February 28, 2025 • 40 mins
Makeba is a business and life coach, a veteran of the U. S. Navy with a passion for inspiring women to be B. O. S. S. (Bold, Original, Smart, and Successful). Makeba desires to help women who are overworked, undervalued, and frustrated to take charge of their future and operate in their God-given purpose and destiny.
She founded Bosses in Scrubs Academy and owns/operates Ultrasound Imaging Concepts LLC and Ultraview Imaging in Arlington, Texas. She is trusted and loved in the DFW area because of her 31 years of business experience, compassion, and dedication to everyone she meets. Makeba is also known for her volunteer work in the community. She is a bridge builder and loves connecting, collaborating, and sharing resources with everyone she meets.
Makeba Waller, CEO
Ultrasound Imaging Concepts
www.ultrasound imaging concepts.com
(o) 817-465-8439
She founded Bosses in Scrubs Academy and owns/operates Ultrasound Imaging Concepts LLC and Ultraview Imaging in Arlington, Texas. She is trusted and loved in the DFW area because of her 31 years of business experience, compassion, and dedication to everyone she meets. Makeba is also known for her volunteer work in the community. She is a bridge builder and loves connecting, collaborating, and sharing resources with everyone she meets.
Makeba Waller, CEO
Ultrasound Imaging Concepts
www.ultrasound imaging concepts.com
(o) 817-465-8439
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Are you a transitioning military or veteran woman looking for support, guidance,
and inspiration. You've come to the right place. Welcome to
Living Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform with your host, Renee Jones Hudson.
Renee brings powerful stories, practical advice, and expert insights to
help you redifine, rediscover, and reaffirm your life after military service,
(00:54):
whether navigating a career change, seeking personal growth, or focusing
on your well being. Here to empower you every step
of the way. So welcome the host of Living Unapologetically
Beyond the Uniform, Renee Jones Hudson. Let's embark on this
journey together.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Good morning everyone, Welcome back to another empowering episode of
Living Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform. I'm your host, Renee Jones Hudson,
and today we have another incredible guest. I love my
guests because there's so much energy behind you know, our conversations.
She is someone who embodies resilience, leadership, and just the
(01:42):
power of stepping into your purpose. My guest today is
none other than Miss Mackievo Waller. She is a US
Navy veteran and a business and life coach. She's also
the visionary behind Bosses and Scrubs Academy. She's on a
mission to help women break free from feeling overworked, undervalued,
(02:05):
and frustrated. And she is doing this in a unique way,
which is why I wanted her on the show today.
I caught a glimpse of her on TikTok and I
was like, I just gotta have her.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Come on.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
So stay tuned and I want you to just listening
to Miss Makiba. She's got over thirty one years of
business experience. She's not just a powerhouse though, she's an
a true bridge builder in her community. She connects, she collaborates,
and she shares her resources to uplift others. So, if
(02:38):
you're ready to embrace your boss mindset, which is boss, bold, original,
smart and successful, this is going to be the conversation
for you. So let's welcome Miss Makiba to the show.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, I'm so excited to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yes, I'm excited to have you. I'm excited to have you.
So before we dive into our conversation, just tell our
guests who you are and from your time your in
service to becoming an entrepreneur and some of the pivotal
moments that led you to this point.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Fantastic Well again, I am Akiva Waller, residing here in
the great State, the Mighty State of Texas, and I
joined the military in nineteen eighty eight as a young
lady Heilen from Beaumont, Texas. I didn't go into the
military because I had to go. I made a choice
(03:42):
to go into the military in nineteen eighty eight. I
can say was very unique about myself is I am
the only female veteran on both sides of my family.
And I started my career in Florida. It's no longer
a base in Florida for boot camp for females. And
(04:03):
originally I was going to the Navy to become a radiologist,
so my goal was to become a doctor in the Navy.
After boot camp and all these different things like that,
I ended up being on a ship and lost my school.
So I had to kind of reinvent myself, take a
(04:25):
lot of courses, and I became a hospital corman to
my demise. Unfortunately, while I was a young nineteen year
old girl on a ship, I encountered some heavy, heavy
sexual harassment that it changed the course of my career
(04:47):
in the Navy. But as always a ram in a bush,
God provided me with an amazing master chief that heard
my story and he believed everything that I said in
regards to this sexual harassment that I had, and from
that moment he basically he told me what I needed
to do. And at that time, in the late eighties
(05:08):
and early nineties, it was a lot of fear. I'm
sure today is a lot different dealing with sexual harassment,
but as a young African American young woman during that time,
it was frightening and I had no one to turn to,
but I did have someone that believed me. Fast forward,
of course, I met my husband. We've been married for
(05:29):
thirty one years and we have three amazing sons, three
grandchildren that I'm so proud of. And I ended up
being stationed in Campa June, North Carolina. My husband is
a former Marine, and while there, I started maxing out
on advancing exams and at the time, they needed more
minority nurses and doctors. At that time doing Desert Storm,
(05:52):
it was such a rapid increase of expecting mothers, dependent wives,
and military women getting pregnant trying not to go into
the war. At the time, I was a doctor, and
it was a doctor who ironically lives here in North Texas.
With me was a young lieutenant and he said, hey,
let me teach you how to do ultrasounds. I had
(06:14):
no idea what ultrasounds were. And if you didn't know
your navy, lady, the acronym for navy is never again,
volunteer yourself that opportunity. I decided to volunteer myself. Excuse me,
I decided to volunteer myself. And I was self taught
how to do ultrasounds when I was stationed with the
(06:37):
Marines in North Carolina and at that time, by me
maxing out my advancement exams, I and about ten other
minorities was picked up to go to medical school. But
unfortunately for me, I didn't have a lot of people
who looked like me that said this would be a
great opportunity. I had people who didn't look like me
(06:58):
and said, you know what, young lady, the military is
not the same. If I were you, I would just
get out and you become you do that ultrasound work.
And it was only two people that encouraged me was
to stay in on this opportunity to go to medical school.
It was the doctor who trained me to do ultrasounds
and my mother, my husband. He was like, no, I'm
(07:18):
not gonna make that decision. But nevertheless, fast forward to today,
I took that opportunity. I got out, made myself more marketable,
and learned all modalities of ultrasounds. Because I was a
corman in the Navy, I challenged the nursing boards and
also bypassed going to nursing school and was able to
accomplish getting my LPN license as well. And I began
(07:40):
to work as a sonographer as well. And I must
say I was dealing with some microaggressions in some of
the local hospitals because at the time, as a black
woman in this spell called sonography, we were less than
one percent than were a sonography. And I just felt
(08:00):
the need that, you know, if I was going to
be discriminated against and deal with microaggression microaggressions, I would
just start my own ultrasound company. So this may would
be twenty five years that I've been in business for myself.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Wow, that is so impressive. That is really what grew
me to you. I was on TikTok and just you
know this is so I try to find my guests
from different platforms and yours. I was like ultrasound, Like
I looked at you know, I've been on the other.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
End of the ultrasound, so but.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
When talking and you know, you explaining different forms. And
then I went on your website. I'd never known there
was a five D ultrasound, you know, so just you know,
being educated. So that was what drew the I'm curious
by nature, So I was pulled in and I was like,
people need to.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
Know this because I'll say.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
That I would never have thought to go into ultrasound
as a business, right, You've always seen it in one setting.
