Today we’d like to introduce you to Raechel Rivers.
Hi Raechel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Raechel Rivers, and I am originally from St. Louis, MO. I relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma just 6 months ago. I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the state at Langston University nearly 20 years ago. I am a proud Alumni, a published Author, an Entrepreneur, and an Educator. After graduating, I pursued and obtained my Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Over the years, I have been able to establish my career serving in various roles in Higher Education, K-12, Nonprofit, and the Workforce Development sectors.
When I completed graduate school in 2011, I moved back to my hometown, St. Louis, MO, and struggled to become employed in my area of interest. Prior to graduating with my EdS., Educational Specialist degree, from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, I desired to continue my career working as a Higher Education professional. Somehow, a different pathway was carved for me as I was unsuccessful in re-securing employment in this industry. After several different work experiences in which I was underemployed, I decided to start my own company Embrace-U, LLC. Embrace-U, LLC is my personally branded company. Through my company, I have designed workshops and written books to teach young adults about self-love and finding their life’s purpose. Through my own personal life struggles in relationships, dating, entrepreneurship, and navigating my career, I have been able to share my lived experience with many different audiences in person and virtually through my social media platforms. The 18–24-year-old population has become my niche audience, and passion to assist and guide through their life, education, and career choices. While I didn’t land a position in higher education after graduate school, I found my way into the nonprofit sector of Workforce Development. I’ve been an Education Counselor, Career Preparation Instructor, HiSET Teacher, and an Educational Specialist in career services. Currently, I am a Career Coach at a nonprofit organization in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My life has become a full circle of events, as I obtained my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the state from Langston University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) nearly twenty years ago. As a result of all of my lived, educational, and work experiences, I also started my own nonprofit, Embrace Women’s Foundation, which I will be relaunching in the near future.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have struggled to move up in my career. Upon completing graduate school 12 years ago, navigating the workforce wasn’t what I expected. I remember working retail and making minimum wage in 2012. I also worked in the hotel industry as a Front Desk Agent. I enjoyed these positions; however, these jobs were unrelated to what I spent years, time, and money on studying. I was frustrated with what I was encountering in trying to obtain entry-level work in higher education. I couldn’t understand why my efforts to work in this industry led to me being rejected when I already had some work experience in this area. The low-wage positions and my own frustrations eventually led me to being unable to get my life started and unable to pay rent and utilities, which led to me being evicted multiple times over the years. There weren’t many programs or assistance available for women who were in my situation: single, college-educated women with no children. Thankfully, I have a great family who supported me through these financial hardships. Because of what I went through in not being able to start my life after graduate school, I decided to found Embrace Women’s Foundation in order to help women like me who were going through similar life transitions and needed assistance in navigating the workforce. Eventually, I landed my first professional position in the nonprofit sector in 2015, working for the TRIO Educational Talent Search program as an Educational Counselor; but the salary was still low. However, I felt rewarded in the work that I was doing serving first-generation college students.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a Career Coach in Workforce Development at a nonprofit in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In this role, I am responsible for guiding young adults ages 18-24 on their education and career goals. I am proud that my day-to-day profession is in alignment with my Entrepreneurial endeavors. One day, I’d like to be self-employed full time doing the same work that I do for my current organization. I am most known for a book that I wrote entitled “Love Yourself, Love Your Life! The Self-Love Handbook”. In this book, I encourage people to find and pursue what makes them happy in life while healing from past relationships and childhood trauma. I have used my book for workshops with students in the past.
What matters most to you? Why?
The ability to create, influence, motivate, and encourage others matters to me most because I feel it is what I was born to do. I have a heart of service and want to see people happy and achieving their goals and dreams while I pursue mine as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.raechelrivers.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/drraelovecoach
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/DrRaeLoveCoach
- Linkedin: www.LinkedIn.com/in/raechelrivers-eds
- Youtube: www.YouTube.com/drraelovecoach
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@drraelovecoach
Image Credits
Lance Thurman
Jay B. Walker
