Career Roadmap
Donna's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Technology, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Business/Managerial Economics
University of California-Davis
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Chief Executives:
Bachelor's Degree: International/Globalization Studies
Graduate Degree: Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Stayed in my little college town for love.
2.
Happened into a job where I learned about trading mortgages from really smart people.
3.
Moved to LA when both the job and the relationship failed.
4.
Took myself and my cat 3k miles to DC with a "two year plan" to work in finance at Fannie Mae.
5.
Made a bunch of money and friends...and fell in love.
6.
In 1999 finally had the guts to jump out of the corporate world.
7.
Found that my business and leadership skills were transferable to certain nonprofits.
8.
In 2003 met the founder of GlobalGiving. 10+ years later I'm still livin' the dream....
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You should go take an operational job. Sales doesn't seem like your thing.
How I responded:
This was my first job. I was 22 and had "sold" before. I knew that I was more capable than the 27 year old I was working for....and demonstrated that through focus, preparation and closing a deal in front of one of the executives. The moral of the story is not that everyone should do "sales," but to know when a boss makes a statement that's helpful coaching vs. too quick judgment. If it's the latter, consider a different path. If you think the "boss" is wrong, prove him/her wrong.