And the fact that he opened up an academy to
teach people. And this is what I love about it
is because from the military, you've garnered so many skills,
(09:15):
so many of which many of us.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Are not tapping into.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
And like, I think your skills are absolutely unique, the
fact to the point where you're teaching it in an academy, right,
So that's what I was truly drawn into. I like,
I was I was inspired. I was like, WHOA, she's
really doing this, you know, yes, So with that, you know,
(09:42):
many women struggle with stepping into their power after feeling undervalued,
and you give so many examples of that, and you
know we all face that to some degree at different phases,
at different times in our lives. You know, even now,
you know, how did you how did you navigate that?
You touched on it a little bit, but how did
(10:03):
you navigate that to say, you know what, I'm going
to open my own business, you know, because some of
us would just pull back.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
You know, some of us we don't speak up and we.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Don't we don't have that drive or energy really to say,
you know what, I'm just going to do it, do
it on my own.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
So how did you navigate that?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
And what advice would you get to anyone that's going
through that same process.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Well, I would say the beginning of that came from upbringing.
My mom was an entrepreneur. My mom owned a salon,
and I also have to give a lot of credit
to my father as well. You know, he passed, you know,
a couple of years ago. But my father retired at
fifty years old. He was a good steward of his money.
(10:52):
He owned land, and he was just a jack of
all trades. So that being that they were born in
nineteen forty four and they had the grit to want
to become entrepreneurs and land owners was a part of it,
and also my faith as well, my parents, especially my
(11:12):
mother and excuse my phone in it instilled a lot
in us about believing in oneself, and so to believe
in yourself is an incredible thing. So I've always had
that self assurance of belief in myself, and I've always
traveled the road less travel, you know, and I felt
comfortable traveling that role. Let's travel, and I'm fearless, you know,
(11:35):
just like less Brown says, for whatever you want, you
have to be hungry. And so it didn't matter what
anyone thought or what if someone would say, well, if
I were you, I wouldn't do that. That would that
would push me more to at least give it a try,
because if you don't try it, how would you even
know that it.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Was to see?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
So what would you say to the woman though that
doesn't have that great They didn't come up with that upbringing,
you know, And I know some of it's innate, you
know really, but like what about that female who's you know,
they don't have that kind of background, you know, that
kind of example I should say, and that, you know,
(12:19):
know how that grit to say, you know what, I'm
gonna try it anyway, Like, how would you encourage that person?
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I think it's important for young women to get in
the room and get at tables with people who know
more than you. Yeah, because when you glean and learn
from others at the table, that's where your power comes in.
And I often tell a lot of young ladies that
I mentor. You show me your five friends, I can
(12:47):
tell you where you're being the next five years. So
you have to surround yourself with people who are not
yes people, but people who would challenge you and see
the greatness in you. And then at that time it's
up to you to decide, well, if she can do it,
I can do it too.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Yeah, you know, I appreciate that, but not a butt.
And you know, sometimes when we do get out, you know,
it's very hard to put.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Yourself in those uncomfortable spaces.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I had to get uncomfortable and I still get uncomfortable now.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
So I do understand that.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
And you spoke to something that I think is very
important and in a great way to give back to
our community, which is mentorship, you know, and really starting
young I mentor seventh and eighth grade girls, and it's
the most rewarding thing to know that I can pour
into them. But on the flip side of that, I learn,
(13:43):
I'm learning ways to navigate that age group, which helps
me in turn, you know, in a many way. You
know how I approach things because you you know, that's
very young. But to instill these values, that's the age
I really do believe you start.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Making an packed you know.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
And the other thing about the mentorship when we get out,
we need that, you know, we really do need that.
As much as I was an officer coming from a military,
I was still lost. I was still isolating. I was
still not putting myself in those spaces that you talked about.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
That is so amazing. Why you're kids, You're amazing.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Okay, So you created I'm sorry, I'm a little's goofy it.
So you created Bosses and Scrubs Academy. Can you share
an inspiration behind it and how it helps women take
control of their careers?
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Fantastic? So, Bosses and Scrubbs Academy is an academy that
I formed because I had so many women approaching me
on how to start an ultrasound company, and I had
people kind of I hate to use the are stalking me.
This one girl who's on my website, she says she
stalked me for a while on LinkedIn, and it's it
(15:07):
basically helps them navigate the pros and cons on how
to start a business successfully, whether or not it's a
mobile ultrasound company, because it's a three tier company. So
whether or not you want to just do mobile ultrasounds
and not have a brick and mortar, or whether or
not you want to have a brick and mortar, or
I'll teach you how to get government contracts because I
(15:29):
have a team of girls that go on the inside
of the federal prison and do ultrasounds there. And so
it's about training sonographers who want to step outside of
the nine to five. And what I also want to
incorporate into my coaching academy is it's bigger on an
(15:51):
ultrasound company. It's bigger than just the dollar sign. So
when people come into my office, it's about looking at
the heart of mankind when they come in. So just
kind of going back to what you said about mentorship
or speaking life into someone. So if an expected mom
comes into my office with a lot of anxiety or whatever,
(16:15):
the case may be. I tell my patience, you begin
to speak to the essence of your baby while your
baby is yet in utero. You begin to tell the
baby that you are wise, you are healthy, you are strong.
So you can't wait until the baby comes out of
the womb. You have to begin to put this substance
(16:37):
inside your baby while it's yet in the womb. And
I generally give this analogy here. If you are in
a grocery store and you start a creepy man in
a grocery store or a gas station, he didn't tell
you what he was a creep It was his essence,
his spirit. So just as powerful as that is when
(16:59):
you have your baby in utero, you speak to the
essence of that thing. And that's what mentorship. So mentorship
starts in the womb. To me, it starts when patients
come into my office if they're not expecting a baby,
it starts right at my front desk. And so as
a business owner, it's bigger than just money. It's about
the impact. I look at my business as a ministry
(17:22):
to impact anyone, whether or not you yellow, brown, black,
or white. Anyone who comes into my office, they're coming
into my office not by coincidence, because they could have
went to any facility. So anyone who wants to lean
from this academy. That's a part of the things that
I discussed with them.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Oh man, you said a whole lot, and I felt
that you said a whole line.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Wow, that is who That is amazing.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
So as a business coach, what are some of the
what are the mindset blocks you see in that holds
women back from success? And how do you break help
them break free from those blocks because we.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Go through those Yes again, getting in a room with
someone to mentor you destroying the imposter syndrome. Instead of
calling something hard, this is hard, let's change that and
(18:29):
say this is a little challenging. So changing what comes
out of one's mouth. Currently, I'm mentoring. I have a
college that's sending me students. So I have a student
and this it goes right into business. And so she's
getting ready to prepare for her boards for sonography and
she had all this self doubt and I said, well,
(18:51):
let me give you something that will encourage you, that
encourages me. I wrote on a sticky, I have passed
my test on February to twenty second, not my will
but I have passed. You stick that on your your dashboard.
