In the words of the fabulous Dr. Michele R. Wright ... The Best is Yet to Come!

Meet the Contributors

Transform your life with the words of these women.

The 85 contributors to Dear Success Seeker come from all diverse walks of life. They differ in profession, age, ethnicity, and personality. Their inspiration and personal journey in Dear Success Seeker will renew your faith and inspire you to seek out your destiny.

Get to know the women of Dear Success Seeker — Women in Entertainment, Politics, Academia, Medicine, Business, Law, and Religion — and find out how individually and collectively they are special.

Transform your life with the words of these women. Hover over each of the following photos to learn about them.

Camille O. Cosby
Author, A Wealth of Wisdom

Photo by Howard Bingham

Gayle King
Television and Radio Personality and Editor-at-large of O, *The Oprah Magazine*

Photo by David Turner Studio D

Mary Aaron
First Lady Bibleway Community Church

Valerie B Ackerman — Valerie B.
Ackerman
President, USA Basketball
Former President, WNBA

Vernell G Anderson — Vernell G.
Anderson
Former Director,
EEO Programs,
U.S. Government

Edith Atchison — Edith Verginiabell
Atchison
Mother

Regina M Benjamin — Regina M.
Benjamin
First African-American
woman elected to the
American Medical Association
Board of Trustees

Pastor Shirley Caesar — Pastor Shirley
Caesar
Grammy Award-Winning
Gospel Musician

Margaret Louise Betts, MD — Margaret Louise
Betts, MD
President
The Betts Medical Group

Mildred H. Carter
First licensed female Aviator
in the Civilian Pilot Training
Program made legendary by
the success of the Tuskegee
Airmen in World War II

Cherie Carter-Scott, PhD — Cherie
Carter-Scott, PhD
New York Times Best
Selling International Author

Vanessa Castagna
One of *Fortune Magazine's*
50 Most Powerful Women
in Business

Leeann Chin
Founder of Leeann Chin, Inc.
a $40 million dollar Chinese-
American fast food restaurant
chain

Johnetta B Cole PhD — Johnetta B
Cole PhD
President Emerita of
Bennett College for Women
and Spelman College

Rev Johnnie Colemon — Rev Johnnie
Colemon
Founder of Christ Universal
Temple, a New Thought
Church with 20,000 members

Marva N Collins
Founder, Marva Collins
Preparatory School

Anna L Cooke — Anna L. Cooke
Author, *The History of LaneCollege*;
Free-Lance Writer

Joan Ganz Cooney — Joan Ganz
Cooney
Creator of
*Sesame Street,*
Founder of Children's Television Workshop for Public TV

Barbara Jean Danner — Barbara Jean
Danner
President and Founder
Macon County Fine Arts Manifesto, Inc.
Nationally Renowned Artist

Norma Jean Darden — Norma Jean
Darden
Wilhelmina Model
Owner and Operator of Spoonbread, Inc.

Patty DeDominic
CEO, PDQ Personnel Services, a Specialized Business Consulting group;
Executive Officer of the Year by the
*LA Business Journal*

Ruby Dee
Award-winning Actor and Author
Theatre Hall of Fame

Capucine DeLaney — Capucine
DeLaney
Business Development Manager for $60 Billion Mass Retailer

Loretta Devine
Award-winning Actress

Photo by George Pimentel

Mimi Donaldson
Author of
*Negotiating for Dummies*

Hazel N Dukes
President
NAACP New York State Conference

Katherine Dunham
Internationally Acclaimed
Dancer and Choreographer
Recipient of the Kennedy
Center Honors

Sheila E
Drummer and Singer
Muscial Director for Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce Knowles, and Prince

Photo by FOX

Marian Wright Edelman JD — Marian Wright
Edelman JD
Founder of Children's Defense Fund

M. Joycelyn Elders, MD — M. Joycelyn
Elders, MD
First black woman to serve as US Surgeon General

Myrlie Evers-Williams — Myrlie Evers-
Williams
First woman to chair the NAACP
Named Woman of the Year by *Ms Magazine*

Photo by Van Evers

Judith Berry Griffin — Judith Berry
Griffin
President of Pathways to College
Former National President of A Better Chance

