Meet Vivian
Vivian Slade has spent more than two decades inside the institutions most leadership experts only write about. She began her career on the front lines of North Carolina state government and rose through every level of public human services, from caseworker to trainer to supervisor. Today she serves as a Medicaid division director at a North Carolina county Department of Social Services, leading a division of approximately 120 employees. That climb taught her something the textbooks miss: public service leaders are promoted for technical excellence and then left without the development they need to lead people. Vivian founded Living Life Empowered to close that gap. She holds a Master of Education in Training and Development from NC State University, is completing her Master of Public Administration at UNC Chapel Hill (expected May 2027), and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. A former Chair of the Durham County Women's Commission, she has long been active in developing leaders across her community. Through Living Life Empowered, Vivian has produced the two-day Women in Power conference, delivered a workshop series for emerging leaders, and is authoring Empower to Lead: Redefining Leadership for a New Era.
CREDENTIALS AT A GLANCE
MPA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (expected May 2027). MEd, Training and Development, NC State University. BA, Leadership in the Public Sector, NC State University. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, IISE. Former Chair, Durham County Women's Commission. 20+ years in North Carolina public service.
