Leading with Purpose, Inclusion, and Personal Resilience

DeShaun Wise Porter shares a career defined by flexibility, curiosity, and a passion for helping people reach their fullest potential. Having worked across other sectors before joining the hospitality industry, she explains how each role connected back to her grounding desire to support others through HR strategy, talent development, and recognition. She describes how her global experiences shaped her commitment to creating environments where people feel included, recognized, and able to perform at their best.

She reflects on key moments that strengthened her leadership, including taking on unfamiliar assignments, navigating imposter syndrome, and learning to build high-performing teams through listening, relationship-building, and embracing diverse perspectives. Her stories highlight the importance of courage, growth, and valuing people as whole individuals.

Notable Quotes/Highlights

• “I am a person who is flexible. I love a new challenge, and I love to meet people.”
• “All of my work has been grounded in my desire to help people reach their fullest potential.”
• “Everybody has something to contribute… learning to value that.”
• “You can be kind and you can be competent, and there’s also a time for you to be assertive.”
• “We can’t be our best selves unless we are truly taking care of ourselves.”

Closing Reflection

DeShaun’s journey reminds us that growth comes from embracing new challenges, valuing our strengths, and staying open to learning. Her example encourages leaders to build trust, honor individuality, and create space for authentic connection. True impact comes from leading with courage, compassion, and the conviction to uplift others.

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