Her Story
About Betty
Betty M. Stephen is an award-winning author, playwright, poet, and scriptwriter who has dedicated her life to exploring the depth of human experience through creative expression. A passionate and prolific writer, she first discovered her gift for storytelling in junior high school when she was nominated by her history teacher to write and perform an original play centered on the Women’s Liberation Movement. Her production won grand prize, earning her a trip to tour the U.S. Capitol, and shortly thereafter she was invited to recite her original poetry on the stage of the world-famous Apollo Theater in New York City. These early achievements marked the beginning of a lifelong journey in the literary and performing arts. Over the years, Betty has authored several published works, including poetry collections, and novels, while continuing to develop new scripts and theatrical productions. Mentored by acclaimed artistic leaders in the theater community, she has worked to bring thought-provoking stories to life for diverse audiences. As the founder and publisher of BornToFly Publications, she now oversees the release of her creative projects, which range from bilingual novels to stage plays currently in development. Her work is widely recognized for its emotional depth, cultural relevance, and commitment to addressing themes of empowerment, resilience, and social awareness. Before devoting herself fully to writing, Betty enjoyed a distinguished career as a legal administrative assistant, serving for nearly four decades before retiring to pursue her creative ambitions full time. Today, she channels her experience, discipline, and passion into producing impactful literary and dramatic works, often writing late into the night when inspiration strikes. Guided by values of persistence, inclusivity, mentorship, and self-belief, Betty continues to inspire others through her storytelling while building a lasting legacy in the worlds of literature, theater, and publishing.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Betty
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to persistence, a deep passion for writing, and the confidence to believe in myself even through setbacks. Early encouragement from a teacher, meaningful mentorship — particularly from Reg E. Gaines, 2-time TONY Award winner for Broadway stage play Bring in da Noise, Bring in the Funk, Artistic Director for DUAF (Downtown Urban Arts Festival-NY) — and completing professional development programs such as the McKinsey Academy have also played an important role in my journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Keep writing. We need your voice. Through your writing, you have a powerful voice.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to keep writing. Be passionate and believe in yourself. If you're truly passionate about what you're doing, keep going. No matter who supports you, no matter who doesn't support you, you have to keep going and believe that you have a gift that you could offer the world. I didn't always believe that, but the more I kept writing, the more I kept sharing with different people who were blown away by the material I shared.
We are different, but somehow, we are the same. Each of us has an audience that we can reach and must reach. No one else carries your voice, your testimony, your experiences or your assignment exactly as you do. You must be passionate. Your passion will drive you to your destiny.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is market saturation. There is more content being produced than ever before. I combat that by focusing on authenticity, consistency, and creating meaningful work that connects with people.
One of the biggest opportunities in my field is access. Writers, playwrights, and creators now have more ways than ever to reach audiences through books, stage produ7ctions, social media, streaming platforms, and digital publishing. This allows us to share our stmost.ories with people across the world and connect with those who need the message
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are faith, integrity, authenticity, compassion, and perseverance. I believe in being true to who I am, treating others with respect, and using my gifts to make a positive impact. Inspire. Encourage. Serve.
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