So even though from the home that I live in,
from the car that I have, I speak and I
(19:14):
pray over those things. Oh this this is gonna be mine.
And you put action behind the words that comes out
of your mouth.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
Yes you know. I learned that and I got a coach.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
It's about speaking into speaking the things you want into
existence and believing.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
But all of that.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Does you do have to act, You do have to
take action. It's not just going to show up because
you you wrote it down and because you say you
know everything, it all aligns. Everything plays a part in
you achieving that. So thank you for sharing that.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
So go ahead.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
So do you okay, I'm sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Oh you're fine, You're fine.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
You you are fine. So being a builder in your community,
you are, like you said, you're constantly pouring to others.
How do you stay fueled and motivated while balancing so
many rules?
Speaker 3 (20:17):
For one, like I said, I've been married for thirty
one years and he has been a blessing. He has
helped me. My husband has helped me to become a
better person, a better me. And to also add to that,
my faith is very very important, and I'm very unapologetic
(20:40):
about who I am when it comes to my faith
and my belief. And then you know, besides that, you know,
I read a lot an I'm an avid reader. I
squeeze time in to read, but I spend I mean,
I might be driving, I'm renee in my car, and
I swear people might be thinking I'm talking to myself,
but I'm talking to three people. I really am three
(21:03):
people in the car with me, and that's the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And I'm talking that
That fuse me. It helps me to start my day
and and and that's what it sustains me. It sustains me.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
It makes me who I am. Yeah, you really.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Do have something.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
You do have to have something that's driving you your
why you know.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
And then for.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
You, you know, you said this several times. Your faith is
a big part of who you are and you know
and how you move forward with in life. So I
appreciate you sharing that. So I love your acronm boss
for many reasons.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
But can you break down for us and share how.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Women can embody each of these traits in their journey.
It's bold, original, smart, and success successful. So share your
your share, your you know.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Your take behind that and why you created that.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Yes, for being the boss. You know that acronym boss
can also come off, you know, like kind of cocky,
but I was like, well, I like that acronym for
a woman standing in her boldness but also being soft,
also the old You have to be optimistic in life,
(22:33):
you know what I'm saying, And so being a business owner,
being able to communicate and reason, you have to have
some type of optimism about yourself. And then of course, uh.
Speaker 5 (22:46):
I'm sorry, no, I said, that's for sure, and you know, uh,
just the strength, because I have multiple acronyms for being
a boss, having strength, being savvy.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
That's all encompassing of being a boss and owning a business.
And I can tell you so many funny stories and
how I know this works because when I first started
this business, no one knew me as Makiba. So I
had to be savvy. I had to be strategic in
(23:22):
being a boss. So for four to five years on
my website, the name Mkiva wasn't on my website. It
was my initials M. L. Waller because I knew in
the early nineties mckibah was not going to get me
in the door with that name. So I had to
strategic because mckivah, of course is an African name, and
(23:45):
so yes, that day before. This is the boldness that
I try to explain to the people that I'm mentoring,
mentoring and coaching. Back in the day before it was
Google and all of this stuff, and and every all
the ads for certain jobs were in newspapers, I would
(24:06):
I would bypass human resources and go directly to radiology.
That's being bowld. Yes, being a boss, that's being savvy.
And I would say, hi, is your medical director in
and they would basically say, well, do you have an appointment? No,
but this will only take about two minutes of his time.
And that allowed me to begin to get these multiple
(24:29):
contracts within the df W area. Just savvy like that.
It's it's a it's it's a requirement, not just being
a woman, but being a black woman. You have to
think a little outside of the boxing. Tell yeah, and yes,
it has served me well, it has.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
You know, the only thing stopping us from moving forward
is ourselves and the and the things that we do
tell ourselves. And I've experienced that and everything that you say,
I can attest to it.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
You know it.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
You know, if you knew me a few years ago
when I started, it wasn't I'm not the same person
I am today. But it's a testament to the things
that you are talking about. We've grown through this process,
you know, we don't start knowing these things you Like
you said, you have to be savvy, you have to
be strategic. You have to put yourself in places where
(25:24):
you are going to be uncomfortable and it's okay, just
learn from that environment.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
Yes, so can I ask that?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
And when you're going into those environments, we have to
realize that no does not mean no all the time.
No sometimes means not right now. But when the nose
and the doors will be slammed in my face, I
would say, oh, I'm coming back because it's going to
(25:55):
resec up. You're gonna you're gonna find out that that
I know that you got that one clinic or that
one doctor's office. As long as they have your business car,
you can come back. Give it a year, give it
six months. So don't ever, as a business owner, take
the word no as something bad or negative, because usually
it's not. It's just not right.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
That's that's the fact.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
I've learned that listening to Lis Brown, He's talked about
you know, I think he was doing a sale. He
was a salesman at the time, and he had so
many doors slammed in his face, slammed in his face
until he got that one yes, and he was so ecstatic,
you know. And it shows you that a lot of
times you don't see the journey a person is taken.
(26:40):
You see when they've you know, gotten that one big break.
You see them, you know, at the time where they've
already they've already gone through those nos, you know, but
the no too, like because I had to learn that
it's not personal. I used to take them personal because
I wasn't mature enough to understand business. I wasn't under
(27:01):
mature enough to understand it's not about me at that moment.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
It's just like you said, not right now exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
So, you own multiple businesses including ultrasound Imaging concepts LS
and ultraView Imaging. How do you approach leadership scaling your
businesses while staying true to your passion.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
And tell us what's the difference. What's the difference between
those two businesses?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Okay, one part of the business is the brick and mortar. Oh,
that's when that's when patients can come directly into the
facility to have an ultrasound. The other part of the
business is staff in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, federal prisons
with so it's more on the mobile side.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
Okay, that's the ultra view.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
That's the ultra view imaging brick and mortar.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Okay, okay, okay.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Yeah, but what was the first part of your question?
Speaker 2 (28:05):
So I was saying, tell us how you scale your
business while staying true to your passion.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Well, that is a super good, super good question. I
had three business in three different areas. I had one
business in Tennessee and two in Texas, and I was
young and on fire, and I have to be honest.
