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Deborah Owens is
a woman of many
hats. From CEO
to author to
radio host, this
dynamic woman
excels at
everything she
does - and best
of all, she
wants other
women to benefit
from her work.
Owens, who was
born and raised
in Detroit,
attended Oakland
University and
majored in
political
science. While
she was still in
college her
parents decided
to relocate to
Hawaii, so off
Deborah went to
the land of sand
and sun.
Her career began
in sales, at the
junior
department of
Liberty House of
Waikiki. "It was
a great training
ground," she
says. She
credits this job
with helping to
develop her
skills as a
salesperson. "My
sales prowess
prepared me for
a career as a
stockbroker,"
she adds.
When Owens began
working on Wall
Street, she had
the good fortune
to work with
Emmo Moore, one
of the first
African-American
female account
executives at
Merrill Lynch. "She
had a profound
impact on my
life and is
largely
responsible for
my career in
financial
services." In
1987, Merrill
Lynch started
what it calls
the supplier
diversity
program, where
the company
provides
procurement
opportunities
for minority-
and woman-owned
businesses.
Owens has had
over twenty
years of
experience in
financial
services. She
reflects, "I
spent the
majority of my
career as a
financial
consultant and
sales manager.
It was exciting
and challenging
- as
opportunities
for minorities
expanded, I was
in a position to
benefit. I was
recruited into
the management-training
program and
eventually rose
to regional
sales manager on
the West Coast
for a large
investment
company."
This former vice
president of
Fidelity
Investments is
the current CEO
of Owens Media
Group, which
develops
investment
education and
marketing
programs for
companies and
organizations.
Owens says that
her mission is
to enrich and
empower women
with the
knowledge they
need to become
financially
secure. When it
comes to women
and their money
Owens says, "Women
can be extremely
conservative,
primarily
because we earn
less and
therefore have
less to risk."
Owens says her
passion is
helping women of
all incomes to
achieve
financial
security, which
is why she has
written a book
entitled "Everywoman's
Guide to
Confident
Investing." The
book provides
financial
information and
relates stories
about women who
overcame
obstacles to
achieve
financial
success. Owens
also hosts "Real
Money," a
personal finance
talk show on
public radio
station WEAA
88.9 FM in
Baltimore,
Maryland.
What advice does
Owens have for
women interested
in becoming
entrepreneurs? "I'm
sure they have
heard it before,
but women should
find something
they love to do
and determine
how that
contributes to
the to begin to
create
businesses that
can be sustained
whether they are
involved or not.
The sky is the
limit," she says.
She adds, "If I
knew then what I
know now, I
would dream
bigger and ask
for help more
frequently."
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Owens' travel tips:
Owens' multifaceted
career requires a great
deal of traveling. She's
developed some efficient
habits that make her
travel experiences
better: |
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Be flexible:
As
a frequent flyer, Owens
has found comfort and
flexibility to be key
components of a
successful travel plan.
She says, "Business
travel does not have to
be stressful if you have
a mindset that allows
you to adapt to changes
or situations that you
have no control over,
such as the weather."
Dress for (travel)
success:
"First, I never wear
heels because many have
steel posts in them that
trigger the security
alarm. As a result I
travel in casual
leisurewear and tennis
shoes, which can then be
used as workout wear at
the fitness facility of
the hotel. This prevents
me from ever having the
excuse that I can't work
out because I don't have
proper clothing, and
further limits the
amount of clothing I
have to pack.
Additionally, my
wardrobe is color-coordinated
to include a suit,
sweater, pants and a
blouse, which can all be
alternated to adapt to
different occasions."
Pack light and take
essentials:
Owens uses a small carry-on
piece of luggage that
meets airline standards.
"That is extremely
important in the event
that flight plans are
altered at the last
minute," she says. She
also carries a
lightweight laptop that
can fit into a backpack
with a small cosmetics
bag, fruit, water and
snacks for nourishment
on flights without meals.
For more information on
Owens' financial
seminars, books and
radio talk show, visit
www.deborahowens.com.
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