Jose-Marie Griffiths PhD — Jose-Marie
Griffiths PhD
Dean of Information and Library Science at UNC
Appointed to the US National Science Board by Pres. Bush

Espeeranza Guerrero-Anderson — Espeeranza
Guerrero-
Anderson
President of Milestone Growth Fund
2008 Hispanic Business Woman of the Year

Velma A Hamilton — Velma A. Hamilton
Pastor
International Radio Ministry

Kathryn Harwig JD — Kathryn
Harwig JD
Author of several books
published in English
German, and Dutch

Martha Hawkins
Owner and Operator
Martha's Place
Restaurant and Catering

Dorothy I. Height
Chair and President Emerita
of National Council of Negro Women

Author

Andrea Herenton
Entrepreneur and
Founder of Hip Education

Photo by Michael A. Parker

Betsy D. Holden
Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company,
Former Co-CEO of Kraft Foods and CEO of Kraft Foods North America

Wilhelmina Holladay — Wilhelmina
Holladay
Founder and Chairman
of the Board for
The National Museum
of Women in the Arts

Joan Holman
Award-Winning Internet Expert

Theodora G Jackson — Theodora G.
Jackson
Founding Director of Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults (JSPOA)

Janie Jasin
Author ofThe Littlest
Christmas Tree
Celebrates sobriety
since 1976

Carolle Jean-Murat, MD — Carolle Jean-
Murat, MD
Senior-Fellow of the
American College of
Obstetricians and
Gynecologists
and Award-winning Author

Mae C. Jemison, MD — Mae C.
Jemison, MD
Physician, Engineer,
Astronaut
The First Black Woman to
Travel into Outer Space

Edith Irby Jones, MD — Edith Irby
Jones, MD
F.A.C.P., P.A.
First black to obtain M.D. from the
Univ. of Ark.
School of Medicine

Shirley Jones
Academy Award (Oscar)
winning Actress and
Entertainer

Photo by Jones Family

Rev. Barbara L. King — Rev. Barbara
L. King
Spiritual Leader of Hillside International Truth Center

Billie Jean King
Multiple titles and records in Tennis.
Founder of the Women's Tennis Association and the Women's Sports Foundation

Reatha Clark King PhD — Reatha Clark
King PhD
Former President and Chair of the General Mills Foundation,
Former Vice President of General Mills, Inc.

Deborah M. Kolb, Ph.D — Deborah M.
Kolb, Ph.D
Professor and Author of *The Shadow Negotiation*

Photo by Simmons School of Management

Patti Labelle
Grammy and American
Music Award-winning Singer and Entertainer

Photo by Carlo Dalla Chiesa

Senator Mary L. Landrieu — Senator Mary L.
Landrieu
American politician, entrepreneur, and former U.S. Senator from the state of Louisiana

Brenda Laurel, Ph.D.
Co-Founder of Purple Moon,
a company dedicated to Producing software and other interactive media targeted at pre-teen girls

Photo by Hilary Hulteen

Wilma Mankiller
First woman elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation

Patricia McGraw, Ph.D. — Patricia
McGraw, Ph.D.
First Black Professor at the
University of Arkansas
at Little Rock (UALR)

Joyce Meyer
New York Times Best-selling Author and
World Leading Practical Bible teacher

Photo by Tammy Roller

Mo'Nique
Award-Winning Comedienne
and Actress

Betty J. Overton-Adkins, Ph.D. — Betty J. Overton
-Adkins, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs at Spring Arbor University

Rosa Parks
Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement,
Co-Founder of The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development

Phylicia Rashad
Award-Winning Actress,
First Black Woman to Win Leading Actress Tony Award

Photo by Tony Esparza

Della Reese
Award-Winning Actress and Singer
Recipient of Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Photo by Cliff Lipson

Julienna L. Richardson, JD — Julienna L.
Richardson, JD
Historian,
Founder of The HistoryMakers

Photo Property of The HistoryMakers

Patricia Turner Robinson — Patricia Turner
Robinson
Past Director of Community Relations,
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana

Mona Lisa Saloy
Folklorist; Author of the Award-winning Red Beans and Ricely Yours: Poems

