Canvas Rebel: Meet Dr. Desirie Sykes

We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Desirie Sykes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dr. Desirie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

One defining moment in my professional career wasn’t a single event, but rather a series of challenges I faced while managing administrative staff and balancing the growth of my businesses, NESS Cares and NESS Behavior Consulting. Early on, I struggled with delegation, learning to trust my team while also wanting to stay intimately involved in every aspect of the business. I had to confront the reality that imagining people would execute perfectly without clear guidance or presence often led to losing some of my strongest team members.

This period was a turning point because it forced me to reflect deeply on leadership, boundaries, and structure. I realized that running multiple organizations and wearing many hats requires intentional systems, clear communication, and a balance between presence and delegation. It also taught me the value of resilience, self-awareness, and prioritizing what truly matters.

From that experience, I learned that leadership isn’t about being everywhere at once, it’s about creating an environment where your team can thrive, providing guidance without micromanaging, and building processes that allow your vision to succeed even when you’re not physically handling every detail. That lesson has profoundly shaped how I lead my teams today and how I mentor others in mental health, special education, and nonprofit work.

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