Who is Derek Young: Motivational Speaker & Management Consultant, and what should we know about you?
Thanks to God’s grace, an amazing mother and grandmother, a phenomenal wife, an excellent education, and several legendary mentors and role models, I have had the great privilege of fulfilling my calling to help individuals and organizations move from good to great to legendary performance. My primary focus for nearly four decades has been to help organizations create and sustain a winning and profitable culture that their employees love.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month is significant because it expands the number of people around the globe who understand and appreciate the many Black Americans whose patriotism, courage, grit, and inventiveness would otherwise go unnoticed or unheralded.
Can you share a favorite book or author that made an impact on your life?
The number-one book I have recommended to my consulting and executive coaching clients for the past 32 years is “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. I believe the two key elements for a successful life and a thriving business are relationships and influence. Mr. Carnegie’s book uncovers the power of caring for and focusing on others in a genuine way that produces win-win-win results.
What is your definition of a hero, who is yours, and why?
A hero/shero is a person who achieves uncommon and uncharacteristic results in the face of unfair and unfathomable circumstances. Harriet Tubman is my favorite hero/shero of all time. In considering the societal depth and breadth of all she transformed, along with when she did it, how she did it, and with whom she did it, I hold her in the highest regard.
How do you manage and maintain a positive company culture?
My brand promise is to model, teach, promote, and protect behaviors that produce and sustain a winning culture. Preparing leaders to improve their confirmation (communication that confirms understanding), influence, and accountability are the key ingredients to that process. The core values I share and live by are: easy interactions, efficient operations, excellent service, and elevating everyone.
What is unique about your business that makes you stand out?
Our clients tell us three things differentiate us: 1) We are extremely easy to work with in all phases of the consulting process;
2) We work diligently to understand and leverage their unique qualities;
3) We demonstrate genuine care and concern for them as friends, and not just clients. We are honored by the fact that nearly 80% of our clients have brought us back multiple times, with several client relationships extending past 10 years.
What song is your personal anthem?
Though I have never considered it a personal anthem, “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin is my favorite song of all time. “This Is How We Do It” by Montel Jordan is my Keynote walkup song because the bounce and vibe of the song get me hyped to bring strong inspiration and practical instruction to every audience.
What’s the biggest goal for your business in 2024?
My top goal for 2024 is to elevate our marketing to significantly increase the number of people I help experience greater joy and impact at work. I want to help as many people as I can to implement the proven and practical leadership solutions that have helped others.
Have you had a mentor along your journey to help you professionally get to where you are today?
When I turned 30, Bob Carpenter, the former President of Dollar General, became my first and most important, career mentor. During our quarterly “Seatbelt Sessions” Bob provided honest and constructive feedback that increased my self-awareness (and my humility), my leadership perspective, my influence-building, and my strategic execution. Bob showed me how to effectively manage the weight of executive responsibilities along with family and community responsibilities. I am forever grateful to him for his impact on my life.
Can you share a significant lesson you have learned as a business leader?
The most valuable business lesson I learned came from Joe Calloway, my keynote speaking mentor, and from Mildred Waters and Angela Jones of the Nashville Business Incubation Center. They taught me and my wife Allyson, who started the company in 2004, to narrow the focus of the business by crystallizing our message and our market. Their guidance helped us specialize in creating winning cultures through effective consulting and keynotes.
