Belmont Banner Newspaper Features Anita

Defoe moves beyond legacy
By TARA MANJARRES – Wed, Apr 22, 2009

BELMONT—Her father was the first African-American elected to Belmont City Council, her aunt has co-authored a well-known book on Belmont’s black history and her mother was a local school teacher, but it’s not her family legacy that defines Dr. Anita Davis-Defoe.

Defoe has released her third book cultivating women’s leadership and it’s her own work that is making history.

The book is titled, “Follow Her Lead: Leadership Lessons For Women As They Journey From the Backroom to the Boardroom.”

Defoe said she oftentimes finds women insecure of their abilities, irrespective of their life and background.

“In my work, and in my own journey, I find that women no matter their socio-economic background, educational level or professional experiences, so often doubt themselves as leaders.”

The book is divided into ten compelling leadership fables, teaching the personal and technical competencies that women leaders of note embody, described Defoe.

It begins with Leadership Path One, the Roots of Leadership, which has two stories. The first one, “The Golden Mirror” teaches about Knowing Thyself and the second story “Under the Baobab Tree” is about Leading Self which helps women understand that before they can lead, they must get acquainted with, believe in, and accept themselves. Each story teaches a leadership and personal development concept, said Defoe adding they include questions for personal or group reflection.

In March, helping to celebrate Women’s History Month, Defoe spoke at St. Johns University in New York, at their first annual Women’s Leadership Conference. She conducted a workshop with a book signing sponsored by the university and Target.

Currently, Defoe is President/Chief Visionary for the Afia Planning and Development Corporation, a company she started four years ago providing business thought, quality management, leadership, knowledge management and training solutions to organizations in the United States, the Caribbean and Africa.

Projects at the moment range from developing a concept paper for a Haitian Research Center, conducting capacity building and grant writing training for non-profit organizations, providing organization development services to corporate, faith-based and non-profit organizations, and serving on the Education Committee for the Bobby Jones Gospel and Preservation Complex to be built in Fort Lauderdale.

Defoe also writes a column for a business journal in Jamaica called Businessuite Magazine, and co-hosts their radio show. Additionally, she writes an entrepreneurship column for a woman’s magazine called She Caribbean Magazine based in St. Lucia; and also hosts the radio program CaribVoice Radio.org.

Earlier this year, Defoe spoke about Belmont in a presentation she gave as the black history speaker for the Environmental Protection Agency in Durham at Research Triangle Park. Her Belmont roots are strong. She is the daughter of the late Walter Davis, the first black person elected to Belmont’s city council and the late Lovie Neal Davis, who taught at Belmont Central Elementary. Her aunt is Julia Sykes, who co-authored “Footprints on the Rough Side of the Mountain,” a collection of local black history. Defoe is a graduate of South Point High School and UNC and returns to the area to visit family and friends.

Defoe said she hopes to instill confidence and help leaders along the discovery process as they learn to find leadership within themselves.

“I want the reader to discover the leadership greatness within and realize that leading has nothing to do with gender, but everything about a willingness to serve and to use our gifts and talents with purpose. I want the reader to have a greater understanding of the personal and professional skills essential for leading people and organizations in a globalized, technological world.”

Readers can visit Defoe at http://www.dranitadavisdefoe.co or http://www.dranitadavisdefoe.wordpress.com

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Dr DeFoe to Host Women Who Lead Seminar in Jamaica

Your time is now, so make 2009 the year you choose to shine.  It is time for you to aspire and achieve greater fulfillment in both your personal and professional life. It is time to explore the choices that can move you from the life you lead now to the life of your dreams.  It is time to recognize your capabilities and become a woman who leads in all areas of her life. And that is what these three (3) hours is all about, taking the time to help you see your career and your life through boundless lens; one which enables you to envision new opportunities.

 

Women Who Lead is an inspirational seminar, a think tank event, an interactive session which will equip you with seven skills that can help you craft your desired career and personal life. Topics at Women Who Lead include:

 

v  The Life You See…attitudes, beliefs, vision

v  Learning How to Claim and Sustain Ambition

v  The Art of Destiny Goal Planning

v  Lifeworks…career planning for today’s world

v  Balancing your Personal and Professional Life Goals

v  The Power of Focus

v  The Essentials of Communicating

v  Principled Leadership

v  Leading Teams More Effectively

v  Motivating Others to Achieve Their Potential

 

At the end of these three (3) hours of inspiration, participants will leave with a blueprint for shaping their lives with purpose, a takeaway that will help to guide your personal and professional lives. This is a must event for emerging and seasoned leaders; for women seeking to achieve more balance in their lives; for women who yearn to experience more personal joy. The world waits, so choose to unleash the greatness within, strive to become a woman who leads.

