Featured Entrepreneur
Dee Covey
GradLaunch USA
Driven PR
What do your businesses do?
At GradLaunch USA, we help college seniors and recent grads discover authentic career passions, then help them morph quickly into confident, competitive, successful job candidates. That's why "Polishing students into Professionals Every Day" is our tagline. Driven PR exists to promote businesses and products that I own with my business partner and Co-Founder, Karin Maake. We still have outside clients but are not seeking new ones so we can focus our energies on GradLaunch.
What do you like best about being an entrepreneur?
I get to wake up and keep thinking about how to turn a creative idea into a reality, with unlimited opportunity to prosper personally and financially. Every day I have the luxury of structuring my own time, because I report to no one.
What was your biggest fear in starting a business?
I am not a fear-based person, so I don't have an answer to this. I'm wired to be positive and am unburdened by negativity-find the best in the negative things.
What has been your proudest moment?
There's a moment in starting a new venture when the magic happens and opportunities present themselves. At the risk of sounding cheesy, Karin and I get immense satisfaction out of witnessing the "ah ha!" moment when a befuddled and worried young person becomes GradLaunched... which means they stop being afraid of failure and identify their true career passion- truly believing that it can be achieved. So, I guess the answer is the sold out GradLaunch Career Creator Boot Camp Weekend in July, at which 100% of our participating grads figured out an exciting, specific pursuit, started picturing themselves as successful professionals, and learned the practical steps to land an entry level job anywhere in the country. We do this in very entertaining, engaging and creative ways, and it really works!
What is different about being a woman entrepreneur?
I can't speak for all women, but my experience is that we care about how success is attained, not just the end result. We love to make money, but that's not the only measurement of success. We like the "family" aspect of business. If the people around us feel fulfilled, motivated, happy and rewarded, we're happy too.
What is different about you since becoming an entrepreneur?
I'm re-energized and happier, period. I have California genes, a Texas heart, and a New York soul....and I have the energy of someone half my age.
What message would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
Probably the same advice I give to grads. Stop talking or focusing on your fears, and act in spite of them. Don't take other's well-meaning concerns about your future to heart, because most people are too scared to ever step off the sure-bet path. Stop worrying about how you will achieve success and go for it! Finally, to be successful, make sure that every business dealing also benefits the other party. In order to get what you want from people, you need to give them what they need.
What is the biggest obstacle to growth in your business?
Underfunding for advertising; lack of deep knowledge about how to grow the business nationally; and not knowing all of the product and promotional possibilities, especially online marketing. That's why I joined AWE!
Which female entrepreneur has inspired you most?
Honestly, Suzi Sosa.
What do you like best about Austin Women Entrepreneurs?
That it even exists-about time! Seriously, I have met some amazing, enjoyable, supportive, younger entrepreneurs who keep me on my toes. We all have a lot to learn from other generations. AWE is a great resource that provides access to people like Liz Coker, who offer insights and helpful tips for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. I truly love being my age (54), and I enjoy mentoring and sharing tales of success-as well as failures, of which I've had my share. No big deal, really. Failure has taught me everything valuable in life, and is not to be feared because if you haven't failed, you haven't tried to do something extraordinary. Once you stop worrying about it, the rest is easy!
