Insights From Denise Dudley

Written by Michelle Monier

Earlier this month, Dr. Denise Dudley presented to the Women in Business Leadership Academy (WBLA) on the importance of first impressions. She spoke to the concept that people form conclusions about others within the first few seconds of meeting them.  From the start, Dudley exemplified the values at the core of Women in Business. A psychologist, communication coach, and founder and former CEO of SkillPath Seminars, Dudley has not only excelled in male-dominated fields but also in the innovative territories of entrepreneurship and authorship. 

In a one-on-one conversation following the presentation, Dudley shared insights relevant to students' disciplines, particularly women entering business and leadership roles. 

Navigating the Corporate World

After climbing the corporate ladder to become a Senior VP, Dudley saw a gap in the market and a flaw in corporate culture. Failure, she emphasized, often creates the pathway for success. In Dudley’s experience, witnessing a structural failure at her previous firm provided the impetus she needed to launch her own venture: SkillPath Seminars. 

“I knew the industry, but our founding goals were unusual,” Dudley shared. “We had to balance the money (fully self-funded) and creating something that was the right thing to do.” 

SkillPath Seminars grew rapidly, reaching over 350 employees, more than two hundred million in annual sales, and hosting over 18,000 seminars a year. At the same time, Dudley remained committed to cultivating an inclusive workspace culture, intentionally guarding the politics and diversity of her staff. She maintained a simple rule:  “You were going to be nice with everyone you work with,” regardless of backgrounds and perspectives.

Prior to the challenges of starting her own company, Dudley also had to face the hardships of being a senior female executive. Sexual harassment was commonplace when Dudley entered the corporate world, and women faced a dilemma of career growth and playing the “flirtation game.” “I was the only female and youngest person to hold my position as Clinical Director of a large corporation of psychiatric hospitals, and it was very hard to be listened to, and not be ignored,” Dudley said. She described the pressure to find a “middle balance” between professionalism and avoiding being perceived as too threatening.  Her advice was clear: women must support one another and intentionally build mentorship relationships.

(And I will insert the shameless self-promo for WIB here.)

Interviews 101: From AI to In-Person 

With interviews, networking connections, and professional interactions taking place in different mediums, ranging from AI interviews to in-person, Dudley’s advice is increasingly relevant. . She describes the interview process as a “zoom lens,” starting small with AI and widening to in-person.

“Big picture is where you focus,” Dudley said.  “Remain assertive, not looking too passive, own your space, and keep pleasant facial expressions and engaging eye contact.”

AI interviews screen for measurability, not personality. Dudley recommends briefer answers on track with the question, make eye contact, and watch if you tend to wander in peripherals. And then when you zoom out to in-person, you can showcase personality and “sound human and empathic because the last thing a company wants to do is hire someone who doesn’t match with their corporate culture.”

Advice to Her 20-Year-Old Self: “Don’t Sweat It”

College students often feel the crushing pressure to have a perfectly linear career path. Dudley is quick to debunk that myth. “I could tell my story in a manner that will look linear, but the reality is that I was kicking around,” she admitted. 

Her career trajectory was shaped by chance encounters, from an internship that led to an unexpected job to being recruited by a seminar company after speaking at an event in Los Angeles. While these moments may seem serendipitous, Dudley emphasized that they do not diminish the hard work and struggle that it took to succeed. Instead, they illuminate the risks and changes one must embrace. She advises students to find a job and “pay the rent,” but reminds them that the initial job isn’t a life-long commitment. “You can relax and look around, keep an open mind and don’t box yourself in,” she said.

When asked what she would tell her younger self, her response was simple: “Don’t sweat it.” 

“I was a single woman in a very male-dominated world. I bought my own house and did things many single females wouldn’t have done during that time,” she said. “I would remind myself that you're fine, you're on an adventure.” 

Dudley encourages everyone to “turn their tape recorders on,” figuratively speaking, and take time to notice the present moment.. She urges them to appreciate “how cool it is to be here right now, doing this exact thing you’re doing.” Her message served as a reminder that even in busy or stressful seasons, there is meaning and joy in the everyday experience of being a student at Cal Poly.