Photo by
James Terry IV

Lauranne Sams, Ph.D. — Lauranne Sams
Founder and First President of National Black Nurses Association;
Former Dean of
Tuskegee University School of Nursing

Linda S. Sanford
Senior Vice President,
IBM's Enterprise on Demand
Transformation & Information Technology

Patricia S. Schroeder — Patricia S.
Schroeder
President and EO, Association of American Publishers, Inc. (AAP)
Former Senior Woman in Congress

Photo by Focused Images

Cindy Brinker Simmons — Cindy Brinker
Simmons
President, Levenson & Brinker Public Relations,
a Strategic Communications Company

Pastor Diance C. Smalley — Pastor Diance
C. Smalley
Founding member of the Council of Clergywomen of Metropolitan Detroit

Bobbie R. Stevens, Ph.D. — Bobbie R.
Stevens, Ph.D.
Founder and President
Unlimited Futures, LLC

Susan L. Taylor
Editor Emerita of Essence Magazine,
Founder of National Cares Mentoring Movement

Lillie Armstrong Thomas — Lillie Armstrong
Thomas
Very First Secretary to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Former Office Manager at Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Gae Veit
Former Owner and CEO of Shingoee Builders, a $50 Million Construction Company;
Member of Crow Creek Sioux Tribe

Brenda Wade, Ph.D. — Dr. Brenda Wade
Award-winning and Renowned Psychologist and Author

Photo by TImothy Shonnard

Faye Wattleton
President, Center for the Advancement of Women,
First Black President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Tene M Wells — Tene M. Wells
President of WomenVenture,
a Women's Small-Business Partner

Shirley A.White, Ed.D. — Shirley A.
White, Ed.D.
President of Success Images Career Coach and Consulting Firm

Frankie Berry Wise — Frankie
Berry Wise
Award-winning Professional
Homemaker and Cook
Animal Rights Activist

Susan Ruth Witkowski — Susan Ruth
Witkowski
Entrepreneur of Live
Broker/Owner Sage Properties, Arkansas

Robin Wolaner
Former Executive Vice President CNET Media Group
Founder, Parenting Magazine

Photo by Jay Brady

Rose Wright
Proprietor, Mama Roses Corner

Rosalyn S. Yalow, MD — Rosalyn S.
Yalow, MD
American Medical Physicist
1st American Woman Trained in U.S.
2nd Woman Ever to Win Nobel in Medicine

Sandra Yancey
Founder and CEO
eWomenNetwork, Inc.,
The #1 Resource for Promoting and Connecting Women and Their Businesses

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About the Author
& Success Expert

Author, Speaker and Success Expert Michele R. Wright, Ph.D. continues to seek and find success in everything she does as she continues to help others to achieve success in their career and life.

She currently serves as the Senior Director of the National Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Association (NBPA) and formerly served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Greater Ozarks-Arkansas Region with the American Red Cross. She is also the past recipient of Sister Friends United, Inc. "Women of Excellence" Service Award as well as the organization's Business Award.

Dr. Wright is a top-performing National and International multiple award-winning Corporate Leader who has worked with Fortune 500 organizations including Genentech Biotech Company, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Pillsbury and The Procter and Gamble Company. She has a successful track record in increasing productivity, inventory accuracy, operational efficiency, and cost reductions as an engineer and has impressive top sales performance in food, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sales. She is an expert in project, team, and total quality management.

She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, with a double specialization in Health and Leadership Policy; a Master of Science degree from the University of Tennessee Space Institute, where she chartered the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and has the distinction of becoming UTSI's first full-time African-American student to earn a Master's degree in Engineering Management / Industrial Engineering; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Tuskegee University, where she graduated with High Honors and the distinct honor of "Electrical Engineering Student of the Year."

