision of purchasing land and building a home there will take what I’m leaving behind to another level. It’s a statement that our story does not start with struggle and it does not end there either. It says we can reclaim space, create ownership, and plant roots that outlive us.
I’m committed to seeing that dream fulfilled because it represents restoration, legacy, and possibility. It’s about leaving my family more than memories. It’s about leaving them something that says, “You come from somewhere strong, and you can build anywhere in the world.” That vision is still in motion, and I fully intend to walk it out.
What message do you want every reader to carry with them after reading your story?
I want every reader to walk away knowing that your life can rise beyond your circumstances. Your starting point does not have to be your ending point. I’ve lived through loss, setbacks, and seasons where the future felt uncertain, and I stand today as proof that you can rebuild, redefine, and rise. Not perfectly, not overnight, but faithfully and consistently.
I want people to carry the reminder that their story has value. The things you’ve cried about, prayed about, and pushed through are not wasted. They can become wisdom, they can become tools, and they can even become part of someone else’s breakthrough. You don’t have to hide your journey to become successful. You can grow through it and let it shape you.
I also want readers to remember that legacy is built in everyday decisions. It’s in how you treat people, how you show up for your family, how you care for yourself, and how you keep going when quitting would be easier. You don’t have to be famous to make an impact. You just have to be faithful with what’s in your hands.
If my story leaves anything behind, I hope it leaves courage. The courage to try again, to dream again, to heal, to build, and to believe that with faith, strategy, and determination, your next chapter can be stronger than your last. And if I could do it through my challenges, then there is room for you to do it too. Your story is still being written.
“God is not a respecter of person” Acts 10:34, KJV
BIO:
Dr. DeShonda Jennings is a dedicated leader in early childhood education, helping families and childcare professionals create thriving environments for children. A devoted wife, mother, Family Childcare Business Owner, Childcare Coach, international speaker, and best-selling author, she brings years of experience to the field.
Raised in Kenbridge, VA, her passion for children led her to establish DJ Shining Stars Childcare Program, a successful home-based business serving infants through school-age children. Her program fosters a nurturing space where young learners grow and develop.
Beyond childcare, Dr. DeShonda mentors professionals, offering strategies for building sustainable businesses. Through her books and public speaking, she shares practical insights for aspiring providers. Featured on Google Podcasts, CBS, NBC, and The Washington Post, she received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and an Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarianism in 2024. She remains committed to supporting those shaping the future of early childhood education. Awarded 2025 Author of the Year at Author Allstars™.
Website: DeShonda Jennings
