We were lucky to catch up with Debra Nixon-bowles recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Debra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made?
Being a business owner or an investor during these uncertain times has its challenges. The fluctuating economy affects many things including consumer demand to investment returns, which makes it difficult to plan and execute long term strategies. It is important to understand the products and services that meet the needs of your targets. However, I do not regret being the CEO and owner of both a nonprofit organization, and for-profit businesses. My nonprofit, Women Called Moses (WCM) is one of the best investments because of the meaningful impact it has on the community, but when it comes to the funding side of things, it does not always exactly exceed the expectations.
A nonprofit organization is, as states, a non-profit. A lot of hard work to secure funding, branding, and operations, all take investment. My for-profit ventures, consulting and publishing, focus on delivering quality products and services, while my nonprofit work aims at addressing social issues like domestic violence, which I am most passionate about. The dual experience allows me to approach challenges with a unique perspective, balancing profitability with purpose.
I have learned from the beginning that time and money are significant in being a business owner. From close calls to rapid changes, and keeping up with today’s society and technology, you must consider the significant factors it takes to achieve and maintain success. Stress plays a role in many areas, and neglecting balance and self-care should not be a habit. Balancing yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally is essential for a business owner. You also have to remain an asset, more than a liability in business, and leave emotional decisions out of the vision. Most importantly, prepare yourself for the journey.
Debra, 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?
I would describe myself as a versatile and passionate business owner who has successfully navigated both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. In my journey, I have gained valuable experiences and acquired various roles that instilled a foundation. These tools gave me a deep understanding and expertise of the diverse skills required to keep an organization running. This includes managing diverse teams, overseeing operations, developing strategies that align with both financial goals, and mission driven objectives. I have worn many hats in my career, juggling multiple responsibilities. My experiences have honed the ability to adapt and problem-solve, skills that have become invaluable as I ventured into entrepreneurship.
How I got into the industry of domestic violence was first witnessing and living it first-hand as a child, and also being a survivor as an adult. I understand the needs and aspirations of this sensitive cause and the women and children that my nonprofit, WCM serves. WCM was created to be an underground railroad for survivors of domestic violence. We seek to prevent and end the cycles of domestic violence through education, research, resources, and advocacy programs which are provided to individuals, families, communities, corporations, and coalition non-profit agencies throughout the United States. We work very hard in securing resources that provide safety and new beginnings to domestic violence survivors. Our #1000 SAFE NIGHTS program benefits those on the path to begin rebuilding their lives, fleeing domestic violence situations. Emergency Shelter, Court Advocacy, and Crisis Counseling are all services WCM offers. The annual goal for the organization is to serve 1,000 safe nights. Currently, a safe night averages at $150-200 per night for a family. Qualified clients include emergency safe havens for families, along with food, clothing, resources, and necessities to accommodate any emergency needs.
WCM has to strategize on ways to help our women and children, while continuing to operate and keep the doors open. What sets us apart, especially from the larger and frequent funded organizations, would be the fact of giving so much of us to help our clients. Without the appropriate amount of funding, many times WCM has to come outside of the box, meaning to pick and choose who can be assisted at that time. Funding is just not like it used to be, since the pandemic first began. You also must factor the demand for assistance has increased. There is a lack of volunteers, plus food, hotel and temporary housing prices have definitely gone up, and operations are ongoing so, they are costly alone.
I would like to share and hope that others understand that domestic violence is very complex. WCM needs many resources to keep programs and shelter operations to serve our clients and communities. Even domestic violence shelters continue to close every year due to lack of funding, but there are so many survivors who just need a temporary safe haven and resources to keep walking. WCM is that resource and the first stop of many survivors, who depend on and desperately need us.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Building a strong reputation and branding for WCM is crucial. Domestic Violence is such a sensitive cause, it requires a supportive environment just to be consistent. It can be quite challenging to deliver value for a cause that not many want to openly support. Events, expertise, customer and client relationships, and delivering on promises are some of the contributing factors in our process. It also helps to keep your brand marketable at all times. Honestly, it is critical to stay current with the latest trends, tools, and technologies that require continuous training through courses, webinars, and industry news.
Managing measurable impact strengthens the reputation, but when you have a cause as sensitive as domestic violence, protecting the clients is of most importance for WCM. I would say this factor has hurt our organization as far as marketing is concerned since we cannot and do not display every success story, nor do we want to display it because our clients’ privacy and safety mean more to us. Our donors also mean the most when that is how the majority of our nonprofit is funded, and we receive many anonymous donations. I mention this issue as an effort to build a strong reputation because it could help some other businesses in their own market.
Additionally, the positive approach of using my voice to amplify the message resonated with my audience. My focus was always on saving lives and empowering women. There is something about my voice that people often describe as impactful and anointing. I believe that sharing information about my passion by supporting survivors and providing them with essential resources is important, and necessary. It is most beneficial to distribute valuable content and keep a positive brand image. Networking and collaborative partnerships have helped WCM the most as far as reputation. The success WCM has accomplished in the industry of domestic violence is not solely measured by profit margins, but also by the positive impact it has on the community.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
In sharing my inner thoughts and strategies for personal and professional success, I have influenced business and leadership approaches as an author. My literary debut, “Walk It Like I Talk It” illustrates a profound impact on management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy. I wanted to introduce diverse perspectives on leadership, management, and entrepreneurship by opening up about my own experiences. My journey can help others understand and avoid pitfalls, in order to adopt the best practices for their own ventures.
I have spent over 2 decades of empowering women from the ground up to move forward from the past by creating insight and giving birth to their own ministries. Not only has this book been a powerful resource for others, but it has also elevated careers and relationships by offering different viewpoints, new ideas, and providing tools and strategies. In writing “Walk It Like I Talk It,” I hoped to inspire others to think big, set ambitious goals, and lead with purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wcmcares.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wcmcares1/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCMcares
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-nixon-bowles-6541b67/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/wcmcares1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wcmcares/featured
- Other: Get a copy of “Walk It Like I Talk It” here:
https://www.deebowles.com/
