Victoria “Vic” Houston is a consultant originally NYC who has an MBA from WGU with over 10 years of experience leading cross-functional teams across industries. She is known for being highly effective, technically current, and creative when it comes to developing and implementing scalable systems and procedures. Her leadership style focuses on increasing program efficiency, improving follow-through, and fostering collaboration—especially in complex or high-stakes environments. Thanks to her cross-cultural awareness and people-first mindset, She help teams cut through the noise and deliver real impact.

At my core, Vic is mission-minded leader and transformation strategist with a heart for people and a bias for action. With roots in consulting and a track record of driving change across government and tech, Vic specializes in navigating ambiguity, building culture, and creating outcomes that actually stick. She believes emotionally intelligent leadership is the real flex—and She is all about building community, not just consensus.

The Power of the Pivot: Embracing Change, Building Your Own Table, and Leading with a Strategic Heart with Vic Houston

“If you are not given a seat at the table, take it or go make your own table.”

This bold declaration perfectly encapsulates the leadership philosophy of Victoria “Vic” Beck Houston. A transformation strategist, entrepreneur, and consultant with roots in government and tech, Vic has built a career on navigating ambiguity, advocating for herself, and empowering others to do the same. In this episode of Fixin’ Your Crown, Boo, host JD Johnson sits down with Vic to discuss the art of the career pivot, the necessity of boundaries, and why effective leadership is always personal.

In this conversation, Vic and JD dive deep into:

* The Art of the Career Pivot: Vic shares her journey from an editor to a principal program manager and chief engineer in the government sector in just a year and a half. She reveals her strategy for “moseying your way in” to a company you admire and proving your value to land the role you truly want.

* Leading with a “Strategic Heart”: Vic breaks down her leadership style as a “servant leader with a strategic edge,” balancing empathy with execution. She discusses how she builds trust by leading from behind to let her team shine, while always being ready to step to the front line when tough calls need to be made.

* The Power of “No”: As a self-proclaimed “Queen of No,” Vic explains why setting boundaries is crucial for high performance. She shares practical advice on how to push back with care, ensuring that assertiveness and empathy are not mutually exclusive.

* Creating Your Own Table: Vic discusses the importance of not waiting for permission to advocate for yourself or your community. She shares her experience launching her own business to serve demographics often overlooked by traditional career services, embodying the ethos of building the table you want to sit at.

* The Human Side of Leadership: From “stalking” executives to get answers for her team to creating a culture where people feel safe to vent, Vic emphasizes that leadership is about relationships. She shares how understanding individual motivators (”the WIIFM”) is the key to unlocking a team’s potential.

Why Listen? If you’ve ever felt stuck in a role, hesitated to advocate for yourself, or struggled to balance being a “nice” leader with being an effective one, this episode is for you. Vic’s no-nonsense, heart-centered advice offers a powerful playbook for taking control of your career and leading with authenticity.

Tune in to learn how to pivot with purpose, lead with conviction, and build a career that brings you joy.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jsquaredelevateconsulting.substack.com