Name
Donna “Elle”
Occupation
Motivator, Coach, Public Relations & Media Guru, Media Personality
College/University Attended
Covenant College, bachelor’s in Business Management
Leadership
What is your favorite aspect of being a leader?
Bringing the best out of other people. Making people feel powerful. Life is a big circle — you never know if you may need people down the road, so why not make what they take away from your interaction positive? Bring something great out of them.
What advice do you have for women aspiring to be leaders in their field?
To make everyone feel important and to be comfortable pouring yourself into other women. It doesn’t take away from your success to care about others and their careers.
Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?
My mom. She taught me how to be comfortable regardless of circumstances. How to be bold and fearless. She was a single mom and she was so strong and she stood alone. She still does. We both lost a lot of weight and she works out now 2-3 times a day. She’s a very strong woman who told me I could have any career I wanted.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing female leaders today?
Competition between each other. Not being respected as women in our fields. A lot of people don’t understand our powerful voice and we are often overlooked.
CWLI
Approximately how many years have you been involved with CWLI and in what committees have you participated?
1 year in June. Networking and marketing committees.
What do you like about CWLI?
I’m able to meet a lot of mentors I wouldn’t normally meet otherwise. It’s also often like a reunion — I run into favorite teachers, interviewees, friends.
With what other community organizations/activities are you involved?
PRSA, I volunteer with inner city youth to give free classes to girls and moms, provide wellness programs for local churches, speak at Hamilton County Schools.
What changes do you hope to see in the organization as it grows?
More developing friendships — more people that think outside the box. And more moments to empower other women in a way that points people in the right direction. I’d also like to give back as a mentor.
What strides do you think members can take to make more of a difference in women’s leadership issues in the local community?
Being open to the newness of our city and understand it’s not about competing. We’re all the same and going through it with each other. Whether in the workplace or with friends, we can all learn how to become more involved and engaged and get to know someone outside our usual social circles.
How would you best describe the benefit found in joining this organization?
Being able to learn from amazing women and meet women I wouldn’t normally cross paths with. To talk, to be transparent, and to have them do the same.
Learn how to motivate yourself and others with Donna “Elle” – article here.