Today we’d like to introduce you to Dedrick Tillerson.
Hi Dedrick , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey as an author began long before I ever put pen to paper. It started with a deep desire to see, be, and experience all that the world has to offer. I grew up in rural Kentucky, in a small town called Henderson. At 41, I can truly say I love my hometown. It shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand when I was younger. It prepared me to engage with the world, to treat people with kindness and respect, and to value human connection. I firmly believe that people may forget what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel. Because of that, I’ve always strived to put my best energy into the world.
As a teenager, I was a standout athlete and learned early the value of discipline and hard work. I’ve been working in some capacity since I was 14, which taught me the value of a dollar and the importance of independence. When it came time for college, my biggest goal was not only to leave home, but to ensure my education was fully covered so I wouldn’t have to rely on anyone else financially. That determination led me to earn a track scholarship to Purdue University, where I competed for two years before transferring to University of Kentucky to finish my collegiate career.
After graduation, life began to unfold in new and unexpected ways. I trained and competed professionally for a period before officially hanging up my spikes in 2010. At that point, I knew I wanted to pursue work that allowed me to connect with and support people. I returned to school to earn my master’s degree in Human Resources and soon launched a career that has been both fulfilling and expansive. I’ve had the opportunity to work with large organizations, gaining the skills and confidence to eventually start my own HR consulting firm, Till The Soil Career Coaching and Consulting Services. Through my consulting work and résumé services, I’ve helped over 600 individuals successfully market themselves and advance their careers, working with small businesses, nonprofits, and major organizations alike.
On paper, it all sounds impressive, and I’m proud of it. But there was always a deeper calling. As an athlete at heart, I’m wired to find my lane, to compete, to push forward. Yet at one point, I realized there wasn’t a clear lane for someone like me.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, much of my journey has been shaped by lived experiences, navigating identity, belonging, resilience, and self-acceptance. Growing up in a small rural town, learning who I was, and finding the courage to live authentically gave me a unique lens on the world. Those experiences, both the challenges and the triumphs, became the foundation of my voice.
Becoming an author wasn’t just a career move; it was an evolution. It was the natural next step in a life shaped by perseverance, service, identity, and storytelling. My writing is rooted in lived experience. It’s about visibility, representation, growth, and creating space where there once wasn’t any. When I couldn’t find the lane, I decided to build one.
And that, truly, is where my journey began.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth? Definitely not, but it has absolutely been part of the greater design of my life. As a spiritual person, I truly believe my lived experiences were intentional and purposeful.
I’ve had more doors closed than I can count, yet each time, I found a way to build my own table when there wasn’t space for me, or when I wasn’t invited to one. My journey has been rich and layered, both professionally and within the communities where I’ve lived and served. Every chapter, every setback, every triumph has shaped not only who I am, but how I wrote my first novel, I’m Nobody’s Maybe.
I’ve loved, I’ve lost, I’ve loved again, and I’ve endured even more loss. Yet through it all, I remain optimistic. I deeply value connection, to people, to purpose, and to community. Those connections are the heartbeat of both my life and my writing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Whew, where do I start? While becoming an author is where I’ve most recently landed, my journey has been layered and purpose-driven from the very beginning.
Professionally, I bring over 15 years of experience as an HR practitioner. I’m the owner of Till The Soil Career Coaching & Consulting Services, where I help individuals and organizations grow with intention. I am a Certified Life Coach, Certified Career Coach, and Certified Résumé Writer, and I’ve dedicated my career to helping people strategically position themselves for success.
Beyond corporate spaces, I am deeply rooted in community work. I am the founder of the 4US Sports Foundation, based in Atlanta, which I’ve led for 12 years. Through that work, I’ve served as a community activist and advocate, committed to creating access, opportunity, and empowerment for others.
Most recently, I’ve added award-winning author to that list, a title that reflects not just creativity, but courage and lived experience.
Out of all the areas I touch, what I’m most proud of is living in my truth and consistently showing up for my community in meaningful ways. It’s not every day you meet someone as dynamic as I am, someone who truly embraces being a jack-of-all-trades while still leading with authenticity and intentional impact.
What sets me apart is simple: I am not a gatekeeper. Early in my career, I encountered individuals who operated from scarcity and exclusivity. I experienced the backhanded side of gatekeeping, and I made a promise to myself that I would never move that way. I speak people’s names in rooms when they’re not present because I believe in good business and shared opportunity. I hold people accountable, myself included, because integrity matters. And I believe when we operate with transparency, collaboration, and purpose, we all win.
At my core, I build tables. I open doors. And I make space.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was curious, driven, and incredibly observant. Even as a child, I wanted to experience everything the world had to offer. I grew up in Henderson, and while it was a small town, my dreams were anything but small. I was always thinking beyond my surroundings, imagining what else was possible for my life.
Personality-wise, I was competitive and determined, and athletics became one of my earliest outlets. Being a standout athlete taught me discipline, resilience, and how to channel my energy productively. But beyond sports, I was also reflective and deeply empathetic. I paid attention to people, how they felt, how they were treated, and how they showed up in the world. Even then, I cared about fairness and inclusion, though I may not have had the language for it yet.
As someone who would later openly embrace my identity within the LGBTQ+ community, growing up required a certain level of self-awareness and internal strength. I learned early how to read rooms, how to adapt, and how to navigate spaces that didn’t always feel designed for me. That awareness shaped my emotional intelligence and ultimately my leadership style.
I’ve always had a strong sense of independence. I started working at 14, valued earning my own way, and carried a quiet confidence about carving out my own path. At the same time, I loved connection, friendships, community, and shared experiences. I’ve always believed that how you make people feel matters.
So growing up, I was a mix of competitor and connector, ambitious but grounded, spirited yet thoughtful. Looking back, the foundation of who I am today was already there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.authordjt.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/authordjt
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/dedricktillerson
- Other: https://a.co/d/0dPeO5ET (Link to Novel)
