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Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Dionne Greaves, The Mompreneur CEO
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I always knew that I wanted to be an entrepreneur so at the age of 12 when everyone else was thinking about becoming doctors, teachers, or finding traditional employment, I was dreaming of having my own business. I didn’t have a clue as to what I would do as an entrepreneur but the idea of being my own boss was exciting to me.
My first job after leaving high school was that of a volunteer preschool teacher. I couldn’t afford to attend college or university so decided to find some form of employment that I could possibly enjoy. It was then that I discovered my immense love for working with young children. I spent many years working with babies and preschool-aged children at private schools and homes before transitioning into the administrative field.
My entrepreneurial fire never died so throughout the years, I launched several businesses. I had a home daycare, babysitting service, and administrative writing service. I sold makeup, food, and baked goods. While most of these businesses were successful, nothing felt quite like the right fit.
When I became a mom, I was once again inspired and even more inclined to launch my own business because I was faced with the tough decision of returning to work. I felt as if I shouldn’t have to choose between being a mom and my job so I decided to start a baby clothing company for boys. After much discouragement, I decided against launching the business and returned to my corporate job. Shortly after that, I became co-owner of an online baby store and a vision boarding event company.
Then in 2020, God showed me a MEGA-nificent vision for my life. He showed me myself traveling the world, speaking on stage, and empowering thousands of women. I had no idea how this was going to manifest but then I met a coach who God used to reveal my gift of launching and growing businesses to me. I decided to share my gift by mentoring other women who were interested in becoming entrepreneurs and my first business mentorship program was born.
Today I am a Global Empowerment Speaker, Business Elevation Strategist, and Entrepreneurship Transition Coach. I am the Executive Producer and Host of The Mompreneur TV Show as well as a 5x International Bestselling Author. I am a 2x Honoree on the Brainz Global 500 List of influential leaders, entrepreneurs, and influencers and a recipient of the Brainz CREA Awards which celebrates top entrepreneurs, thought-leaders, and celebrities who have used their initiative and creative vision to become true game-changers.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nooooooo….lol. It has not been a smooth road. Entrepreneurship is definitely not a walk in the park nor is it for the faint-hearted. Listen!
One of my main struggles when I first launched my online business was landing my ideal clients. I wanted to attract clients who were ready to give up excuses, financially invest in themselves, implement the strategies provided and get the real-life results they needed.
Even though I had a coach and a mentor it took me a while to start landing the clients that I wanted to work with because I was lacking the confidence to share my offer with the people I wanted to serve. So I started lowering my prices, offering free resources and coaching sessions only to end up working with clients who were very far from my ideal. Eventually, I realized that my expertise was something that people wanted, needed, and was willing to pay for. I stepped up my game and never looked back.
Another major challenge initially was with payment processors because I live outside of the US. Some common payment processors do not work in Barbados and then there were several learning curves with the few that did. Eventually, with a few tweaks we got our payment systems figured out and that has been a huge game-changer for me in how I am able to serve my clients.
One of the challenges faced early on in my business and struggled with up until last October, was creating a healthy work-life balance while navigating motherhood and building my own business. It was sometimes a daily struggle depending on the dynamic I was working with. Having a young son in itself was not the most difficult part but working a time-consuming, full-time, demanding job that sometimes required travel was rough. I made sure to have my supporting cast in place – people and systems – and created a groove that worked for us as a family. Now, that I am a full-time entrepreneur it is so much easier and possible to create that balance.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Mompreneur CEO is the flagship of my business coaching, mentorship, and entrepreneurial pursuits. Since its inception in August 2020, the business has grown tremendously and has expanded its portfolio to include empowerment speaking, speaker training, as well as event management, and production.
We have curated several exclusive VIP events specifically designed to empower and celebrate women including HerStory Virtual Live Summit, Empower Her Conference, The Mompreneur CEO Awards Gala, Glow Global Luxurious Island Retreat, and most recently, the Global Entrepreneurs Honoree Gala.
We specialize in helping corporate professional women escape the 9-5 grind and transition into full-time entrepreneurship with confidence and a game plan. Our 3D Game Plan helps women to pinpoint their unique areas of expertise, monetize their own skills, and leverage their knowledge to build profitable businesses. We also teach full-time entrepreneurs how to scale their businesses by creating their own speaker platforms and events. This is all facilitated through The BIG Leap Entrepreneurship Academy which was launched in October 2022.
We also are the Executive Producers of The Mompreneur CEO Show, which highlights the success stories, achievements, and business pursuits of trailblazing female entrepreneurs all across the globe. The show is exclusively aired on the Women Win Network and is accessible to over 100 million homes via Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
There are quite a few things that set me apart from others…but the first is my accent. Whenever people hear me speak in person or onstage, the first question they ask is, “Where are you from?” When I say Barbados they are pleasantly surprised and an instant connection is made. The second thing that sets me apart is my personality, I’ve been told by clients, fellow speakers, and tv show guests, that I have a knack for making people feel at ease in my presence and they always walk away feeling empowered, confident, and welcomed.
Honestly, I am most proud of my brand – The Mompreneur CEO – itself. I am proud of its mission to support moms as they navigate motherhood and entrepreneurship and I am equally proud of what it represents for me in my personal journey as a wife, mom, retired corporate professional, and entrepreneur.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
During the next five years, my anticipation is that there will be more moms choosing entrepreneurship as their “career of choice” because of the freedom and flexibility it provides, especially when raising a young family.
I also see “mompreneurship” becoming a distinct area of expertise within entrepreneurship itself, with more moms launching businesses, owning more conglomerate companies, and creating a much larger footprint in the business landscape as a whole. It is my vision and desire to be The Catalyst for that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dionnegreaves.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themompreneurceo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dionnesgreaves
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dionnesgreaves/
Image Credits
The Mompreneur CEO; Front House Media Production
Candor Visuals
