Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorsey Standish.
Hi Dorsey, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Thanks for this opportunity to share my journey. I have always been a Type A scientist and skeptic, and I began my career working as a mechanical engineer in a Fortune 500 tech company. I thrived in the fast-paced corporate world and enjoyed several years of career advancement and impact. However, eventually, the increased pressure and international travel caught up to me, while my mental health and self-care took a backseat. I experienced a burnout and mental health crisis in the spring of 2015, which became a pivotal moment for me. Being forced to pause and focus on my health and recovery inspired me to apply my engineering skills to my own health and take ownership of crafting my mental health journey, including a deep understanding of brain health and stress resilience.
That pivotal moment catalyzed several major changes, including committing to daily mindfulness practice and putting my mental health first – not last – on my to-do list. Within a year, as I saw how these practices were changing my life and making me more effective and less stressed at work, I stepped away from the corporate world and into the wellness world and began a deeper study of mindfulness and brain health. I attended UT Dallas to earn a master’s degree in Neuroscience and Brown University for training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. I was determined to demystify the practice of mindfulness, make the science of mental resilience accessible, and reach other skeptical Type A folks like me to help them slow down, destress, and perform at their best without sacrificing their well-being in the process.
I have carried this passion and commitment into my work leading Mastermind, my wife’s and my woman and LGBT-owned brain health and wellness firm that works with companies like Toyota and American Airlines to foster healthier, more resilient workplaces through our neuroscience-based wellness programs. At Mastermind, our distinctive, research-driven approach allows our clients and students to really understand the brain, how it works, and what is required to protect and care for this vital organ that supports so many other parts of the body. I am grateful today to focus our daily efforts at Mastermind towards grow a happier, healthier, more compassionate world, one workplace at a time!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have overcome many struggles in growing my business, from finding a way to monetize my passion for wellness to pivoting to a new business model during Covid. However, I am currently learning the most from the challenge of living mindfully in all aspects of my life. In addition to being a business owner, I am also a wife and the mother of two boys — a thirteen-year-old and a one-year-old. I mean it when I say that my wife and sons are my greatest teachers! It is one thing to stand on a stage and speak about engaging the rational brain to respond rather than react, and it is another thing entirely to model that when my teenager won’t get off his phone to take a shower! I am grateful that authenticity and practicing what we preach are core values for me personally and for all of us at Mastermind. We prioritize modeling and practicing mindfulness and emotional intelligence at home in the way we operate as a family and at work in the way we relate to each other and our clients. We are definitely not enlightened gurus, but we do our best and love to share our journeys along the way.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Mastermind is a mental wellness consultancy founded in 2016 to deliver neuroscience-based brain health solutions to corporations and organizations seeking to enhance the well-being of their teams.
You probably already know that corporate stress and overwhelm are at an all-time high. What you may not know is how expensive that stress can be for your company – Research indicates that each mentally distressed employee can cost your company $15,000 per year in additional expenses from healthcare costs, turnover, absenteeism, and reduced productivity.
Imagine what it would look like if your company incorporated proactive mental wellness training and resources for all employees. If each employee possessed their own inner resilience toolkit to manage stress and also perform at their best?
That’s where Mastermind comes in! Our wellness keynotes, leadership trainings, and ongoing brain health programming are backed by science and include engaging stories and experiential practices. As a women- and LGBT-owned business, accessibility and inclusivity are part of our rollout strategy. A signature 30-minute Mastermind mindfulness session has been shown to immediately reduce employee self-reported stress by an average of 29%.
This is why over 80% of our clients are repeat customers. They immediately see the value of our programming, get great feedback from employees, witness the shifts in their organization, and continue to invest in proactive stress management and brain health resources.
We’d love to connect with you and share more about ways you and/or your company can join us in our mission to grow a happier, healthier, more compassionate world!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Don’t do it alone! Everything changed for me in my business ownership journey when I joined a group coaching program with other women entrepreneurs. I’m so grateful for my coach, Alexia Vernon, and our leadership community that can understand and relate to whatever challenges I’m going through, whether it’s new motherhood, caring for aging parents, honing an elevator pitch, or adding new product offerings. I would advise everyone to never underestimate the power of connecting with others who can relate to your unique story and share their own! When we feel seen, heard, and supported in our challenges, we can move through them with greater grace and resilience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mastermindmeditate.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermindmeditate/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/mastermindmeditate
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorseystandish/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/25058862/
Image Credits
Kate Stipp Chiu
Andy Chiu
Engage Productions
