Dr. Jackie Walters is more than an inspirational media personality on BravoTV’s reality series “Married to Medicine.” She’s an Atlanta based practicing OBGYN and has been practicing for over 23 years. She’s known around Atlanta as being the go-to OBGYN for a lot of celebrity parents and part of her #BlackGirlMagic is bringing healthy babies into this world.
For Women’s History Month, rolling out spoke with Walters about being a sister with superpowers, her proudest achievement, her views on taking risks and making mistakes and so much more.
As a Black woman, what do you consider your superpower to be?
I possess within me the power to create, nurture and transform. I respect my femininity — not acting like a man — by standing strong and brave and even in tough situations. As that superwoman, I am meek but not weak. I take control of everything around me, including my home, my family, and my work life.
What key skills or qualities make you unique as an African American female leader?
As an African American professional woman, I am often judged on my appearance first, with no account of what I really bring to the table. I have the gift to influence, educate, encourage and inspire others. Also, I have mastered the ability to remain calm in all settings no matter what storms or blessings life may bring.
What thoughtful or encouraging piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self that my subconscious mind and spirit accepts the critical things I tell it as truth. It is also wired to accept the constant positive affirmations that you give it. Understanding that beliefs become thoughts, and thoughts become words, and words become actions which will lead you to your habits, values, and destiny, [I would also tell my younger self to] surround yourself with positive and not negative things, people and places.
Why is it important for women of color to lead or work in leadership roles and decision-making capacities?
It is important for women of color to lead and work in leadership roles and decision-making capacities because often times we have survived and we understand what it takes to stand in unfair settings in the workplace, so much so that we have the abilities to be more unbiased and extremely supportive of others of all races and genders.
If you could thank any Black woman history maker for her contributions to society, who would it be and why?
If I could thank any Black woman history maker for her contributions to society it would be Oprah Winfrey. Just knowing that Oprah Winfrey was also from Mississippi as I am, and has weathered storms in her life and became a woman of such greatness, class and strength, has been one of the driving forces in my life.
How do you feel about the hashtag #CollaborationOverCompetition? What qualities or values do you deem indispensable in your business partners or collaborators?
Collaboration over competition is what we say often in [this] business. There is power in numbers. I’m a firm believer that business partners and collaborators create a team. Where I am weak my collaborators or my business partners are often strong and vice versa.
What are your thoughts on taking risks? Making mistakes?
I strongly believe in taking risks, though it comes with some amount of fear and discomfort. But I understand [that] my biggest risk is not taking a risk. The risk of never experiencing whatever you achieve in life comes from not taking risk. None of my greatest accomplishments have come from a comfort zone. And we’ve all heard [the saying] “nothing beats a failure but a try.”
What are three success habits you implement into your daily routine to maintain your success, sanity, or peace of mind?
A. Preparation B. Prayer C. Planning
As a successful woman in business, what is your greatest or proudest achievement?
My greatest or proudest achievement is having gone back to medical school after taking a detour due to fear and ignorance.
Who is your biggest inspiration? Why?
My biggest inspiration is that my life educates, entertains and inspires others to work hard and maintain peace in tough situations. Seeing other people want to be like me and do the things that I have done makes my self-worth soar.
