Her Story
About Dedre
I serve as Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, where I oversee a small but mighty organization that has grown to close to a million dollar operating budget. We provide adult literacy services here in Fort Bend County, a suburb of Houston, Texas, and I'm proud to lead a wonderful team of 11 people. Our building is currently under construction, which is exciting as we look forward to starting fresh together in our new space. Beyond my role at the Literacy Council, I'm actively building my personal brand as an independent consultant under my name, Dedre DMS. I'm passionate about creating a platform where I can travel, speak to women, and share my story about leadership, self-help, and navigating the workplace. I completed my Master's in Leadership and Management from Walden University in 2023 and went through a leadership program with the Sugar Land Chamber of Commerce, now called Fort Bend Regional Partnership. I'm deeply involved in our community, sitting on the YMCA's board for one of their locations and serving on various community advisory boards focused on strategically addressing challenges and barriers in Fort Bend County communities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dedre
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You have to be self-aware and know your heart. Know your why.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Some of the biggest challenges is taking the time to do the work on self - self-awareness. Balance is critical, balancing family versus your purpose or your mission to help others, but not forgetting those closest to you. I don't think if you lack self-awareness, you don't really know when you're off balance or what to look for to even recalibrate and get back on balance. And I think that scale just changes all the time, like, continuously.
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