Today we’d like to introduce you to Roy Dockery.
Hi Roy, 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?
My journey has been one of movement and profound transformation, but the Raleigh area is where my life’s narrative truly began to take shape. I was born in Colorado Springs in 1982, and my early childhood was spent navigating the challenges of New Haven, CT, and then Knoxville, TN, where I saw violence, addiction and illegal activities up close.
However, the pivotal moment for my family and my personal growth came when my mother was offered a transfer with her company to Raleigh, North Carolina. Against every desire I had at the time, she accepted, and we headed south. It was in North Carolina, at the age of 15, that I made a commitment to myself to take control and write my own story.
I began my Junior year of high school at Leesville Road High School in September of, 1998. It was on the bus ride there that I met the quiet, reserved young woman who would eventually become my wife. We began dating during my senior year of high school.
My ties to the state continued beyond graduation. I attended North Carolina A&T State University, and I also served as a Campus Coordinator for Communities in Schools from 2002 to 2003. I was fortunate enough to have guidance from people like a Professor at NC A&T State University, Dr. Lisa Gueldenzoph Snyder, who observed my drive as an effective communicator, leader and dedicated student.
While the initial relationship with my future wife ended when we went to separate colleges, we reconnected almost four years later through Facebook. After I had dropped out of college to join the military and she was finishing her degree, we skipped further courtship and were married on December 29th, 2006, just four months after reconnecting.
During our marriage, I was serving in the United States Navy as a Naval Nuclear Reactor Operator and instructor. However, my military career was cut short in March 2010 due to deteriorating health. I was given 30 days notice that the Navy was ending my career. My wife’s unwavering support—telling me, “I would love you in a paper box, everything will be just fine”—motivated me to excel.
I took the first available job as a Field Service Technician in Philadelphia to keep my promise that my wife could stay home with our first child. That commitment led to a swift professional ascent. Within eight months, I became a manager, then a Director within three years, and ultimately the Vice President of Customer Care for Swisslog Healthcare North America just short of my five-year anniversary with the company. My wife’s motivation also led me to return to school to complete multiple degrees, including Bachelors in Business Management, Information Technology and Nuclear Engineering Technology. My educational pursuits culminated with an MBA in 2012, and additional graduate certifications in mediation and project management.
After working in healthcare for over 12 years, I transitioned to serving as the Vice President of Field Operations at Flock Safety to build their industry leading Field Services organization. Through all these transitions, I developed the philosophy of “The Art of Leading,” my became a book which focuses on principles like truth, love, and empathy in action.
Today, my work is a seamless integration of my calling. I leverage my C-suite operational experience as the Senior Director of Field and Support Services Research while also leading The Art of Leading consulting practice. My mission is to spread a transformative message through speaking, advising, and community service—from executive coaching to operational transformation and fighting for justice through organizations like the NAACP, Teen Court and various outreach activities.
It’s true, ‘You would never guess the roads I’ve traveled by looking at my destination.’ But those roads are exactly why my perspective resonates. I empower leaders to find the strength in their vulnerability and use the principle of love to build organizations that are not just profitable, but deeply human and impactful.
And I am proud to say that, even today, I continue to be rooted here in North Carolina, currently residing in Youngsville, NC. This state provided the ground where I first learned to write the story of my life, and I carry that perspective with me in every leadership role.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If you follow my work in executive leadership, advisory roles, or my book, “The Art of Leading”, you’ve likely heard me say it: “You would never guess the roads I’ve traveled by looking at my destination”.
I use that quote frequently because my life has been a relentless process of transformation, forged in instability and marked by challenges that most people will never have to face. If you’re looking for a comfortable, linear story of success, I’m not a great example. But if you want to understand the foundation of my leadership philosophy, you have to know where I started.
My childhood was chaotic, beginning with a struggling marriage in Colorado Springs in 1982. My parents separated before my fourth birthday, and I spent time in New Haven, CT, during the late 80s—a time and place plagued by crack, gun violence, and the spread of HIV. The instability only grew when I moved to Knoxville, TN, at age nine. There, I saw overt systemic racism for the first time, including being called the N-word which led to my first in school altercation.
It was in Knoxville that I saw guns, drugs, death, prostitution, and violence up close and personal. This instability defined my early education, as I ended up attending eleven different schools in eleven years.
When my mother accepted a transfer to Raleigh, North Carolina, I was 15 and it went against every desire of my heart. Yet, it was in North Carolina that I finally made a commitment to myself: I would take control of my life’s narrative and write my own story. Even my young relationship with the woman who would become my wife survived despite her mother’s utter disdain for my existence.
I found stability by dropping out of college to join the military. I served in the United States Navy as a Naval Nuclear Reactor Operator and instructor. But shortly before my first daughter was born in 2008, my health began to deteriorate. I suffered from symptoms like pain, fatigue, vertigo, night sweats, muscle cramps, migraine headaches, and a bad knee.
Despite being recognized as a top performer, my military career was abruptly cut short in March 2010. I was given only 30 days notice that the Navy was ending my career due to my deteriorating health. I was separated without a clear diagnosis. This period of fear was only overcome by the unwavering support of my wife, who looked at me and said: “I would love you in a paper box, everything will be just fine”.
Years later, I navigated the Veterans Administration system to finally receive diagnoses for chronic conditions, including lupus, sarcoidosis, and an undifferentiated mixed connective tissue disease. This required a massive shift in my career path, moving from the arduous physical demands of field service and the Navy.
