I am a multi-faceted individual, which is fully represented in my life experiences, including my career pursuits. One way I used to describe myself was as a "recovering corporate executive on radical sabbatical," having had a successful 30+ year career in marketing, including running a portfolio of brands worth close to $1 billion dollars. I've been a member of SAG/AFTRA performing in various ways since I was three years old. I was a university lecturer, teaching for 13 years at the Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. While there, I piloted two co-curricular self-mastery courses that I created. The data from the IRB-approved study of the transformational quality of the course became the subject of my doctoral dissertation. Today, I'm also a catastrophic-stroke survivor and CEO of The Heartly Center for Mindfulness and Self-Mastery® (formerly The Heart of Living Vibrantly™).
I have a passion for personal development and what I call Self-Mastery, which is about inspiring and guiding people to get out of their own way so they can be the best they can be. I believe in life-long learning and living authentically, which I pursue through ongoing exploration in spirituality, human achievement, personality dynamics, and communication. I received my PhD in Consciousness and Human Potential from Gateway University in 2021. I am a certified Master Trainer, hold certifications in virtual facilitation and in archetype coaching, and have been trained in HeartMath, spiritual direction, Universal Laws, and compassionate communication, and am an Initiate in the Order of the Blue Rose. I have coached young people and executives, mentored homeless women and college students, and taught in corporate universities.
To learn more about the Living 101 and 102 courses at the University of California, Irvine, you can read my full approved and published doctoral dissertation HERE.
LEARN MORE ABOUT The Heartly Center for Mindfulness and Self-Mastery®
_____________________________________________________________________
I also put my perspective on paper, and have authored a couple eBooks, published articles, and co-authored a national best-seller. I've been featured on the August 2016 cover of MY Authentic Life Magazine©, have been published in award-winning 11:11™ Magazine, and I'm a Featured Luminary on InspireMeToday.com™. I've also been featured in numerous radio shows, podcasts and tele-summits.
I'm most proud that on June 8, 2016, I released my self-published book,"Living Happy to Be ME!: Dancing Your Soul Lightsyle©." It reached #1 Best-Seller in four Amazon categories the day it was released, and has since received six awards for excellence and multiple 5-star reviews. The Kindle version is also a #1 International Best-Seller. I'm grateful to know that the book is helping people overcome obstacles and experience more happiness, fulfillment and success. It's available in hard copy and Kindle formats.
LEARN MORE ABOUT Living Happy to Be ME!©
________________________________________________________________
Lastly, though I'm on leave of absence from pursuing acting as a career path for now, it's been fertile ground for self-discovery and creative self-expression since I started acting and dance when I was a toddler. I have performed in school and community theatre, in television, film, commercials, voice-over, and live comedy. You might have seen me delivering the mail as Mail Carrier Carla in an episode of the Emmy-nominated "Hip Hop Harry" on the Discovery Kids channel, recognized me as the voice of Cat on "The Wheels on the Bus," seen me interviewing people at an event as a live correspondent, or performing as a regular cast member of multi-award-winning, OC-based ImprovCity. Through the Screen Actors Guild Foundations' BookPals, I read aloud to fifth graders at Deerfield Elementary School in Irvine, CA weekly for over four years. Click below for my resume, professional portfolio and reels, and to contact me about performance arts.
________________________________________________________________
Wishing you an abundance of all the best life has to offer. Stay well and choose happy!
Dr. Valerie
