Daily Inspiration: Meet Veronica Clark

Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Clark

Hi Veronica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hello, y’all! I’m Veronica Clark, born and raised in Paducah, Kentucky. I grew up running through rows of okra and greens on my family’s vegetable farm, where I learned the value of hard work, resourcefulness, and faith from my parents, sister, grandmother, and a big ol’ village of extended family. Farm life may not have been my forever lane, but it shaped my grit and gave me a solid foundation for everything that followed.

I took that drive with me to the University of Kentucky, and life has since led me on a journey I never could have mapped out. Today, I proudly serve as an APEX Accelerator Counselor with the University of Tennessee, where I help small businesses navigate the often-intimidating world of government contracting.

At the heart of everything I do is a deep belief: when you’ve been given much, you’re called to give back. I don’t take that lightly. I’m committed to making a difference—one business, one connection, one opportunity at a time. My goal? To leave every space, every person, and every situation better than I found it.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Back in 2011, life threw me a curveball when I was laid off from my job at The Tennessean. At the time, it hit hard. I had wrapped so much of my identity in what I did for a living, and suddenly, that part of my world came to a halt. It felt like everything I’d worked for had come crashing down.

But as time went on—and with a whole lot of prayer and reflection—I came to understand that what felt like an ending was really just the beginning of something greater. That season, as tough as it was, taught me to slow down, reevaluate, and truly listen to what God was trying to show me. I call it my valley season. I didn’t know it then, but the mountaintop was coming.

That unexpected detour led me to where I am now—walking in purpose, helping small businesses go after government contracts and build something lasting. What I thought was a loss turned out to be a redirection, a setup for the calling I never saw coming. I’ve learned that the hard moments aren’t meant to break us—they’re often where the real transformation happens.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The work I do isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. As an APEX Accelerator Counselor, I have the privilege of walking alongside small business owners, helping them navigate the world of government contracting and step into opportunities they may have once thought were out of reach. What I’m most proud of is being a part of someone’s breakthrough moment—watching their confidence grow, their vision expand, and their business take flight.

There’s something incredibly powerful about helping people believe in what’s possible. I’m proud to be a guide, a connector, and an advocate—especially for those who have been told “no” one too many times. Knowing that I play even a small role in someone else’s success story—that’s what keeps me going. That’s the work I’m honored to do every single day.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Progress doesn’t happen without a little risk. Growth shows up when we’re willing to step outside of what’s comfortable and say yes to the unknown. Sure, it can be scary—but it’s in those uncertain moments that we find the biggest opportunities to stretch, learn, and grow.

Every time we take a risk, we open ourselves up to a lesson—sometimes it’s a win, and sometimes it’s a wake-up call. But either way, it’s growth. Those experiences—both the triumphs and the tough spots—become the foundation for creativity, for new ways of thinking, for the kind of innovation that moves us forward.

Recently, I read Let Them by Mel Robbins, and it shifted something in me. I realized that sometimes, I’ve hesitated to take a risk—not because I wasn’t capable, but because I was afraid of what people might say. That fear had a grip on me. But now? I’ve decided to let them talk. It’s okay. Their opinions don’t get to hold me hostage. I refuse to let the fear of someone else’s words keep me from walking in my purpose.

Progress doesn’t happen without a little risk. Growth shows up when we’re willing to step outside of what’s comfortable and say yes to the unknown. Sure, it can be scary—but it’s in those uncertain moments that we find the biggest opportunities to stretch, learn, and grow.

Every time we take a risk, we open ourselves up to a lesson—sometimes it’s a win, and sometimes it’s a wake-up call. But either way, it’s growth. Those experiences—both the triumphs and the tough spots—become the foundation for creativity, for new ways of thinking, for the kind of innovation that moves us forward.
If we only ever stay in the safe zone, we miss out on what’s possible. It’s when we lean into the challenge, get a little uncomfortable, and trust the process that we begin to see transformation—not just around us, but within us. Risk and learning go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other, and together, they’re what push us closer to the future we’re meant to build.

Contact Info:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/v-m-clark?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app