(28:37):
My husband he had to pull me in, rear me
back in because that's where the balance came in. And
I was just moving, moving, moving, moving, moving. And what
I've realized today that if it's keeping me away from
my family, if it's making me unhappy, I don't want
(28:59):
any part of it. Because you can make all the
money in the world and not be happy. And so
closing two of those companies has saved me a lot
of heartache and a lot of time. And so that
that's what I would say, if it's not making you happy,
it's keeping you away from your family, let it go.
It's time to scale, it's time to let go. And
(29:21):
that's what I did. And so now even with my schedule,
because that's when you are a business owner. And for myself,
how it began, it was hard for me to trust
anyone because I did not have anyone in the space
that looked like me, and so it was very, very
(29:43):
difficult when I was dealing with competitors that were calling
the FDA and it's different things like that. So it
cost me to kind of close myself off. But with time,
what I realize is that even when you need to scale,
or even when you need to close, what's for you
(30:05):
is for you, and what's for your competitors, it's for
your competitors. But managing but managing my schedule, the way
that I'm managing managing my schedule is so much better.
It's allowed me to have more self self care, you know,
go to events when I want to go to events,
(30:27):
versus working steps not knowing when to cut it off
because I was working then coming home and taking this
the business with me home, and it can frustrate a
husband or our wife if you do that. But I
it was ridiculous. But I'm better now.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
Yeah, I received what you said. I completely get it.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I remember you know some of the challenges we may
face as business owners too, scaling. We may we don't
understand the importance of a team, you know, especially when
we're just starting out, and that's kind of what affords
you the opportunity to spend the time with the people
(31:09):
that value most. And like you said, it can it
can disrupt your fine family dynamic if you're not doing that.
And thankfully you know to your husband that you know
he he is, that he's able to bring that balance
for you because as you and I I think we
have the same kind of temperament. We'll just move, keep moving,
(31:31):
and if we have that one person be like, hey,
pull it back.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
A little bit. Yes, And we need to be open
to listen too.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
We have to be open to listening, Sorenette, Can.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
I be really transparent with you and your audience? Yeah,
it's always the listener. I didn't listen, okay, and so
I was very much out of balance. And that's why
I like to share my truth with people. I was
not listening. And when you are married and you are
(32:07):
in a business, it's power in agreement. Okay, So my
business in Tennessee, it's not that my husband did not
want me to start that business. The timing was not
right for the business. But I had chirped at him
so much until he just was like, just do it.
And I made a lot of money in that business,
(32:29):
but I can never recoup the three years that I
lost for my youngest son. And so no, I wasn't
always a great listener. It took a lot of getting
slapped in a face, like the dealing with the people
in that part of Tennessee. It was a true learning experience.
(32:50):
But with growth, I can honestly say when my husband
gives me certain advice on certain things, it might I
might be very upset about it.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
But.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
He's on point. He is on point. So I just
want to add that.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
And I appreciate you doing that because it is that
level of transparency, because I don't I will say that sometimes,
you know, in order for people to understand why we're
so calm. Now, I'm high, I'm high strong, I'm a
lot calmer than it. So I appreciate you doing that
because it is a it's a personal development and growth
(33:28):
process that we have to go through. It's like literally
a shedding of your old self to step into this
new person. So thank you, thank you for doing that,
because you are correct.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Correct.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
So what's one book or a quote or a piece
of advice that has profoundly impacted your journey.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Let's see that's profoundly. I'll give you one. And I
even wrote these books. I have several books that i'm reading.
It's one book that I'm reading. It's called Practice, Practice,
The Presence of People. It's a powerful book, and the
Practice the Presence of People, the gist of this book
(34:24):
is basically about being selfless, putting others before yourself. It's
a very very very powerful book. And when you understand
the power of there used to be some billboards back
in the day that says I am second. And when
you understand what the cross means, it means dying to self.
(34:49):
And when you're able to die to self, you are
able to allow others to move ahead. It's it's such
a it's such a great book. And uh, that's that's
what I'm on right now.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
I love that I wrote that.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
It's a quote. It's a quote that I have, but
I can't even think of it right now because you
ask me.
Speaker 5 (35:13):
I know it is okay what you shared.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
I love what you share.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
But you know, the you know, selfless service, it's really
it really takes work because it's not very difficult to
just focus on self, right and I am that is
something that I'm actually making sure that I'm paying attention to.
You know, who am I really serving? Am I serving me?
(35:40):
Or am I serving my audience? And if I'm not
serving my audience, how can I better serve them? It's
a conversation, It's a dialogue you will have if your
heart is really in the right place. So I appreciate
you sharing that. So this is this was really an
inspiring conversation.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
I knew I had to have.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
You on OLG.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Yes, So from your journey as a Navy veteran to
your empowering mission and you know now you're empoisering women
to be bosses. You're living proof that's stepping into your person.
Embracing your boldness can transform your life, but not just
(36:26):
your life, but you know the lives of others. So
thank you for sharing your wisdom, your experiences, and the
power of owning your future. So I have one more question,
and I think you already answered it throughout your you
know what, I want you to put it just plainy
because I'm gonna ask you. So, what does living unapologetically
(36:47):
beyond the uniform mean to you?
Speaker 3 (36:51):
It means living out loud so that you can leave
a legacy, not just for your children, but for your
children's children. That's what my life is about, setting up
a legacy for my grands and my children, and it
makes me feel good. It's just as much as my
(37:15):
father was able to leave land for us that goes
on and on. So that's what it's about, the legacy
that I will be leaving for my children and my
children's children.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
You know what, you just spoke to something I learned
this weekend. You literally just did. I was at the
Flourished Media conference this weekend and I learned that what
we do today impacts seven seven generations later. You just
spoke to that. So thank you, Thank you for that.
So please tell the listeners how they can find you,
(37:51):
how they can connect with you. Yes, tell them because
they need to hear it.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
Well, right, you can find me on Instagram at the
Ultrasound Imaging Coach. You can find me also on TikTok
at the Ultrasound Imaging Coach where I met Renee, and
on my website. You can go to Ultraviewimaging dot com
and read up all about myself, my husband and the
(38:20):
rest of my team. And we'll rebranding, so don't be
surprised if you see something new.
Speaker 4 (38:26):
Yes, your website is amazing.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
I went on there.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
That's where I learned about five weeks.
Speaker 4 (38:31):
Yes, because I was not previous.
Speaker 5 (38:34):
I didn't it's like taking a picture.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Oh, but we're rebranding, so this website, the new one,
is gonna even be better nice I will be.
Speaker 4 (38:46):
I will be checking it out.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
So to all my listeners, if you've been inspired by
today's conversation with Makiba Waller, don't keep this to yourself.