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Finance Guru Anita Renee’ Johnson Interviews Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe

Women, Leadership and Finances by Anita Renee’ Johnson, MS Taxation, Contributing Editor

Recently I interviewed Dr. Anita Davis DeFoe of Ft. Lauderdale Florida.  Dr. Defoe is the author A Woman’s Guide to Soulful Living: Seven Keys to Life & Work, and Success and Follow Her Lead: Leadership Lessons As Women Journey From the Backroom to the Boardroom. Dr. DeFoe began to write in 1987, and having over fifthteen years of experience in human development, she continues to help people unleash their personal potential. Her current book Follow Her Lead: Leadership Lessons As Women Journey Form the Backroom to the Boardroom, discusses the ten pathways to leadership greatness. A must read for any one that is looking upward. Throughout her travels as a keynote and conference speakers, she has found a common thread between women; and I found myself being interviewed by her. Women have moved from the backroom to boardroom, however there is still a disconnect when it comes to their finances.   I shared with her a recent trip to Virginia.  Everyone is aware that airlines have an extra fee for overweight luggage, and more than two pieces of luggage.  I saw more people with carryon luggage than every before. Why? They want to take everything  in their closets. Women in most cases have to take a piece of luggage just for shoes. When I travel, I travel with one pair of black shoes, one pair of flats and one black purse. How does that save money? I take only one suitcase that is not overweight, therefore I do not pay a $25.00 overweight fee, and more importantly no extra bag to put in the overhead bins.  The black pair of shoes can be worn at the conference as well as doubling for the night wear at a social event.   This is a small beginning, but it is a start on the journey from the backroom to the boardroom.

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Dr DeFoe Shares Career Wisdom with Black Enterprise

BLACK ENTERPRISE – http://www.blackenterprise.com –

Make That Second Job Work For You

Posted By Ann Brown On March 2, 2009 @ 5:54 pm In Careers | 3 Comments

Considering taking on part-time work in addition to your full-time job? You’re not alone. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in January more than 3.3 million people who worked full time also held an additional part-time job.

But moonlighting can be taxing — both mentally and physically. And juggling the extra work load could put your career at risk. So before looking in the want-ads, be sure to be prepared.

First, read your employee handbook and check with your employer. Some companies frown upon moonlighting, especially if the part-time position is for a competitor or in the same industry.

To secure for part-time work, “network with colleagues through professional and trade associations,” says certified career and workforce development consultant Anita Davis-DeFoe, president of the Afia Planning and Development Corp ^[1].

Tawana CB Wood, owner of resume-writing firm TCB Solutions ^[2], a resume-writing firm, agrees.

“Most employers prefer to hire someone through a referral, especially now, when employers are seeing ten times more resumes and applications than they did in the past,” adds Wood, who also suggests using online job searches. “Harness the power of the Internet, and definitely let your (social) networks know you are looking for a part-time opportunity.”

Experts say you should never to job hunt while you are at work. “You do not want to jeopardize your primary source of income for extra cash,” says Wood.  Look for a second job near your current place of employment to among increased commuting time.

If your industry is tightening its belt or your employer forbids part-time work in your present field, use a part-time job opportunity to learn about a new industry. This will also make you more valuable in today’s competitive marketplace.

Do some research on various industries to see which are growing. Also, check out companies who have slashed their workforce. They may be hiring part timers or outside consultants.

“Full-time professionals should conduct ongoing environment scanning, mentally evaluating the state of the organization development the field to expertise. Look to deficiencies gaps in problematic, tactual, or operational capacities. These  gaps can offer potential moonlighting or entrepreneurial opportunities,” says Davis-DeFoe.

“Many companies are looking to outsource functions such as accounting, administrative assistance, research, website design, medical billing, etc.,” Wood says.  A great source to find consulting jobs is Elance.com ^[3].

Once you’ve found the perfect second job, organize, organize, organize. Leave a two-hour span between jobs, if possible, just in case you have to work late at your full-time job. ” Time management will be critical as you seek to manage multiple deadlines in addition to family, church or other commitments,” says Davis-DeFoe.  Don’t overcommit or overschedule.

Schedule personal time for yourself, even if it’s just one night a week, and be sure to continue your fitness regime, experts say. The added stress combined with less sleep could lead to an unhealthy body. Make room for family and friends so not to neglect important relationships. Make sure you’re off at least one night and one full day each week.

Always keep your full-time job a priority. “Do not miss deadlines at work and definitely do not conduct tasks associated with your second job on your day job,” warns Davis-DeFoe.

Figure out what will your tax liability will become. Having a second job that pushes you into a higher tax bracket may not be worth your time. Make sure too that your second employer is withholding enough in federal taxes each week.

Consider holding your part-time gig for a limited period. “Moonlighting is an excellent way to learn new skills, obtain experience in a new industry, or achieve a financial goal and the second job is worked for a short time,” says Davis. Set earnings goal to use your extra cash for something such as paying off a credit card debt or establishing a savings. Extended moonlighting tends to cause personal, physical and career stress as managing these multiple demands is challenging,” says Davis-DeFoe says. Know when it’s time to cash that last second paycheck and quit.

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Article printed from BLACK ENTERPRISE: http://www.blackenterprise.com

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