Happy Birthday 1st Birthday NayceQuest!
One year ago, on October 7, 2020, I publicly launched NayceQuest LLC, and what an impactful journey it has been. If someone had told my 18-year-old self that I would have my own consulting business, I would have responded that such a professional life is out of my league. But here I stand today, with a year of running a successful and impactful business, and that is worth celebrating. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve made mistakes, hit some roadblocks, and navigated some steep learning curves—all of which are part of the process to grow. As I reflect on this past year, I am reminded by how privileged I am to pursue a career that did not fit in the traditional institution of higher education and collaborate with a community of colleagues driven to make our organizations more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. I am dedicating this month’s post to the essential folks who helped me see a vision of impact and, more importantly, amplified NayceQuest’s work over the last year.
To my little-not-so-little sister, Katherine Hezel: Without your marketing strategy and a vision, NayceQuest would not have gotten off the ground and exist a year later. Thank you for sharing your brilliance, passion, and creativity. You are a GOAT marketing strategist, the greatest of all time, and not the goat in the road.
To Alisha Weiss: Thank you for taking time out of your schedule from the Anfield Shop, Skyhawk Press, mom and spouse responsibilities, and Navy spouse obligations to draft the NayceQuest logo. Your impact and innovation are inspirations, and I am fortunate to have a logo you drafted to serve as a north star of character and values.
To my 9405 Roomies: You know it all. The good, bad, and the ugly, and you stood by me to celebrate and help clean up the messes I made along the way. You held me accountable, you shared messages of hope, and you counseled me through difficult decisions. Thank you for making me laugh until I cried and finding ways to channel my pain to hopeful action.
To my E-4 Crew: I think you were the first group of friends I told about my idea of starting a business, and you were all on board. Thank you for offering the time to hear out my vision and supporting me personally as I decided to pivot in my career. You’ve each found ways to uplift the messages of DEI in your careers to help me see where NayceQuest can make an impact. Also, Mr. Clean is right behind you.
To Jackie Pearce Garrett: Thank you for entrusting NayceQuest to come on board with HGVenture as a subcontractor when NayceQuest first launched. Your trust in me as a DEI educator and business owner gave me the confidence that I could do this work and make an impact in spaces that seemed the least likely to invest in a DEI strategy.
To Barrett Bogue: I honestly do not know where to start with expressing my gratitude. You were there before it began and continue to be with NayceQuest today. Thank you for believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you for amplifying my voice when it felt as though community members ignored me. Thank you for building out collaborations between Evocati and NayceQuest on projects that will significantly impact knowledge sharing in the military-connected higher education community. You exemplify what it means to be an ally, and I am so grateful.
To the VLP Charmers: Did we decide on that name? We were having too much fun while making plans to solve some complex problems in the world. It was a roller coaster of emotions over the last five months as I found my entrance into the arena to make an impact. Thank you for allowing me to be authentic, grow, and learn in more ways than I can count.
To NayceQuest’s Adventurers: Thank you for entrusting NayceQuest to journey with you to guide your organizational cultures more inclusive and equitable for all. Taking the initial step of acknowledging a need for DEI strategy is one thing, but you all are leading in ways to take strategic action to make your communities DEI. You truly enriched NayceQuest’s vision of impact for years to come.
To my Fleet: You are my compass and the wind in my sails. I love you beyond words.
As you can see, I am truly fortunate. The trust, teamwork, and connections made over the last year have been gifts that keep on giving as NayceQuest celebrates its first birthday. Businesses do not operate in silos, and businesses that aim to make meaningful impacts, require a community of change-makers. I am privileged to have found my tribe to collectively go beyond saying the right things and doing the right things.