Share this episode tag us and let's continue continue this conversation.
Remember you have the power to own your transition and
create the.
Speaker 4 (39:08):
Life you deserve.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Until next time, keep living unapologetically beyond the Uniform and
I will see you in the next episode.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
This has been Living Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform with your
host Renee Jones Hudson. We hope you found inspiration and
valuable insights in today's episode. Remember your journey of redefining, rediscovering,
and reaffirming your life post military is unique and powerful.
Stay connected with us for more stories, advice, and support.
(39:46):
Until next time, stay strong and stay empowered. Listen Friday's
eleven am Eastern on the Bold Brave TV Network, powered
by B two Studios at
Are you a transitioning military or veteran woman looking for support, guidance,
and inspiration. You've come to the right place. Welcome to
Living Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform with your host, Renee Jones Hudson.
Renee brings powerful stories, practical advice, and expert insights to
help you redifine, rediscover, and reaffirm your life after military service,
(00:54):
whether navigating a career change, seeking personal growth, or focusing
on your well being. Here to empower you every step
of the way. So welcome the host of Living Unapologetically
Beyond the Uniform, Renee Jones Hudson. Let's embark on this
journey together.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Good morning everyone, Welcome back to another empowering episode of
Living Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform. I'm your host, Renee Jones Hudson,
and today we have another incredible guest. I love my
guests because there's so much energy behind you know, our conversations.
She is someone who embodies resilience, leadership, and just the
(01:42):
power of stepping into your purpose. My guest today is
none other than Miss Mackievo Waller. She is a US
Navy veteran and a business and life coach. She's also
the visionary behind Bosses and Scrubs Academy. She's on a
mission to help women break free from feeling overworked, undervalued,
(02:05):
and frustrated. And she is doing this in a unique way,
which is why I wanted her on the show today.
I caught a glimpse of her on TikTok and I
was like, I just gotta have her.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Come on.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
So stay tuned and I want you to just listening
to Miss Makiba. She's got over thirty one years of
business experience. She's not just a powerhouse though, she's an
a true bridge builder in her community. She connects, she collaborates,
and she shares her resources to uplift others. So, if
(02:38):
you're ready to embrace your boss mindset, which is boss, bold, original,
smart and successful, this is going to be the conversation
for you. So let's welcome Miss Makiba to the show.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, I'm so excited to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yes, I'm excited to have you. I'm excited to have you.
So before we dive into our conversation, just tell our
guests who you are and from your time your in
service to becoming an entrepreneur and some of the pivotal
moments that led you to this point.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Fantastic Well again, I am Akiva Waller, residing here in
the great State, the Mighty State of Texas, and I
joined the military in nineteen eighty eight as a young
lady Heilen from Beaumont, Texas. I didn't go into the
military because I had to go. I made a choice
(03:42):
to go into the military in nineteen eighty eight. I
can say was very unique about myself is I am
the only female veteran on both sides of my family.
And I started my career in Florida. It's no longer
a base in Florida for boot camp for females. And
(04:03):
originally I was going to the Navy to become a radiologist,
so my goal was to become a doctor in the Navy.
After boot camp and all these different things like that,
I ended up being on a ship and lost my school.
So I had to kind of reinvent myself, take a
(04:25):
lot of courses, and I became a hospital corman to
my demise. Unfortunately, while I was a young nineteen year
old girl on a ship, I encountered some heavy, heavy
sexual harassment that it changed the course of my career
(04:47):
in the Navy. But as always a ram in a bush,
God provided me with an amazing master chief that heard
my story and he believed everything that I said in
regards to this sexual harassment that I had, and from
that moment he basically he told me what I needed
to do. And at that time, in the late eighties
(05:08):
and early nineties, it was a lot of fear. I'm
sure today is a lot different dealing with sexual harassment,
but as a young African American young woman during that time,
it was frightening and I had no one to turn to,
but I did have someone that believed me. Fast forward,
of course, I met my husband. We've been married for
(05:29):
thirty one years and we have three amazing sons, three
grandchildren that I'm so proud of. And I ended up
being stationed in Campa June, North Carolina. My husband is
a former Marine, and while there, I started maxing out
on advancing exams and at the time, they needed more
minority nurses and doctors. At that time doing Desert Storm,
(05:52):
it was such a rapid increase of expecting mothers, dependent wives,
and military women getting pregnant trying not to go into
the war. At the time, I was a doctor, and
it was a doctor who ironically lives here in North Texas.
With me was a young lieutenant and he said, hey,
let me teach you how to do ultrasounds. I had
(06:14):
no idea what ultrasounds were. And if you didn't know
your navy, lady, the acronym for navy is never again,
volunteer yourself that opportunity. I decided to volunteer myself. Excuse me,
I decided to volunteer myself. And I was self taught
how to do ultrasounds when I was stationed with the
(06:37):
Marines in North Carolina and at that time, by me
maxing out my advancement exams, I and about ten other
minorities was picked up to go to medical school. But
unfortunately for me, I didn't have a lot of people
who looked like me that said this would be a
great opportunity. I had people who didn't look like me
(06:58):
and said, you know what, young lady, the military is
not the same. If I were you, I would just
get out and you become you do that ultrasound work.
And it was only two people that encouraged me was
to stay in on this opportunity to go to medical school.
It was the doctor who trained me to do ultrasounds
and my mother, my husband. He was like, no, I'm
(07:18):
not gonna make that decision. But nevertheless, fast forward to today,
I took that opportunity. I got out, made myself more marketable,
and learned all modalities of ultrasounds. Because I was a
corman in the Navy, I challenged the nursing boards and
also bypassed going to nursing school and was able to
accomplish getting my LPN license as well. And I began
(07:40):
to work as a sonographer as well. And I must
say I was dealing with some microaggressions in some of
the local hospitals because at the time, as a black
woman in this spell called sonography, we were less than
one percent than were a sonography. And I just felt
(08:00):
the need that, you know, if I was going to
be discriminated against and deal with microaggression microaggressions, I would
just start my own ultrasound company. So this may would
be twenty five years that I've been in business for myself.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Wow, that is so impressive. That is really what grew
me to you. I was on TikTok and just you
know this is so I try to find my guests
from different platforms and yours. I was like ultrasound, Like
I looked at you know, I've been on the other.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
End of the ultrasound, so but.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
When talking and you know, you explaining different forms. And
then I went on your website. I'd never known there
was a five D ultrasound, you know, so just you know,
being educated. So that was what drew the I'm curious
by nature, So I was pulled in and I was like,
people need to.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
Know this because I'll say.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
That I would never have thought to go into ultrasound
as a business, right, You've always seen it in one setting.
