Beyond the book: A conversation with Dr. Joy E. Mason
 

Each month, Enhanced DNA Publishing shines a spotlight on one of the authors in our publishing family. This August, we’re excited to reconnect with Joy E. Mason, founder of SixSigmaIndy, leadership consultant, motivational speaker, and author of Built by Us.
 

Since its publication in October 2025, Built by Us has continued to make an impact, including being named a Finalist in the 2025 American Writing Awards. But Joy’s story didn’t end when the book was published. The work behind the pages continues through SixSigmaIndy and Joy’s commitment to using process improvement, leadership, and community collaboration to create meaningful change.
 

With the SixSigmaIndy Workforce Summit coming August 14, we thought this was the perfect time to catch up with Joy, talk about what has happened since Built by Us was released, and explore what she is building next.

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👇Scroll through our conversation below…
 

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Denola Burton: Joy, welcome back! Since the release of Built by Us, many readers have connected with your message.
 

For someone picking up the book for the first time, what do you hope they gain from it?

Joy E. Mason: Thank you for having me again, Denola. It's always a pleasure to reconnect with the Enhanced DNA Publishing community.​

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I hope future readers reconnect to the soft internal whisper that's been calling on them to build something. Maybe the world needs the book they've been waiting to write, the business they've been waiting to start, or the flower shop they've been waiting to open. I hope readers feel empowered with a sense of urgency.

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Denola Burton: What’s one lesson from Built By Us that every leader should remember?​

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Joy E. Mason: The time is NOW. Whatever you are trying to build, I'm certain that thousands of people are waiting to receive it. Don't leave this earth with your song still in you!

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Denola Burton: You’re hosting the SixSigmaIndy Workforce Summit on August 14. What inspired you to create this event?

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Joy E. Mason: I believe the power and impact of what SixSigmaIndy is doing is not well understood. We have done something special—created a small but mighty organization that is providing elite skills and tools to our communities, ages 16 and older.

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Many of our graduates are leveraging their new skills across Indianapolis to advance their careers, earn higher salaries, and increase organizational impact. The board and I believe the summit will give us the platform to share our amazing impact and expose others to innovative possibilities for workforce development.

Denola Burton: What do you hope attendees experience on August 14?

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Joy E. Mason: We want every attendee to leave believing that developing people is one of the most powerful strategies for strengthening organizations, expanding opportunity, and building thriving communities. 
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Denola Burton: What’s next for you and SixSigmaIndy?

Joy E. Mason: AI is next! Six Sigma is already powerful, but when you combine it with AI, the impact is exponential. Solving hard problems doesn't have to be as hard as it used to be!

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Denola Burton: At Enhanced DNA Publishing, we believe every author’s journey is about Developing and Nurturing, so they can Achieve. Which of those three words best describes this season of your journey, and why?

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Joy E. Mason: Nurturing stands out! I will be 60 next year, and as I reflect, I realize I've done a lot of development and achieving. However, I have not spent the time needed to nurture my soul, spirit, and overall well-being. So, I took a few steps over the past 30 days to trust my team more and back away from some of the details. It's been hard, but I can't nurture myself if I'm buried knee-deep in all the details of the work.

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Denola Burton: Joy, thank you for giving us an update on your journey and for sharing how the vision behind Built by Us continues to evolve through your work with SixSigmaIndy.

Your story is a wonderful reminder that publishing a book can be more than documenting what you have accomplished. It can become another platform for expanding the work, the conversation, and the impact.

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We encourage our readers to discover Built by Us, learn more about the work of SixSigmaIndy, and support the SixSigmaIndy Workforce Summit on August 14. 
 

Joy, we’re proud to have you as part of the Enhanced DNA Publishing family, and we look forward to seeing what you continue to build!

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