Dr. Wright's extensive research of some of America's most outstanding women achievers served as inspiration for her book DEAR SUCCESS SEEKER: Wisdom from Outstanding Women (Atria/Simon & Schuster) which received the 2012 USA "Best Books" Award for "Best New Non-Fiction" and has allowed her to leverage what she has learned about success to benefit corporations, organizations and educational facilities. She lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband Terry G. Wright.
Author Revealed: Get Up Close & Personal with Michele

Dr Wright's Official Media Kit

Dr. Wright Transitions into CEO (Super Mover)

VERIFIED Since:
06/30/2014

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When I was young, I was very ambitious and wanted to have grand achievements in my life. When I graduated from college, I secured a fantastic job and in less than a year, I was promoted to a very high level position. I loved my job and was quite successful in the eyes of the world. Although I was doing well in my work, I was not able to have a committed and close relationship with a man. I made work my life and lamented about not finding the “right man.” Then, after a few years, I had a personal crisis that led me to get some counseling. My therapist helped me understand that my drive to succeed was based upon my ego’s need for achievement as an overcompensation for my core feeling of inadequacy. She also helped me realize that my inability to have a close relationship with a man was based upon these same feelings of inadequacy.

Working on my psychology was tough, but I had no other option if I wanted to find peace and self-acceptance. The rewards for doing this work were enormous. I began to feel genuine self-worth and have an inner peace I had never before experienced. My relationships improved and I met the love of my life and we got married.

New opportunities opened to me and my motive for achievement changed. Now it became about serving and being the best I could be, not for ego aggrandizement but in the true spirit of contributing to the greater good of my family and the community.

When I was asked to be included in the book Dear Success Seeker, I was so honored. I have read countless books on success over the years and many people focus just on material success. However, the messages in Dear Success Seeker set it apart because they have a depth and richness to them that go far beyond superficial success. The messages get to the real heart and soul of success, which is the mastery of one’s self and one’s life and the fulfillment of the God-given potential that lies within the soul of each individual.

As a man, I never thought that I would read what I thought was a book geared towards women. But to my surprise, I realized that even though Dear Success Seeker is a book written by successful women, it gives sound advice to all on what it takes to be successful in this life.

My story is not very simple, and most of my struggles started at a very young age. By the time I was thirteen years old, I dealt with depression coupled with the strong desire to commit suicide. For about three years, I came up with numerous plans to take my life, and daily I tried to muster the courage to carry out one of those plans. These time periods not only affected my school life, but ultimately lead to a life of drug and alcohol abuse. Most people think that all people that choose this route come from broken homes with no guidance; however, my life was far from that.

I came from a two parent Christian home, and even though we didn’t have the luxuries that most middle class families had, we did not know that we were struggling. My parents loved us and we had a vast support system of aunts, uncles, and cousins that loved us. But people that fight depression often do not realize that the support system is there, and you can’t help how you feel. Dear Success Seeker has many stories such as mine. It is so encouraging to see that people who have obtained success did not achieve it overnight, like in a fairy tale. More times than not, they are just regular people who pursued and conquered paths that all of us cross each day.

My life of drugs and alcohol quickly moved into the gang scene. You know the saying “birds of a feather, flock together”, well in a very short time I found myself deeply involved in gang activity. And my life seemed to spiral downward from there. It seems like sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you realize that your life is going nowhere. And that is exactly what happened to me. A drug induced heart attack sent me running to the only place I knew, the church. When death knocks at your door, a new light is shed in every negative situation in your life. And this new light was my light to success.

I founded and ran a construction business for 13 years. In this time I made more money and gained more respect than I have ever dreamed or could obtain selling drugs. My business thrived, and I had the opportunity to meet people who wouldn’t give my former self the time of day. During this time I also was called into the ministry, and by watching the miraculous change in my life, many people who I came into contact with gave their life to Christ and many others saw that if I could make a change they could do the same. Success is contagious. Sometimes when others see your sacrifice and hard work, they become inspired to achieve their dreams.

I am now the founder and CEO of the House of Refuge and Deliverance, a growing ministry that strives to minister to those people who have been overlooked, people with little or no experience, or those who are disillusioned by traditional churches or circumstances in life. My God-given vision, considered a radical move by many, has proven successful. And as many of the women in Dear Success Seeker, I believe in being “real” in your pursuit to become successful.

I challenge you, whether you are a man, woman, boy or girl; if you would like to be inspired and motivated to be successful in whatever you desire to be in this life then this is the book for you!