And the fact that he opened up an academy to
teach people. And this is what I love about it
is because from the military, you've garnered so many skills,
(09:15):
so many of which many of us.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Are not tapping into.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
And like, I think your skills are absolutely unique, the
fact to the point where you're teaching it in an academy, right,
So that's what I was truly drawn into. I like,
I was I was inspired. I was like, WHOA, she's
really doing this, you know, yes, So with that, you know,
(09:42):
many women struggle with stepping into their power after feeling undervalued,
and you give so many examples of that, and you
know we all face that to some degree at different phases,
at different times in our lives. You know, even now,
you know, how did you how did you navigate that?
You touched on it a little bit, but how did
(10:03):
you navigate that to say, you know what, I'm going
to open my own business, you know, because some of
us would just pull back.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
You know, some of us we don't speak up and we.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Don't we don't have that drive or energy really to say,
you know what, I'm just going to do it, do
it on my own.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
So how did you navigate that?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
And what advice would you get to anyone that's going
through that same process.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Well, I would say the beginning of that came from upbringing.
My mom was an entrepreneur. My mom owned a salon,
and I also have to give a lot of credit
to my father as well. You know, he passed, you know,
a couple of years ago. But my father retired at
fifty years old. He was a good steward of his money.
(10:52):
He owned land, and he was just a jack of
all trades. So that being that they were born in
nineteen forty four and they had the grit to want
to become entrepreneurs and land owners was a part of it,
and also my faith as well, my parents, especially my
(11:12):
mother and excuse my phone in it instilled a lot
in us about believing in oneself, and so to believe
in yourself is an incredible thing. So I've always had
that self assurance of belief in myself, and I've always
traveled the road less travel, you know, and I felt
comfortable traveling that role. Let's travel, and I'm fearless, you know,
(11:35):
just like less Brown says, for whatever you want, you
have to be hungry. And so it didn't matter what
anyone thought or what if someone would say, well, if
I were you, I wouldn't do that. That would that
would push me more to at least give it a try,
because if you don't try it, how would you even
know that it.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Was to see?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
So what would you say to the woman though that
doesn't have that great They didn't come up with that upbringing,
you know, And I know some of it's innate, you
know really, but like what about that female who's you know,
they don't have that kind of background, you know, that
kind of example I should say, and that, you know,
(12:19):
know how that grit to say, you know what, I'm
gonna try it anyway, Like, how would you encourage that person?
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I think it's important for young women to get in
the room and get at tables with people who know
more than you. Yeah, because when you glean and learn
from others at the table, that's where your power comes in.
And I often tell a lot of young ladies that
I mentor. You show me your five friends, I can
(12:47):
tell you where you're being the next five years. So
you have to surround yourself with people who are not
yes people, but people who would challenge you and see
the greatness in you. And then at that time it's
up to you to decide, well, if she can do it,
I can do it too.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Yeah, you know, I appreciate that, but not a butt.
And you know, sometimes when we do get out, you know,
it's very hard to put.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Yourself in those uncomfortable spaces.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I had to get uncomfortable and I still get uncomfortable now.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
So I do understand that.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
And you spoke to something that I think is very
important and in a great way to give back to
our community, which is mentorship, you know, and really starting
young I mentor seventh and eighth grade girls, and it's
the most rewarding thing to know that I can pour
into them. But on the flip side of that, I learn,
(13:43):
I'm learning ways to navigate that age group, which helps
me in turn, you know, in a many way. You
know how I approach things because you you know, that's
very young. But to instill these values, that's the age
I really do believe you start.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Making an packed you know.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
And the other thing about the mentorship when we get out,
we need that, you know, we really do need that.
As much as I was an officer coming from a military,
I was still lost. I was still isolating. I was
still not putting myself in those spaces that you talked about.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
That is so amazing. Why you're kids, You're amazing.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Okay, So you created I'm sorry, I'm a little's goofy it.
So you created Bosses and Scrubs Academy. Can you share
an inspiration behind it and how it helps women take
control of their careers?
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Fantastic? So, Bosses and Scrubbs Academy is an academy that
I formed because I had so many women approaching me
on how to start an ultrasound company, and I had
people kind of I hate to use the are stalking me.
This one girl who's on my website, she says she
stalked me for a while on LinkedIn, and it's it
(15:07):
basically helps them navigate the pros and cons on how
to start a business successfully, whether or not it's a
mobile ultrasound company, because it's a three tier company. So
whether or not you want to just do mobile ultrasounds
and not have a brick and mortar, or whether or
not you want to have a brick and mortar, or
I'll teach you how to get government contracts because I
(15:29):
have a team of girls that go on the inside
of the federal prison and do ultrasounds there. And so
it's about training sonographers who want to step outside of
the nine to five. And what I also want to
incorporate into my coaching academy is it's bigger on an
(15:51):
ultrasound company. It's bigger than just the dollar sign. So
when people come into my office, it's about looking at
the heart of mankind when they come in. So just
kind of going back to what you said about mentorship
or speaking life into someone. So if an expected mom
comes into my office with a lot of anxiety or whatever,
(16:15):
the case may be. I tell my patience, you begin
to speak to the essence of your baby while your
baby is yet in utero. You begin to tell the
baby that you are wise, you are healthy, you are strong.
So you can't wait until the baby comes out of
the womb. You have to begin to put this substance
(16:37):
inside your baby while it's yet in the womb. And
I generally give this analogy here. If you are in
a grocery store and you start a creepy man in
a grocery store or a gas station, he didn't tell
you what he was a creep It was his essence,
his spirit. So just as powerful as that is when
(16:59):
you have your baby in utero, you speak to the
essence of that thing. And that's what mentorship. So mentorship
starts in the womb. To me, it starts when patients
come into my office if they're not expecting a baby,
it starts right at my front desk. And so as
a business owner, it's bigger than just money. It's about
the impact. I look at my business as a ministry
(17:22):
to impact anyone, whether or not you yellow, brown, black,
or white. Anyone who comes into my office, they're coming
into my office not by coincidence, because they could have
went to any facility. So anyone who wants to lean
from this academy. That's a part of the things that
I discussed with them.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Oh man, you said a whole lot, and I felt
that you said a whole line.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Wow, that is who That is amazing.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
So as a business coach, what are some of the
what are the mindset blocks you see in that holds
women back from success? And how do you break help
them break free from those blocks because we.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Go through those Yes again, getting in a room with
someone to mentor you destroying the imposter syndrome. Instead of
calling something hard, this is hard, let's change that and
(18:29):
say this is a little challenging. So changing what comes
out of one's mouth. Currently, I'm mentoring. I have a
college that's sending me students. So I have a student
and this it goes right into business. And so she's
getting ready to prepare for her boards for sonography and
she had all this self doubt and I said, well,
(18:51):
let me give you something that will encourage you, that
encourages me. I wrote on a sticky, I have passed
my test on February to twenty second, not my will
but I have passed. You stick that on your your dashboard.
