Denise Bowen Verizon Digital Ready Mentor
- English
How I can help
My professional background
Denise Bowen spearheads DB Connect, a transformative start-up that empowers socially conscious entrepreneurs to catalyze positive change. Concurrently, she stands as a dedicated Committee Member within the United Nations' Universal Health Coverage and Cybercrime division, strategically advancing global progress. With a pivotal role in overseeing brand strategy for FreeWill, the largest U.S. estate-planning firm, Denise has played an instrumental role in its remarkable impact. FreeWill, a social-good enterprise at the intersection of philanthropy and estate planning, has catalyzed the creation of an astounding 720,000 estate plans, channeling an awe-inspiring $7.2 billion towards impactful causes.
Her role on Emblem Health’s Advisory Council underscores her multifaceted commitment. As a mentor in Techstars, Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program, Black Girls in Cyber, WomenTech Network, and as a ForbesBLK Local Advisory Council Member, Denise unites communication, business, entertainment, beauty, and technology in her innovative approach. Through these diverse pursuits, she unswervingly champions progress, innovation, and empowerment across multifarious domains.
Anchored by DB Connect's mission, Denise nurtures the growth and impact of socially conscious entrepreneurs, providing invaluable strategic guidance, resources, and connections. Her accolades, including Latin Honors and University Honors Scholars recognition (New York University Founders' Day Award), attest to her outstanding achievements.
How to work with me
What I can offer
What can a professional mentor help with? Mentors raise your confidence and problem-solving abilities. Along with developing leadership skills, having a mentor to advise and guide you can increase your confidence and help develop problem-solving skills. Regarding confidence, research has tied having a mentor to an overall increase in emotional health.
My expectations for a successful mentoring relationship
For a mentoring relationship to be successful, I expect open and transparent communication, a genuine willingness to learn and grow, and a proactive approach from both parties. I anticipate that mentees will actively seek guidance and advice when faced with challenges, provide regular updates on their progress, and demonstrate a strong commitment to implementing suggested strategies. Additionally, a successful mentoring relationship requires mutual respect, a willingness to listen, and the flexibility to adapt and refine approaches as needed. Ultimately, I aim to foster an environment where the mentee feels empowered to take ownership of their development and work towards achieving their goals.
How entrepreneurs can prepare before we start
To be considered for mentorship within my capacity of managing more than 500 mentees in a volunteer capacity, please adhere to the following criteria: 1. Startup Description: Provide a comprehensive description of your startup, highlighting its mission, products or services, target market, and unique value proposition.
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Minimum Revenue: Your startup should be generating a minimum revenue of $1,000 or more. This demonstrates a level of market traction and sustainability.
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Progress Report: Within the initial three weeks of mentorship, proactively submit a progress report outlining key achievements, challenges, and milestones reached. A progress report should be concise and cover areas such as revenue growth, customer acquisition, and product development.
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Challenges Identification: Identify and articulate five critical challenges that your startup is currently facing. These could include market competition, funding limitations, scalability concerns, marketing strategies, or operational inefficiencies.
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Guidance Requirements: Clearly specify what guidance or support you seek from the mentorship. Be detailed in explaining how you envision the mentor's assistance in addressing the challenges you've outlined.
Please note that while I am passionate about mentoring and supporting entrepreneurs, I expect a proactive approach from mentees in terms of reporting progress and seeking guidance. I am here to provide valuable insights, but I also value your initiative in driving the mentorship process forward.