Her Story
About Lisa
Lisa Deane is the founder of Demand Zero, a 100 percent volunteer nonprofit organization she established after losing her son to fentanyl poisoning in 2018. The nonprofit's mission is to supply law enforcement agencies with resources to combat drug trafficking and to provide education awareness programs, including a notable live-streamed event funded with Walmart that reached over 40,000 teachers and students across the United States and five countries. Deane holds an associate's degree in business and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. She worked for 14 years in a sales role at Old Castle's lawn and garden division, where she developed independent work skills. In addition to her nonprofit work, Deane serves as a Board of Education member in her town of Madison, Connecticut, in her second year, and she is currently running for State Senate in District 12. She has collaborated with federal agencies including the DEA, FBI, and HIDA for the past 10 years, and Demand Zero has donated approximately 700,000 dollars in assets to law enforcement such as the New Haven Police Department and Connecticut State Police.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lisa
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from my mom and dad who were extremely hard workers with excellent morals and values. I grew up in the Catholic Church where my mother always motivated us to aim higher, like telling us that even if Mary's a gas station attendant, make sure he wants to own the gas station one of these days. My husband's been phenomenal in supporting my ambition with the nonprofit by taking on more responsibilities.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to hang on to your integrity no matter what situation you're in. Do what you say you're gonna do. Also, when someone is acting up or acting out, assume there's something going on besides that immediate moment and try to give that person the benefit of the doubt.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Go with your gut, that's number one. Stop questioning yourself every other two minutes. I did that and tortured myself with that in my nonprofit, but I was way more experienced than I ever knew. Don't be afraid to call the shots if you really believe in what you're doing. Mistakes are gonna happen so what, you move on. Read everything possible in whatever field you're moving toward and all the fields around it. Learn to talk the talk so you can walk the walk.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
There's an unfortunate look-at-me attitude now amongst a lot of nonprofits that's destroying things. Nonprofits should never be in competition with each other but should be helping each other. Fraud is an issue infiltrating nonprofits. Getting volunteers is challenging, especially young people for campaigns and nonprofits.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Definitely truthfulness and integrity. With my nonprofit, the execution of the work that you said you were going to do means so much because volunteers have busy lives and giving one hour of their time should be seen as precious. It's the greatest feeling when that person gives back what they told you they were going to.
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