Dionna Rojas-Orta
CEO & Cultural Awareness Trainer
Safe Space Communications
How many years have you been in your industry?
I have been in the Human Service field for 24 years. My experience included working in the earlier years as a paraprofessional at the Western PA School for Blind Children then shifting into the workforce development sector, family programming incarceration, and special education advocacy then finally running qualitative focus groups and launching my own cultural awareness training business.
What advice would you give to any one about following their dreams?
My advice would be to make sure to spend time in nurturing relationships with people who will support your dream spiritually and financially. Expect your faith to be shaken at times when your dream is really big, but know that the feeling is part of the process.
Push pass the feeling to give up and surround yourself around people who will hold you accountable to reaching your dream.
What is the biggest career or business mistake that you have ever made?
The biggest career mistake I made was not believing enough in myself to step out and start my business a long time ago. I gave into fear and self-doubt and wasted valuable time that I can’t get back or make up however, God’s grace allowed me to come to my senses in order for me to take a chance on myself.
What was the best thing that you have ever done that got you where you are today?
The best thing I ever did was learning to network and nurturing those relationships. Through my experience in networking with a variety of entrepreneurs, community leaders and educators, my circle grew and kept me hungry and energized to never forget my dream while I was building up the courage to make it happen.
What would you tell your younger self?
I would tell my younger self that your challenges -past, present andfuture are,and will be,opportunities to train and teach you valuable lessons to be used later in life. I would also tell her don’t use set backs as an excuse for procrastination.
What would you do differently in your career or business?
I wouldn’t have fought the idea of furthering my education. I would not have taken a work first approach. My obtaining my degree earlier before being married and having additional children would be one thing I would do differently.