To keep my promise that my wife could stay home with our first child, I immediately took the first available job as a Field Service Technician in Philadelphia. That necessity fueled my ascent. I eventually rose to Vice President of Customer Care for Swisslog Healthcare North America.
But even in executive roles, the struggles didn’t vanish. I was constantly battling pressure to assimilate and fought against stereotypes as an African-American male executive. I once received feedback that my choice of clothing on Casual Friday (joggers and sneakers) was deemed “eclectic” and made some people perceive me as immature for a VP. My response was pithy, asking if being a VP meant “dressing like a middle-aged white man?”. The journey required me to learn that authenticity requires being comfortable with discomfort.
Furthermore, I have spent more than 13 years leading multi-regional, cross-generational, and diverse teams. I have consistently had more than 95% of my direct reports who were older and more tenured than me, often by 5 to 20+ years.
One difficult lesson involved an employee who resigned shortly after I visited their office. They jumped to the wrong conclusion, thinking I was there to terminate them for an incomplete project. In reality, I had flown in to partner with them and help them succeed, because I was ultimately responsible for the outcome. That moment taught me the intense fear and pressure employees can feel when they lack support.
Looking back, I learned that my greatest achievements have names, not dollar signs next to them. I realized that my strong desire to invest in people was a vulnerability—love without accountability becomes dangerous enabling. I had to use policies and standards to ensure I didn’t enable underperformers.
Ultimately, my transition from my executive role at Swisslog came when I realized I had reached a ceiling on vertical growth and limited opportunities to add breadth. My team no longer needed me, and I had become the ceiling for their growth. As a leader, I couldn’t love them and limit their potential at the same time. I had to write myself out of the job.
My journey confirms my leadership ethos: “Love is the great equalizer” and the only true way to achieve equity, equality, and meaningful diversity. The struggle wasn’t the obstacle; the struggle provided the context. I am now the Senior Director of Field and Support Services Research and continue my mission to influence how people think, not just what they do, all while deepening my roots here in NC.
We’ve been impressed with The Art of Leading, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What We Do and Specialize In: Our core service is translating proven, real-world executive experience into actionable leadership and operational frameworks.
We specialize in four key areas:
Transformative Consulting: We advise commercial organizations—from rapidly scaling startups like Flock Safety to established healthcare automation giants like Swisslog Healthcare—on building resilient, high-performing cultures. We are known for our insights in Field and Support Services research, leveraging Roy’s experience with organizations across the globe.
Keynote Speaking & Training: We deliver high-impact programs and workshops on topics like Authenticity, Empathy, and Accountability, equipping leaders to motivate multi-generational teams.
Leadership Development: We establish internal mentorship systems and training that focus on the “Person First, Employee Second” approach, developing leaders who drive engagement and retention.
Community Impact: We apply the same rigorous principles to non-profits and community organizations, specializing in governance, strategic outreach, and social justice advocacy.
What Sets Us Apart
What truly differentiates The Art of Leading is the unique duality of our founder and our framework:
The “Working Intellectual” Credibility: Roy’s background—blending high-stakes operational discipline from the U.S. Navy and a Nuclear Engineering background with an MBA and executive P&L responsibility—ensures our advice is rooted in Savage Truth and quantifiable results, not just abstract theory.
Empathy as Strategy: Our entire philosophy is built on Truth, Love (Agape), and Empathy. We don’t view these as soft skills; we view them as the basis of leadership and the most powerful strategic tools for navigating complexity and high-pressure environments. This holistic, human-centered approach is what allows organizations to bridge the gap from stagnation to a thriving culture.
Brand Pride and Key Offerings
We are most proud of our unambiguous, transparent message—a commitment we embody every day. Our brand is a promise that vulnerability is strength and that disciplined service is the path to achieving professional ambition.
We want readers to know that The Art of Leading offers more than just a presentation; we offer a partnership for transformation. Whether you need an advisor to guide your next strategic move, a keynote speaker to ignite a cultural shift, or a development program to empower your leaders, we provide the tools and perspective to ensure your organization is led from a place of integrity, purpose, and lasting impact.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Instead of believing in luck—good or bad—I structure my entire worldview, and by extension, The Art of Leading framework, around three foundational principles: Faith, Obedience, and Service.
When I look back at my journey, from navigating a chaotic childhood to being medically discharged from the Navy and having to start over as an entry-level technician, there was certainly adversity that others might call “bad luck.” However, those moments were not setbacks; they were simply crossroads that demanded obedience to my core values and faith. My professional success was never a roll of the dice; it was the direct result of:
Faith: The unwavering belief that my purpose was greater than my circumstance, which motivated me to earn my degrees and keep striving.
Obedience: Making the difficult, conscious choice at every fork in the road—from pursuing my MBA to starting over at an entry-level job—to remain faithful to my personal commitment to provide for my family.
Service: My decision to always put the person first, treating every role, from technician to Vice President, as an opportunity to serve and develop the people around me. This servant attitude built the trust that accelerated my career.
In business, success is rarely found by accident. It is found in disciplined execution, a clear strategic vision, and the unconditional commitment to the well-being of your people. That is the highest form of service, and it’s what drives all the results we achieve at The Art of Leading.
Pricing:
- Minnect Text Question $10
- Minnect Video Question $25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://roydockery.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roydockerymba/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554086824127
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roydockery/
- Twitter: https://x.com/roydockerymba
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheArtofLeading
- Other: https://app.minnect.com/expert/RoyDockery
