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

Vanessa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

To be successful you need to be committed. You can’t be successful without making an effort. You have to make it up in your mind that you have goals you want to accomplish, how you want to grow individually, and where you would like to be professionally. You will work harder for yourself than you ever have before. You can’t get tired, you can’t give up and you can’t take time off any time you want, It is 24/7. There is no right or wrong way to success, but by being committed and motivated it helps you to think positive about your journey. Take notes, change direction, if need be, keep your passion, and avoid burning out. will help you along the way to your success. Also, don’t afraid to make a mistake or even fail. Give it time.

Vanessa, 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?

Man, this was a journey. I am a military brat that has traveled around a lot. My career started in food service, fast food to be exact. I probably have worked at more than half of the most popular food chains…lol. I decided there had to be more that I can do in the food industry. I went back to school when I was 30 years old. As soon as I got my Bachelor’s degree, I moved on to contract services with Sodexo. I went on to get my Master’s after that and finished by the age of 39. I stayed with them for ten years until I moved to Desoto in 2015. I started working for Aramark and loved it. May 2017 changed my life when I lost someone so very important to me. I was changing and I did not know how to fix me. A deep depression set in and not my mental was not stable. To top it all off, I was in a relationship that was not good for me and ended badly. I lost my way. I started messing up at work but thought I was maintaining. I lost friends and became unrecognizable to myself. In the end, it cost me a career I had worked so hard for. I was in the food industry for over 30 years. I was let go and I realized I had to get my life together. That happened January 2020. I was devastated, but I understood that I was just a shell of the manager they hired. What am I going to do now? Then came a call that changed my life.

I sat on the Board of Directors for the Desoto Chamber of Commerce during my last employment, so I had built relationships. I called one of the Board Members right after they let me go, not because I needed anything, but because I knew they would listen. I gathered my thoughts applied for unemployment and received it and started pounding the pavement. In February of 2020, I got a call from that same Board Member that asked if I could support the Chamber while I was looking for employment. Because I believed in the work and I liked everyone I met, I said sure. I was only on unemployment for one week. The pay of course was extremely different from what I received from my previous employment, but maybe this was what I needed, change. COVID hit and I still worked everyday to do what was needed. In September 2020, I was hired as the President for the Chamber. When you pray and tell God you will take less he eventually bless you with more. I have a piece of mind, I am not stressed, I get a chance to reinvent myself, and most important, I am happy. This journey was not easy, and I thought I was going to lose my mind on most days. John F. Kennedy said it best: Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

As a Chamber President, I help find resources and support our business community. We have over 315 members, but I am looking to grow. Desoto Chamber is paving the way for economic development. We advocate for companies of all shapes and sizes. The Desoto Chamber is Dedicated to Protecting and Promoting our Local Businesses in the Best Southwest Communities! Our mission is to expand nature and promote the business community by providing quality service, educational opportunities, establishing partnerships. I am an advocate for small businesses. It is important for me to use whatever resources are available and I love the fact that more of our more established businesses step in to offer assistance when needed. We love our Community Partners. I want the readers to know why Chambers are important and if they have a business, get connected with one. A chamber of commerce is intended to promote and protect the interests of their local businesses and community. The Desoto Chamber provides trusted resources and information that is needed for a business to be successful and thrive in the community. Network Connect Grow is our tag line. I am proud of the work that we do.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Covid will be in everyone’s story…lol. Currently as the only employee I run this Chamber by myself, and I have my Board that steps in to help make sure we are doing things according to our by-laws. I had someone working with me, but when they left, we did not hire. That will change eventually, but as for right now it is important to use funds to continue to find resources for our business community and operate the Chamber. Well let me tell you it can be a lot being in more than one place at one time, but I have to keep going. Even though the direction changed, you still have the vision. It’s all about balance. Easier said than done sometimes. I was never good about asking for help, I’m getting better slowly but surely. I always though asking for help was a sign of weakness, not anymore. I will ask for help in order to not fail our business community.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Would you believe Tik Tok and Reels. I have met more people through social media than anything. When they notice how I promote businesses and see how many people follow me, they want to get connected. Everyone uses social media. It really is one of the best ways to extend your reach and get our information out about your business. To have tangible results be consistent with your posting and content. Make it attractive to followers. Follow real people and brands to show them you are legit.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.desotochamber.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desoto_chamber/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeSotoChamberofCommerce
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/desoto-chamber-of-commerce/?viewAsMember=true
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeSoto_Chamber
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2NvSYhs0gsq42mG0c4HcfQ/featured
• Other: https://www.alignable.com/desoto-tx/desoto-chamber-of-commerce-2

Image Credits
Tammy Marshall La Lueur-Owner Akilah Bullard Inked by Malaya – Owner Dick North – Jane Byrd Chief Maurice Jones-Ribbon Cutting- Past Chair Mobility Plus-Members-Ribbon Cutting