HERSTORY: Octavia McDougle

MEET OCTAVIA MCDOUGLE...

Octavia McDougle is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. One of her main focuses is making an impact by helping her local South Florida community. One of the ways Octavia accomplishes her mission is by giving back through her business she founded, McDougle Technical Institute.

Octavia founded Beauty Anatomy Institute of Cosmetology and Wellness (BAI) to provide training in Cosmetology, Barbering, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Instructor Training, and Massage Therapy and has the first fully accredited Online Program. Realizing the need of todays busy student Octavia made history and created the First Accredited Online Full Specialty Program approved by the State and Federal Department of Education. The program that took three years to get approved and finally allows aspiring professionals another option to pursue a rewarding career in the multi billion-dollar beauty and wellness industry.

Over $100,000 in scholarships are given out annually to students. One of the main focuses of the school is to prepare the students for gainful employment and also teach them entrepreneurial skills and connect them with local salon and spa owners. Some of Octavia’s additional priorities for the students and staff are the opportunities with their charitable outreach for Thankful Thursday’s where local non-profits including HANDY, Broward County Public Schools and Women In Distress are selected to receive complimentary treatments. She also launched the Beauty of Philanthropy Program to provide services to give people confidence and self-esteem.

Her community involvement has recently been featured on Local 10 as part of their African American Achievers program for Black History Month. Octavia has also been featured in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and Neighbors 4 Neighbors. Octavia was also recognized and awarded a proclamation from Miami Dade County and the Mayor declaring October 13 "The Beauty of Philanthropy Day" for a Self Esteem and Personal Appearance Initiative for at risk youth and featured by Legacy Magazine as one of South Florida’s Most Powerful and Influential Black Professionals in Business and Industry.

Octavia is also the Owner and Broker of The Real Estate Network International. She has been involved in the real estate industry for over 15 years and is well respected by her peers from around the world. Her career was refereed to as a “Real Estate Touchdown” in an article by the REALTOR Magazine, the official publication for the National Association for Realtors for her work with Professional Athletes.

The family is very active in The McDougle Family Foundation and it’s programs including FirstAbility, The Deerfield Beach Bison Youth Sports Program and the Beauty of Philanthropy. The McDougle Family Foundation vision of using role models and mentors to bring stability to today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders by tutoring, mentoring and encouraging our youth to stay focused on their health, social skills and academics, “while introducing them to a wide variety of career paths, higher education options and the healthy lifestyle choices”. The Foundation teamed up with the City of Deerfield Beach and other local sponsors for a playground build for the community.

Octavia is married to Stockar McDougle, Stockar and Octavia McDougle have five children Lamonte, Marcus, Octavia, Octavia, Olivia and Victoria. Their son Lamonte is playing Defensive Line at Washington State. For more information on Octavia’s initiatives please visit BAI.EDU or TheMcDougleFamilyFoundation.org.

NOTE FROM KIMMYB: As good as Octavia McDougle is on paper, her spirit and energy and commitment to this community, along with her dedication to the empowerment of our youth is even more impressive! From the moment she introduces herself your are captured by the warmth of her smile and her genuine care and concern for others. She has made uplifting others a part of her business model and you can see that she measures her success by how successful those around her become. Octavia McDougle is a true leader and an inspiration, reminding us that what we give is far more important than what we receive! This is HERSTORY and it's pretty spectacular!