Cathy Derksen, the mastermind behind Inspired Tenacity, is fueled by a burning desire to empower women in her community and beyond. Serving as the founder of her esteemed company, she has solidified her position as a globally recognized speaker and accomplished author, consistently dominating the bestseller charts with an impressive ten number-one hits. With her enthralling storytelling prowess, Cathy sparks a fire within her readers, propelling them to pursue their grandest aspirations fearlessly. Additionally, she has ingeniously created a platform that fosters sharing of inspirational narratives among women through collaborative books. Within her transformative program, Cathy expertly shepherds aspiring authors from the inception of their chapter ideas to the pinnacle of success as published bestsellers, ensuring a straightforward and exhilarating journey.
What challenges did you face while building your company, and how did you overcome them?
Besides the massive list of challenges that come up while becoming an entrepreneur for the first time and needing to learn all of the skills around planning, marketing, and technology, the biggest challenge I have faced has been stepping into the bigger version of myself that I envisioned. Transitioning from being an employee with a set list of duties to allowing myself to listen to my intuition, step into my gifts, and take on leadership on a global scale has taken massive personal growth. The key factors for me overcoming these challenges have included building a supportive community of other women taking on massive dreams and permitting myself to step into new possibilities. It has been a challenging journey but I know I’m on the right path.
As an international speaker, what key topics or messages do you often address in your presentations?
The key focus of my speaking events includes topics that support and encourage midlife women to take on the courage and confidence to step into their bigger dreams for their future. Many women are feeling stuck in midlife without the tools and support to look at new possibilities. My focus is on sparking their confidence and motivation to take action. I also love to share the value of participating in collaborative book projects to create the momentum and community to take on these dreams and build a global network.
How do you believe your anthology, “Grit and Tenacity,” contributes to the broader conversation about resilience and overcoming challenges, and why is it important for readers to engage with these narratives?
This book focuses on stories of women who are transforming leadership in business and community. It spotlights many examples of women who have taken on the challenges and built their own paths. They have created change within their workplace or left that environment to create a new leadership model. These stories, along with the tools and strategies presented by the authors, demonstrate real-life examples of how an individual can create the change they want to see.
How do you maintain a balance between your entrepreneurial responsibilities and personal life?
I love my work and hanging out in my communities, so it is often difficult to end my workday. This is also compounded by the time zone challenges of working with a global community. It’s a normal day for me to be meeting with my authors in Europe or the United Kingdom in the morning and connecting with my Australian community in the afternoon. I have learned to have a predetermined time to end my work day and refocus on my personal life. My dog is also a key factor in making sure I have some routine to my day and get outside regularly.
What is the most fulfilling aspect of being an author and speaker?
The most fulfilling aspect of my roles as an author, speaker, and curator of collaborative book projects is the feedback I receive from the women in my community, sharing how I have impacted their lives in massive ways. Hearing stories of the ripple effect of my support and the opportunities created gives me a deep understanding that this is my true calling.
For more information, visit Inspired Tenacity.
