Guiding Lights with Donna Rhode

Donna Rhode spent her early years feeling like a misfit. Her teachers did not like that she had a mind of her own, her father struggled with bouts of depression, and she lacked strong role models to connect to. Combined with early and recurring trauma, Donna believes she may have ultimately dropped out of school if not for her second grade teacher, who saw her gifts, helped give her a voice, and became her first role model. Fast forward to college where another educator saw Donna’s gift, this time in the form of a university dean who encouraged Donna to attend business school. Throughout her career, Donna had great mentors and has provided mentoring to others. But her ultimate guide has been her deep spirituality. Please listen in to Donna’s perfectly imperfect journey as she explores the importance of guides in her own life, and how she now lends her expertise and guidance to others.

Bio:

Donna specializes in the marriage of strong business results and personal development.

She’s currently Community Relations Executive at Vaco Raleigh, a boutique provider of executive search, consultant, permanent placement, and strategic staffing services. She also provides coaching, leadership facilitation, and business consulting services.

Donna spent over 25 years in the high-tech industry in various capacities. She was Vice President in Global Sales Operations for Cisco Systems where she led multiple teams to drive, design, and implement innovative global programs and processes. She held other leadership roles in Strategy, Sales Enablement, Product Management, Government Affairs, Systems Engineering, and Field Marketing. Before Cisco, Donna was with IBM in Systems Engineering, Sales, and Brand Management roles.

She served as Program Director at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Executive Development Program, where she designed, developed, and executed custom leadership programs for corporate clients.

Certifications include EQ-I (emotional intelligence self-assessment & 360); Leadership Versatility Index (360); Insights Discovery Tool; Covey Leading at the Speed of Trust.

Donna received her B.A. in Economics with Minor in Psychology, and M.B.A with concentration in Information Systems, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

She’s been an active member of the community for several years. She is/has been affiliated with the following organizations: American Red Cross (former Board Chair, 15 years Board Member); Dress for Success Triangle (Board Vice Chair); Triangle CHRO Association (Co-Founder and Co-Chair); NC Symphony (Board of Trustees, Digital Committee Chair, Strategy Committee, Friends of Note: 2 years Chair); American Heart Association (Circle of Red); Raleigh Chamber of Commerce (Board of Advisors, former Executive Committee, Education Committee Chair)); BEST NC; Triangle Family Services (Advisory Board); Raleigh Professional Women’s Forum (Past President); American Friends of the Château de Compiègne (Past Vice Chair); Athena Women in Tech (Advisory Board); Women’s Giving Network; International Women’s Forum (Comms Committee Vice President); Triangle Diversity Equity Inclusion Alliance.