Vera Jones
- Thought Leaders • Women in Business
Motivational Speaker · Certified Mediator & Conflict Resolution Trainer · Public Speaking & Career Coaching Specialist
Certified by Three Speaking Institutes
Certified Mediator and Trainer in Conflict Resolution (Mediation Training Institute)
Certified Career Mobility Coach (Randstad RiseSmart)
Certified Virtual Presenter (eSpeakers)
Distinguished Member
National Speakers Association
eSpeakers
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Speaking Topics
- Learn How to Become a Positive Voice for Reconciliation: Acceptance simply by valuing differences.
- Identify Personal Blind Spots: Confronting biases without all the drama and guilt that binds progress towards unity.
- Lead with Clarity and Confidence: An engagement and innovation focus of “I Can.”
- The “How To,” Mindset: Communicating significance and security as primary principles in your organizational, community, or social leadership role.
- Lead Through Adversity: Empathic leadership is needed most.
Vera Jones Bio
Vera Jones is a relatable and often humorous speaker who thrives on empathy and emotional intelligence to connect and inspire. She is also known for her extensive, veteran background in broadcasting, serving over 30 years as a Women’s Basketball Analyst and Reporter for various networks, including ESPN, Fox Sports, Madison Square Garden Network, NBA-TV, and the Big Ten Network. Today Vera can still be seen as the host of the seasonal women’s basketball show Certifies Unscripted and her motivational podcast, Perseverance Live.
Vera is an MTI Certified Mediator and Trainer in Conflict Resolution and Founder of the Perseverance Speaker’s Academy, providing individual and group coaching under the umbrella of Conflict and Communication. In the space of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion she serves as the Past President for Colorful Talks. Vera deeply understands the personal trials of life and seeks to use her gifts of service in her faith-based mission to “help people blinded by life’s fouls trust their vision.”
With the emergence of Vera’s signature, platform speech, Trust Your Vision, in a 2017 Goalcast viral video of 47-million views and counting, Vera has commanded global recognition as an inspirational phenom. Her style is best described as “Inspiring, funny, and relatable” as she passionately moves her audiences towards empathy, significance, service, and purpose. In line with her sports experience and philosophies, she helps individuals and teams “Play Through the Foul” with the power of faith, focus, and fortitude. An accomplished author, Vera’s books also reflect these powerful themes.
She earned her master’s degree from the prestigious Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, where she first developed an interest in the psychology of interpersonal communication.
Additionally, working in the corporate sector for Fortune 500 companies such as Wells Fargo and Procter & Gamble grounded Vera with an empathic understanding of the many fouls that can occur in the workplace. Today, as President of Vera’s VoiceWorks, LLC, she applies her diversified career experiences in leadership training platforms via Play Through the Foul Team Building and Communication Training to help leaders manage seemingly unmanageable workplace conflict.
Personal and organizational Conflict and Communication instruction is available via Vera’s “Classes for Clashes” online coaching course as well as in a more intimate, one-on-one coaching format. In 2023, Vera expanded her corporate coaching reach when she joined forces with Randstad RiseSmart as a Work-Life/Career Development Coach.
author
- Now I See – A Journey of Prophecy, Pain, and Purpose
- Play Through the Foul – Basketball Lessons for the Game of Life
- New Best Friend – A Little Book of Faith
- The Only Sun
- Vera has also co-authored The True Champions 30-Day Challenge, a Christian sports devotional with AJ Ali.
WHY HIRE VERA TO SPEAK AT YOUR NEXT EVENT?
- Vera’s resume includes over a decade as a radio personality at several radio stations from New York to Florida.
- As a single mom with a son with disabilities, Vera deeply understands the personal trials of life.
- Vera’s empathic leadership empowers attendees to become more compassionate and collaborative.
VERA WILL CHALLENGE YOUR AUDIENCE...
In line with her sports experience and philosophies, she helps individuals and teams “Play Through the Foul” with the power of faith, focus, and fortitude. An accomplished author, Vera’s books also reflect these powerful themes.
TRAVELS FROM
Jacksonville, Florida
NOTABLE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS & AWARDS
2023 (May) – Boys & Girls Club of America Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee
2022 (Sept) – National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Hall of Fame Honoree
2018 (Nov) – Syracuse University Letterwinner of Distinction Inductee
2017 (April) – Dawn Staley Award Inaugural Excellence In Broadcasting Award
2008 – National Girls and Women in Sports Lifetime Achievement Award
2002 – Syracuse University Orange Plus Hall of Fame Inductee
1995 – South Carolina Broadcasters Association Personality of the Year
1991 – Master of Science in Television and Radio- Syracuse University
1988 – Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism – Syracuse University
1988 – Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year
FUN FACTS
Vera received the Personality of the Year award from the South Carolina Broadcasters Association for her work as a Disc Jockey- Country radio morning show.
Testimonial
Vera Jones was selected by the committee as the 2023 Keynote for the joint NACAS Central/East regional conference held in Philadelphia on 06/11/23. She was a crowd pleaser, keeping people on the edge of their seats as she incorporated life bits into her discussion and seamlessly tying personal and professional together. The result was a fabulous combination of laughter, emotions, key life pointers and being in awe of her journey to where she is today.Vera is well-spoken and well suited for any audience. The group raved about her and how her keynote address was perfect for our conference.Both myself and Philomen knew that Vera would be a hit and just the right speaker for our audience and would sincerely like to thank Vera for being a part of the 2023 NACAS Central/East joint conference.Dr. Anita Hicks – NACAS Central PresidentPhilomen Allen – NACAS East President
