We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Deborah Dillingham. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Deborah below.

Deborah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new firm – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

I had been asked to edit a few of my friends’ children’s college essays and found that I really enjoyed helping kids find themselves through the writing process. I then took it upon myself to offer my assistance to help identify match schools to create college lists. The college process seemed so stressful for families, and I wanted to help. I have an extensive marketing background and know how to promote a product to appeal to its audience. Colleges are looking for students who are a good fit for their campuses, and I know how to use promotion techniques to help kids accentuate their positives on an application. The work came easily to me because of my work background and the fact that I wasn’t the mom or dad, just someone who wanted to help a student get to college. When the college decisions came in and kids were matched it was so rewarding to be a part of the process.

When a couple of friends said I should share my talents with others and get paid for what I was doing, I thought, “Yes, that sound like a plan! I’d love to help more students. I’ll do it”

I didn’t really know where to begin. The people who I initially helped mentioned me to their neighbors/members of various groups, and “voila” I had my first student. While I consider all of the kids I work with special, my first is one I will never forget. She was so talented and smart. She was such a dedicated student who wanted to do well. I spent months learning about who she was as a person along with uncovering her interests and achievements. I was with the family through some ups and downs, and feel privileged to have gotten to know the family beyond the college essay.

By business terms, I worked so many hours with the student that I was working for pennies. I didn’t care because I wanted her to succeed. My family would joke and ask why she was on vacation with us that fall (figuratively that is) — Well of course she was! She was just a FaceTime or Google session away. I think at one point, my whole family was trying to help edit her last essay, which she had to decided to change at the last minute. We all breathed a sigh of relief when she hit the final submission button.

As she handed in her acceptance letter to one of the most sought-after universities in the country that year, I knew she had made the choice that was the right one for her. I was thrilled to be a part of her journey. Even though it’s been a couple of. years, I still think of that time with such fondness and admiration for the student and her incredible family –a family who I never would have met if my friend had mentioned my name when the college search came up in a conversation.

I still wonder what the student will become one day with all of that talent being cultivated. I check in with the family from time to time to get the update and can’t wait to see where her future takes her. I can’t wait for each new season to see who I will work with and where the college search will take us.

Deborah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Let’s see, I think I have been self-motivated for most of my life having grown up in a single parent household and losing both parents early on in my life. I went to Bates College and Harvard University. I majored in English and psychology in undergrad and in psychology with a research focus in grad school. I was on my own by eighteen, and one would say I jumped from one friend’s house to the next. I was so lucky to be watched over by so many incredible moms. I graduated from college and lived in Boston for a few years. I worked for a college and then the Board of Regents while going to graduate school. I married and moved to New York City. I looked for jobs in psychology, but to be honest, I did not know New York and the barb wire around the places I was interviewing scared me. I decided to pursue a career in publishing, working for Penguin USA for many years in marketing leading various divisions. Stephen King was my group’s major author, and I oversaw the promotion and advertising for the mass market group under the supervision of one of the most powerful marketers of the time. I learned so much from her. I was smart and worked hard. I also never gave up an idea when I thought it was a good one. The head of sales would say, “Oh no!” when I would return to his office to explain why I thought we should go one way or another with a promotional idea. My boss would say, “Go for it!” and send me off to the publisher or other heads to fight my case. I later worked in toy marketing overseeing product management, promotion, and advertising.

It was when I had very premature twins that life changed. I gave up my job and became an advocate for my twins. I transferred my skills to advocacy for my own kids, then to others by serving in parent leadership roles for twenty plus years from P.A. President to Queens Borough Appointee to the Panel for Educational Policy. I started a 501 (C) 3, raised over a million dollars with my teams, and served on school leadershiip teams and community education councils.

In every job, I set a goal and did my best to achieve it. I loved working in the business world, It was exciting and really fun. I was good at what I did and luck to work with great people. In my volunteer work, I wanted to make schools better for students, I believe I created value everywhere I worked. More important, I created memories for kids. Every once in a while, I will see a student or parent who will tell me their best memory is the Father-Daughter Dance I created or that they love music because I created a relationship with The Little Orchestra Society or Kids in the Balcony, and that will make me smile. I also just looked at a listing of courses at my son’s high school and waved my hands in the air because they are offering AP Spanish, a course I fought for over a year to get along with third year Spanish. I also chuckle that Phonics is back because I fought for that as well as for Algebra for All. I care about kids and their success, so I guess that their success is my success, I am happy that I spoke my mind, wrote letters, had meetings, and pushed when it was necessary.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Always move forward!

Not always!

When I moved to New York City, I had been working in financial aid and program compliance for five years. I knew that my salary was over and above what I would make in publishing. The first job I took was as a sales coordinator. I took a major salary cut because I was changing fields. I spent six months at that job before I was promoted. I kept getting promoted after that. I would do it in a minute again if it meant I could be working at something I love. I think it’s ok to go backward to move forward.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I am a perfectionist. People know I care about the projects I take on and that I will put in as much effort as possible to have a positive outcome.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://collegeconsultingdeb.com
• Linkedin: Deborah Clark-Dillingham

Image Credits

Deborah Dillingham photo credit