From Service to Self-Discovery: The Journey to Joy with Kimberly Mitchell

Summary:

In this episode, we sit down with Kimberly Mitchell, a resilient veteran and transformational leader whose journey spans military service, leadership development, entrepreneurship, and personal healing. Kimberly opens up about growing up in a single-parent household with four siblings, navigating loss at a young age, and discovering her strength and curiosity early in life.

She shares how joining the Air Force expanded her worldview, took her around the globe, and shaped her leadership philosophy—especially as the only woman in her Vehicle Maintenance training class. Her military experience laid the foundation for a successful career in training and development, eventually leading her to create the Journey to Joy Personal Transformation System after facing her own mental health challenges.

This conversation explores resilience, identity, mental health, and the power of joy as a transformative force.

Key Topics:

1. Kimberly’s childhood, curiosity, and resilience after the loss of her father
2. What motivated her to enlist in the Air Force and later serve in the NY Army Guard
3. Her experience as the only woman in her Vehicle Maintenance training class
4. Deployments to Norway, Germany, and Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield/Desert Storm
5. How military structure and leadership principles shaped her career
6. Transition to civilian life and her path into training, leadership development, and entrepreneurship
7. Her mental health journey and the spark that led to developing the Journey to Joy Personal Transformation System
8. The importance of joy, self-sufficiency, and community in personal transformation
9. Advice for women joining or currently serving in the military

Notable Quotes & Moments:

1. “Join! You can do more than you think. Being the only woman in my unit at times was challenging, but it taught me so much about my own strength.” - Kimberly Mitchell on highlighting her strength and determination in a male-dominated space [00:20:00]
2. “You’re on this airport walkway and it feels like you can’t get off… but you can.” – Kimberly on the feeling many women face between ages 40–60 [00:37:00]
3. “Your beliefs are just thoughts you’ve been thinking over and over again. If you don’t like your life, start by changing those thoughts.” – Kimberly on building the Journey to Joy system [00:38:15]
4. “We are our own greatest resource. Once you look within, you will find all the answers you need.” – Kimberly’s message to women entering or leaving the military [00:45:12]

Timestamps:

1. 00:01:08 – Kimberly Mitchell’s early life in Rochester, NY
2. 00:01:20 – Losing her father at age 16 and how it shaped her
3. 00:03:00 – Being the only woman in her vehicle maintenance tech school
4. 00:04:00 – Overcoming doubts and outscoring her male classmates
5. 00:06:00 – Early military life, being stationed with no other women
6. 00:07:55 – Deployment during Desert Shield & Desert Storm
7. 00:10:54 – Returning home and the challenges of reintegration
8. 00:13:00 – Struggles with identity, depression, and personal discipline
9. 00:15:40 – How her military training influenced her corporate career
10. 00:17:00 – The turning point: realizing no program could “fix” her
11. 00:18:30 – Creating the Journey to Joy Personal Transformation System
12. 00:21:00 – The power of belief, daily action, and personal accountability
13. 00:23:35 – Using neuroplasticity and breaking mental habits
14. 00:26:00 – Building the program for women 40–60 ready to reset
15. 00:28:45 – Kimberly’s advice to military women in transition
16. 00:29:18 – Closing reflections and where to find Journey to Joy

Connect with Kim:

Website: https://kimm.co/

Journey to Joy: http://www.youjourneytojoy.com/

Kimberly Mitchell is a veteran, mental health advocate, speaker, and transformational leader committed to empowering individuals and small businesses. She grew up in a tight-knit neighborhood where independence was essential and excelled academically, earning awards including the Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Medal. After losing her father at 16, she turned hardship into motivation and enlisted in the Air Force. As the only woman in her Vehicle Maintenance training class, she earned the highest test scores and later served during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, achieving the rank of E-4 Sergeant.

After transitioning to civilian life, Kimberly built a successful career in training and leadership development, supporting major projects such as the 2010 Census digital transition and the Rochester Schools Modernization Program. Her entrepreneurial spirit led to several business ventures and the creation of a thriving six-figure training business.

Her own mental health journey inspired her to develop the Journey to Joy Personal Transformation System, helping others break free from limiting beliefs and step into their power. Kimberly is a founding member of the Greater Rochester Black Business Alliance and serves on the board of ROCEDC. Her mission is to inspire transformation through joy, empowerment, and self-sufficiency.

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