Born to teenage parents and raised in inner-city Miami by her grandmother, Doris Jackson-Shazier faced a turbulent childhood. “It was just really rough, a lot of shooting and violence. I even saw someone get murdered when I was a teenager,” she recalls. 

Determined to escape her circumstances, Doris, at 14, chose not to attend her local high school and instead, applied to a magnet program in Coral Gables. “I had to wake up every morning at 5:30 and take a bus and train to get there. Succeeding was challenging, but it was a pivotal moment in my life,” she explains.

Then, after enrolling at Florida State University, her life took an unexpected turn when she became pregnant at 19. A visit to what she thought was an abortion clinic—actually a Christian health center—led her to a profound decision: to keep her baby. 

Despite the challenges, Doris gave birth to her daughter, Justice, and was committed to providing a better life for her family. 

After years in the corporate world, Doris’ life changed again when she contracted a severe case of COVID-19. “It was the first time I really sat down,” she reflects. The experience led her to reevaluate her career and embrace her passion for writing. “Corporate life sometimes felt like a prison sentence, and I did 20 years,” she laughs. That realization, and how the toxicity was negatively affecting her health, pushed her to start her own business, a decision that brought newfound happiness. “The next company I’d fall in love with would be my own.”

Additionally, and after nearly dying from COVID, she vowed to complete at least one book of about 10 she’d started over the years—resulting in “Raising Justice.” 

Her book reflects her unique parenting approach. Doris emphasizes strategic guidance and personal development over traditional methods. For example, when Justice wanted to date, Doris set a condition: “She had high grades, so I told her she could date as long as she maintained them. It was about balancing responsibility and freedom.”

Doris applies this approach to her other children, three boys aged 17, 11 and 5. She plans to write books about parenting them, as well. 

As for Justice, now 20, she played a crucial role in Doris’ book, reading every chapter before publication. “It was important to include her because I’m telling her business, too.”

A full-circle moment occurred when Doris attended Justice’s graduation from Florida A&M University at the same age (19) she faced her challenges. 

“It felt like a beautiful completion of our journey,” Doris reflects.

Now a leadership coach and author, Doris is working on her second book titled “Pieces to Peace: Overcoming Corporate and COVID.” “I hope my books help others navigate their challenges and find their purpose,” she says.

Photos: Nicole Hamel