A small, still voice reminded me of a resource I was blessed with, so I attempted to read the book of letters again and this time, my attempt turned into a success. I didn’t intentionally set aside the entire day (with the exception of quality time here and there with the kiddos), but I would read one letter, then I couldn’t wait to read the next, and the next, and the next until I read all the letters of Dear Success Seeker. Each letter now contains bright yellow highlights by me because there was inspiration and wisdom in each one that resonated with my spirit. I enjoyed every letter and even found commonalities: “Seek God first”, “Serve & Give to Others”, and “Work hard to be and do what you truly are”. I even laughed… (Carolle Jean-Murat’s letter about Dos Ochenta was hilarious). I also thoroughly enjoyed the letter by your mom (Frankie Berry Wise) and poem by your sister (Monica Rene Wise)…what a talented family!

Dr. Wright, I firmly believe you are a Godsend to my life. Thanks for all you do! Love You Dearly!

~Prayed Up~

I had a great job, in a great company, and my family thought I was simply…great. I smiled at work because I was genuinely happy to be there. I was doing what I loved, and what most English majors dreamed of upon graduation–getting paid to read, write, edit at a major publishing company in New York. I was an editor. Yet life can get a little complicated when you’re comfortable. Ugh. Although I was completely content with my job, I knew I needed more. There was a nagging feeling following me around the office. It was only four years but time for a new challenge. My mom worked at her first job for 25 years! I was frustrated with that feeling. T.D. Jakes suggests that if you’re not shaking while walking into a meeting than it is time to change your job. You should always feel challenged. I hated challenge. Consistency and stability were friends of mine. Most people like scary movies and rollercoasters. I never did.

I tried to take the smart, easy, most-trodden road and started applying to other companies. The nagging voice told me “nope, a new company isn’t the answer”. I already liked the company I was with! Not even a promotion would help. T.D. Jakes wouldn’t approve, my adrenaline wasn’t pumping with fear at those thoughts.

Then it came to me–my dreams. I began dreaming again, very “immature” dreams like traveling around the world like a cute bohemian girl who wears colorful scarves and stares from the window of foreign trains. On snowy days, while going to work I daydreamed about working from home and going shopping in the middle of a summer afternoon. I dreamed constantly for two years. My friends and I would have long email exchanges in which we’d laugh about our crazy thoughts for a new life. But soon my dreams caught up with me. I realized that I could actually achieve them. That’s when the adrenaline started pumping.

It took a lot of books and wisdom to come to that conclusion (but that’s what kind of business I was in). I come from hardworking middle class parents so I got strange stares when I first brought up the idea of working from home while I traveled. That was for some rich girl who got a fat check from her ancestors every month. Then living examples appeared, it wasn’t only possible in books. I felt inspired. I began meeting people who were living the grand life of their dreams. I realized I was surrounded by them, authors, entertainers, entrepreneurs who never imagined being in their position yet some of them were famous!

I began taking my dreams seriously and pondered how I could do it. An Oscar even appeared in one my daydreams. How could my life become totally unique to my spirit and desires? I went back and forth in my brain trying to figure out how to do it financially, set goals, gather concrete information from mentors but it was too stressful to think about. My adrenaline would go crashing through the roof with fear! I knew I was on to something. Then I turned inward, started praying, meditating, visualizing, etc. Finally, the perfect answer came, “Just do it”. Yeah right. I tried giving that answer to my mother. Magically she responded, “why not?” I was stunned, she was right. There wasn’t really a strong enough reason not to do it would win over sheer happiness. I tested negative thoughts like losing a leg with no healthcare or a falling economy. (Smile) Nothing seemed to defeat the moments of joy I felt at living my life to the fullest. So I leaped.

I received a proposal for a book at work from a literary agent I admired called Dear Success Seeker. I read the book, spoke with the author, and was in love. The book and author spoke to my heart. It was a collection of stories about unique legacies. I was so inspired I acquired the book. Shortly after, I left the company to create a unique life myself. Currently, I am doing what I imagined. I have my own editorial and marketing business (still working with books) and on snowy days I watch from my home office as everyone else rushes to his or her office. I have shopped in the middle of the day when I was done working. And I’m traveling. Best of all, I am looking forward to the future in a bold and courageous way. I know that I will do things way beyond my own expectations. I also continue to dream at least twice a day.