Florida
Vera Jones is a Motivational Speaker, Communication Coach, Author, Award-Winning Television and Radio Broadcaster, and Syracuse University Hall-of-Fame Scholar-Athlete. She is a relatable and often humorous speaker who thrives on empathy and emotional intelligence to connect and inspire. She is also known for her extensive, veteran background in broadcasting, serving over 30 years as a Women’s Basketball Analyst and Reporter for various networks, including ESPN, Fox Sports, Madison Square Garden Network, NBA-TV, and the Big Ten Network. Today Vera can be seen inspiring others on BEE TV Flix streaming Perseverance Live, an interview-style show that spotlights ordinary people with extraordinary stories of perseverance to inspire and enlighten the world.
Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Vera became an MTI Certified Trainer in Conflict Resolution, founded the Perseverance Speaker’s Academy, and was elected Board President to a non-profit organization called Colorful Talks. Vera deeply understands the personal trials of life. She has become a notable force in her faith-based mission to “help people blinded by life’s fouls trust their vision.”
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
With the emergence of Vera’s signature, platform speech, Trust Your Vision, in a 2017 Goalcast viral video of 47-million views and counting, Vera has commanded global recognition as an inspirational phenom. Her style is best described as “Inspiring, funny, and relatable” as she passionately moves her audiences towards empathy, significance, service, and purpose. In line with her sports experience and philosophies, she helps individuals and teams “Play Through the Foul” with the power of faith, focus, and fortitude. An accomplished author, Vera’s books also reflect these powerful themes.
COACH AND CORPORATE TRAINER
Vera is an MTI Certified Trainer in Conflict Dynamics and Workplace Conflict Resolution. She earned her master's degree from the prestigious Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University where she first developed an interest in the psychology of interpersonal communication. She also excelled as a scholar-athlete. Laboring several years coaching collegiate basketball with stops at the University of Dayton and Indiana University, the groundwork was set for Vera to develop a sports-principled, communication coaching and training platform. Additionally, working in the corporate sector for Fortune 500 companies such as Wells Fargo and Procter & Gamble, grounded Vera with empathic understanding for the many fouls that can occur in the workplace. Today, as President of Vera's VoiceWorks, LLC, she applies her diversified career experiences in leadership training platforms via Play Through the Foul Team Building and Communication Training to help leaders manage seemingly unmanageable workplace conflict.
ENTERTAINER
Vera's resume includes over a decade as a radio personality at several radio stations from New York to Florida. She was tabbed the South Carolina Broadcaster's Association "Personality of the Year" in 1994 as a Country Radio Morning Show Co-Host. Her comical "Bobbi Jones" Country Radio DJ impression has become popular with audiences everywhere and makes for a unique perspective on diversity. Other entertainment endeavors have included acting with the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company and stand-up comedy. Now with her own television show, Perseverance Live, Vera continues to use her talents to amuse and uplift a world with an unquenchable thirst for entertainment.
REAL WOMAN, REAL ADVERSITY, REAL VICTORY AND INSPIRATION!
A single mom with a son with disabilities, Vera deeply understands the personal trials of life. Her empathic leadership approach has been aided by working on the school improvement committee of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. In August 2020, Vera was elected as the inaugural board President for Colorful Talks, which provides educational tools for families to facilitate meaningful conversations and activities regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion with their school-aged children. She is passionate about her mission to uplift and unite by helping all people to become more empathic and collaborative.
NOW I SEE
Vera’s signature story ignites belief that for every piece of pain there’s a powerful piece of purpose! Chronicling the daunting emotional and physical challenges her son faced in being diagnosed with a brain tumor and blindness, Vera reveals critical lessons for resilience, change, and finding significance in the midst of adversity. Sometimes humorous, always engaging, this single mom brings spiritual and mindset transformation, moving audiences “from Blindness to Breakthrough!” Vera’s passionate presentation was adapted by Goalcast in October 2017, instantly going viral to become one of their most watched videos with over 47-million views and counting! The riveting book, NOW I SEE: A Journey of Prophecy, Pain, and Purpose (Oct. 2019) is available to compliment this powerful keynote.
VERA GRACES THE STAGE WITH “E’S” LEAVING AUDIENCES:
NOTE: Now I See is also available as an interactive breakout session ideal for moving “from Blindness to Breakthrough” during Covid-19! Vera Jones is an experienced virtual presenter.
LEADERSHIP 6-S
Leadership 6-S – There is great truth in the adage, “They won’t care what you know until they know that you care.” This is the brainchild behind Vera’s six principles of empathic leadership. Vera stimulates empathy, higher thinking, and laughter with memorable stories like “I Got It!” and her own personal trials with a “bad boss.” The presentation is designed to help participants explore opportunities for growth in their professional capacities supervising, teaching, coaching, or simply relating with others. When you put “6” and “S” together, you get “Success!” That’s just what Vera delivers! This keynote is also available as a breakout session and touches on strategies in various areas including sensitivity, communication, resilience, and employee engagement.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
This presentation invites participants to:
GIRLS DON'T WHISTLE?
Girls Don’t Whistle? – With the help of the Andy Griffith Show theme song, this Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion presentation invites audiences to change their relational tunes for the better. Vera believes stimulating greater empathy and building trust are major keys for opening doors bolted by biases, fear, and ignorance. She examines the stages of distrust, and how to communicate truth to dismantle it. Tempering the need for honest self-introspection, Vera sheds light on why we react blindly to differentness and therefore perpetuate stigmas and negative stereotypes. Always geared towards conflict resolution, Vera brings simple solutions to an otherwise tense or difficult subject. Powerful, relatable, enlightening, and entertaining personal narratives, including her unforgettable experience as a country radio DJ named “Bobbi Jones,” are a breath of fresh air in the midst of our current, challenging social realities. This presentation is also available as an interactive breakout.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
After hearing Vera’s keynote, audiences can expect to:
THE TEN TURTLE TENETS
The Ten Turtle Tenets – A Lifetime Rx: Vera reveals 10 principles for general wellness and positive living, particularly when faced with overcoming obstacles (like Covid-19!) Her narrative is captivating – creatively weaving mystery, suspense, and humor. Vera throws in her own witty prescription for a “chill pill” that allows audience members to self-assess their wellness needs. Expect to leave inspired and to think positively about the endless possibilities in life instead of succumbing to adversity and anxieties, thanks to theories revealed by Vera’s very peculiar turtle named “Mom.”
DID YOU KNOW?
• GAD (general anxiety disorder) affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population, yet only 43.2% are receiving treatment. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
• Women are generally twice as more likely to experience anxiety-related disorders than men (ADAA)
• Nearly 8 in 10 (78%) of American adults say that Covid-19 is a significant source of stress in their lives. (American Psychological Association – Stress in America 2020)
KEY TAKEAWAYS
You can expect to walk away from this keynote (or breakout):
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