So even though from the home that I live in,
from the car that I have, I speak and I
(19:14):
pray over those things. Oh this this is gonna be mine.
And you put action behind the words that comes out
of your mouth.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
Yes you know. I learned that and I got a coach.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
It's about speaking into speaking the things you want into
existence and believing.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
But all of that.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Does you do have to act, You do have to
take action. It's not just going to show up because
you you wrote it down and because you say you
know everything, it all aligns. Everything plays a part in
you achieving that. So thank you for sharing that.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
So go ahead.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
So do you okay, I'm sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Oh you're fine, You're fine.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
You you are fine. So being a builder in your community,
you are, like you said, you're constantly pouring to others.
How do you stay fueled and motivated while balancing so
many rules?
Speaker 3 (20:17):
For one, like I said, I've been married for thirty
one years and he has been a blessing. He has
helped me. My husband has helped me to become a
better person, a better me. And to also add to that,
my faith is very very important, and I'm very unapologetic
(20:40):
about who I am when it comes to my faith
and my belief. And then you know, besides that, you know,
I read a lot an I'm an avid reader. I
squeeze time in to read, but I spend I mean,
I might be driving, I'm renee in my car, and
I swear people might be thinking I'm talking to myself,
but I'm talking to three people. I really am three
(21:03):
people in the car with me, and that's the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And I'm talking that
That fuse me. It helps me to start my day
and and and that's what it sustains me. It sustains me.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
It makes me who I am. Yeah, you really.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Do have something.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
You do have to have something that's driving you your
why you know.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
And then for.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
You, you know, you said this several times. Your faith is
a big part of who you are and you know
and how you move forward with in life. So I
appreciate you sharing that. So I love your acronm boss
for many reasons.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
But can you break down for us and share how.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Women can embody each of these traits in their journey.
It's bold, original, smart, and success successful. So share your
your share, your you know.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Your take behind that and why you created that.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Yes, for being the boss. You know that acronym boss
can also come off, you know, like kind of cocky,
but I was like, well, I like that acronym for
a woman standing in her boldness but also being soft,
also the old You have to be optimistic in life,
(22:33):
you know what I'm saying, And so being a business owner,
being able to communicate and reason, you have to have
some type of optimism about yourself. And then of course, uh.
Speaker 5 (22:46):
I'm sorry, no, I said, that's for sure, and you know, uh,
just the strength, because I have multiple acronyms for being
a boss, having strength, being savvy.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
That's all encompassing of being a boss and owning a business.
And I can tell you so many funny stories and
how I know this works because when I first started
this business, no one knew me as Makiba. So I
had to be savvy. I had to be strategic in
(23:22):
being a boss. So for four to five years on
my website, the name Mkiva wasn't on my website. It
was my initials M. L. Waller because I knew in
the early nineties mckibah was not going to get me
in the door with that name. So I had to
strategic because mckivah, of course is an African name, and
(23:45):
so yes, that day before. This is the boldness that
I try to explain to the people that I'm mentoring,
mentoring and coaching. Back in the day before it was
Google and all of this stuff, and and every all
the ads for certain jobs were in newspapers, I would
(24:06):
I would bypass human resources and go directly to radiology.
That's being bowld. Yes, being a boss, that's being savvy.
And I would say, hi, is your medical director in
and they would basically say, well, do you have an appointment? No,
but this will only take about two minutes of his time.
And that allowed me to begin to get these multiple
(24:29):
contracts within the df W area. Just savvy like that.
It's it's a it's it's a requirement, not just being
a woman, but being a black woman. You have to
think a little outside of the boxing. Tell yeah, and yes,
it has served me well, it has.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
You know, the only thing stopping us from moving forward
is ourselves and the and the things that we do
tell ourselves. And I've experienced that and everything that you say,
I can attest to it.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
You know it.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
You know, if you knew me a few years ago
when I started, it wasn't I'm not the same person
I am today. But it's a testament to the things
that you are talking about. We've grown through this process,
you know, we don't start knowing these things you Like
you said, you have to be savvy, you have to
be strategic. You have to put yourself in places where
(25:24):
you are going to be uncomfortable and it's okay, just
learn from that environment.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
Yes, so can I ask that?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
And when you're going into those environments, we have to
realize that no does not mean no all the time.
No sometimes means not right now. But when the nose
and the doors will be slammed in my face, I
would say, oh, I'm coming back because it's going to
(25:55):
resec up. You're gonna you're gonna find out that that
I know that you got that one clinic or that
one doctor's office. As long as they have your business car,
you can come back. Give it a year, give it
six months. So don't ever, as a business owner, take
the word no as something bad or negative, because usually
it's not. It's just not right.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
That's that's the fact.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
I've learned that listening to Lis Brown, He's talked about
you know, I think he was doing a sale. He
was a salesman at the time, and he had so
many doors slammed in his face, slammed in his face
until he got that one yes, and he was so ecstatic,
you know. And it shows you that a lot of
times you don't see the journey a person is taken.
(26:40):
You see when they've you know, gotten that one big break.
You see them, you know, at the time where they've
already they've already gone through those nos, you know, but
the no too, like because I had to learn that
it's not personal. I used to take them personal because
I wasn't mature enough to understand business. I wasn't under
(27:01):
mature enough to understand it's not about me at that moment.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
It's just like you said, not right now exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
So, you own multiple businesses including ultrasound Imaging concepts LS
and ultraView Imaging. How do you approach leadership scaling your
businesses while staying true to your passion.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
And tell us what's the difference. What's the difference between
those two businesses?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Okay, one part of the business is the brick and mortar. Oh,
that's when that's when patients can come directly into the
facility to have an ultrasound. The other part of the
business is staff in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, federal prisons
with so it's more on the mobile side.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
Okay, that's the ultra view.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
That's the ultra view imaging brick and mortar.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Okay, okay, okay.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Yeah, but what was the first part of your question?
Speaker 2 (28:05):
So I was saying, tell us how you scale your
business while staying true to your passion.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Well, that is a super good, super good question. I
had three business in three different areas. I had one
business in Tennessee and two in Texas, and I was
young and on fire, and I have to be honest.
(28:37):
My husband he had to pull me in, rear me
back in because that's where the balance came in. And
I was just moving, moving, moving, moving, moving. And what
I've realized today that if it's keeping me away from
my family, if it's making me unhappy, I don't want
(28:59):
any part of it. Because you can make all the
money in the world and not be happy. And so
closing two of those companies has saved me a lot
of heartache and a lot of time. And so that
that's what I would say, if it's not making you happy,
it's keeping you away from your family, let it go.
