Girl em[Power]ment – A Series of Short Essays.
Over the next few months Flancake.co will be bringing you the Girl em[Power]ment series, which consists of interviews with several working women of all ages in different stages of their career. These are women I not only find inspiring and interesting, but who I think women of all ages should know about and learn from. These women hold careers in several different industries, from creative design to politics.They’ll give us an inside look into what their job is like, how they got there, share their advice for twenty-somethings, and touch on what Girl em[Power]ment means to them.
[be sure to follow along on insta – @girlempowerment]
Our next influencer is Linda Denton, an amazing women I’ve known for as long as I can remember from my hometown. She’s a small business owner but has been in several different fields, so she’s knows a thing or two about success.
Introducing Linda Denton, of Pony Express Printing & Supplies
Q: What is your current job title, and can you please briefly explain your career path?
A: I am the owner and operator of Pony Express Printing & Supplies in Mena, AR. This spring will be my 20th anniversary and I feel blessed to have a business I enjoy and continually get to meet new people- some have watched my family grow and been there for each milestone.
Q: Where did you go to school and what was your major?
A: My background is in science. I graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX in 1991 with a B.S. in Biomedical Science. Seems like a stretch doesn’t it? I love science and attended college with the desire to become a veterinarian. After working in some ‘kill’ clinics and with numerous heart-breaking cases I declared NOT to continue with that career goal. I enjoyed the coursework though and remained in a pre-medical science background. This led to a lot of research work which in turn helped me land a job with Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. I loved it! I also found myself in charge of typing proposals, research presentations, and proposals [at that time it was a hobby- typing/formatting/design].
Q: How do you deal with negativity towards women in the work place [if at all]?
A: My focus is on doing the best job I can. There are occasions where I think the situation lends better for male-to-male interaction and truthfully it raises my blood pressure but I am not sure I want to change that. I have to focus on me: be plain-spoken, have good intentions, state the nature of my concern, and prove that I am capable of providing or performing the task[s] asked of me. An “I CAN” attitude goes a long way.
Q: Who are three of your mentors or role models, and why?
A: My father. He taught me I can do anything I set my mind on and not to sell myself short. Jean ‘Tex’ Narlo, my friends mother, who had a Merle Norman store in Tyler, TX. She was successful as an entrepreneur but was driven to keep exploring her passions and business opportunities [some a success and some just another lesson]. My final mentor is ever evolving. There have been a number of women that I have admired and consider worthy of mentioning mostly because they seem to effortlessly balance motherhood/career/household/and Christian role model.
Q: What are other things you do [hobbies, projects, interest] that you feel passionate about?
A: I love to complete crafting projects. The DIY channel is my downfall and addiction. To make or build something [my headboard for example] lets me relieve stress, work through emotions and end up with a project I can take pride in completing.
Q: Is there anyone you think that is making a difference in women empowerment that you think we should all know about?
A: At my age, I am thankful for the grey haired ladies who spent their years being a mother and being happy with that title. There is job that we females take on when we have children. My most important position is that of Mother. I want to instill love, family and hard-work in my children and that ‘home’ is a cherished institution. My hat is off to all women and I realize we each have our own goals, dreams, and desires.
Q: What do you do in your free time to relax?
A: I love being outside and enjoying walks, fishing, or just playing with my youngest child.
Q: What career and/or life advice would you give to your twenty-year-old self?
A: Listen more, talk less. Give more and recognize your blessings and say ‘thank you’.
Q: What does Girl em[Power]ment mean to you?
A: Girl em[Power]ment means feeling comfortable with who you are, striving for more, and taking on challenges that you believe in – make a difference.
I think we could all take Linda’s advice to give more, recognize our blessings and say ‘thank you’. I know I can!
Stay tuned for our next influencer–be sure to follow along on insta @girlempowerment.
Xo, Flancake
[graphic in collaboration with Courtney Ulrich of Alligator Food Design]
[don’t be left out – follow @girlempowerment for updates]
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