It's time to scale, it's time to let go. And
(29:21):
that's what I did. And so now even with my schedule,
because that's when you are a business owner. And for myself,
how it began, it was hard for me to trust
anyone because I did not have anyone in the space
that looked like me, and so it was very, very
(29:43):
difficult when I was dealing with competitors that were calling
the FDA and it's different things like that. So it
cost me to kind of close myself off. But with time,
what I realize is that even when you need to scale,
or even when you need to close, what's for you
(30:05):
is for you, and what's for your competitors, it's for
your competitors. But managing but managing my schedule, the way
that I'm managing managing my schedule is so much better.
It's allowed me to have more self self care, you know,
go to events when I want to go to events,
(30:27):
versus working steps not knowing when to cut it off
because I was working then coming home and taking this
the business with me home, and it can frustrate a
husband or our wife if you do that. But I
it was ridiculous. But I'm better now.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
Yeah, I received what you said. I completely get it.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I remember you know some of the challenges we may
face as business owners too, scaling. We may we don't
understand the importance of a team, you know, especially when
we're just starting out, and that's kind of what affords
you the opportunity to spend the time with the people
(31:09):
that value most. And like you said, it can it
can disrupt your fine family dynamic if you're not doing that.
And thankfully you know to your husband that you know
he he is, that he's able to bring that balance
for you because as you and I I think we
have the same kind of temperament. We'll just move, keep moving,
(31:31):
and if we have that one person be like, hey,
pull it back.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
A little bit. Yes, And we need to be open
to listen too.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
We have to be open to listening, Sorenette, Can.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
I be really transparent with you and your audience? Yeah,
it's always the listener. I didn't listen, okay, and so
I was very much out of balance. And that's why
I like to share my truth with people. I was
not listening. And when you are married and you are
(32:07):
in a business, it's power in agreement. Okay, So my
business in Tennessee, it's not that my husband did not
want me to start that business. The timing was not
right for the business. But I had chirped at him
so much until he just was like, just do it.
And I made a lot of money in that business,
(32:29):
but I can never recoup the three years that I
lost for my youngest son. And so no, I wasn't
always a great listener. It took a lot of getting
slapped in a face, like the dealing with the people
in that part of Tennessee. It was a true learning experience.
(32:50):
But with growth, I can honestly say when my husband
gives me certain advice on certain things, it might I
might be very upset about it.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
But.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
He's on point. He is on point. So I just
want to add that.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
And I appreciate you doing that because it is that
level of transparency, because I don't I will say that sometimes,
you know, in order for people to understand why we're
so calm. Now, I'm high, I'm high strong, I'm a
lot calmer than it. So I appreciate you doing that
because it is a it's a personal development and growth
(33:28):
process that we have to go through. It's like literally
a shedding of your old self to step into this
new person. So thank you, thank you for doing that,
because you are correct.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Correct.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
So what's one book or a quote or a piece
of advice that has profoundly impacted your journey.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Let's see that's profoundly. I'll give you one. And I
even wrote these books. I have several books that i'm reading.
It's one book that I'm reading. It's called Practice, Practice,
The Presence of People. It's a powerful book, and the
Practice the Presence of People, the gist of this book
(34:24):
is basically about being selfless, putting others before yourself. It's
a very very very powerful book. And when you understand
the power of there used to be some billboards back
in the day that says I am second. And when
you understand what the cross means, it means dying to self.
(34:49):
And when you're able to die to self, you are
able to allow others to move ahead. It's it's such
a it's such a great book. And uh, that's that's
what I'm on right now.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
I love that I wrote that.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
It's a quote. It's a quote that I have, but
I can't even think of it right now because you
ask me.
Speaker 5 (35:13):
I know it is okay what you shared.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
I love what you share.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
But you know, the you know, selfless service, it's really
it really takes work because it's not very difficult to
just focus on self, right and I am that is
something that I'm actually making sure that I'm paying attention to.
You know, who am I really serving? Am I serving me?
(35:40):
Or am I serving my audience? And if I'm not
serving my audience, how can I better serve them? It's
a conversation, It's a dialogue you will have if your
heart is really in the right place. So I appreciate
you sharing that. So this is this was really an
inspiring conversation.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
I knew I had to have.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
You on OLG.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Yes, So from your journey as a Navy veteran to
your empowering mission and you know now you're empoisering women
to be bosses. You're living proof that's stepping into your person.
Embracing your boldness can transform your life, but not just
(36:26):
your life, but you know the lives of others. So
thank you for sharing your wisdom, your experiences, and the
power of owning your future. So I have one more question,
and I think you already answered it throughout your you
know what, I want you to put it just plainy
because I'm gonna ask you. So, what does living unapologetically
(36:47):
beyond the uniform mean to you?
Speaker 3 (36:51):
It means living out loud so that you can leave
a legacy, not just for your children, but for your
children's children. That's what my life is about, setting up
a legacy for my grands and my children, and it
makes me feel good. It's just as much as my
(37:15):
father was able to leave land for us that goes
on and on. So that's what it's about, the legacy
that I will be leaving for my children and my
children's children.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
You know what, you just spoke to something I learned
this weekend. You literally just did. I was at the
Flourished Media conference this weekend and I learned that what
we do today impacts seven seven generations later. You just
spoke to that. So thank you, Thank you for that.
So please tell the listeners how they can find you,
(37:51):
how they can connect with you. Yes, tell them because
they need to hear it.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
Well, right, you can find me on Instagram at the
Ultrasound Imaging Coach. You can find me also on TikTok
at the Ultrasound Imaging Coach where I met Renee, and
on my website. You can go to Ultraviewimaging dot com
and read up all about myself, my husband and the
(38:20):
rest of my team. And we'll rebranding, so don't be
surprised if you see something new.
Speaker 4 (38:26):
Yes, your website is amazing.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
I went on there.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
That's where I learned about five weeks.
Speaker 4 (38:31):
Yes, because I was not previous.
Speaker 5 (38:34):
I didn't it's like taking a picture.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Oh, but we're rebranding, so this website, the new one,
is gonna even be better nice I will be.
Speaker 4 (38:46):
I will be checking it out.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
So to all my listeners, if you've been inspired by
today's conversation with Makiba Waller, don't keep this to yourself.
Share this episode tag us and let's continue continue this conversation.
Remember you have the power to own your transition and
create the.
Speaker 4 (39:08):
Life you deserve.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Until next time, keep living unapologetically beyond the Uniform and
I will see you in the next episode.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
This has been Living Unapologetically Beyond the Uniform with your
host Renee Jones Hudson. We hope you found inspiration and
valuable insights in today's episode. Remember your journey of redefining, rediscovering,
and reaffirming your life post military is unique and powerful.
Stay connected with us for more stories, advice, and support.
(39:46):
Until next time, stay strong and stay empowered. Listen Friday's
eleven am Eastern on the Bold Brave TV Network, powered
by B two Studios at
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