Meet Dana Rutherford

We recently connected with Dana Rutherford and have shared our conversation below.

Dana, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
My journey through life is a testament to resilience, determination, and the unwavering pursuit of dreams. Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, my early years held the promise of a bright future; However, life took an unexpected turn when in 2004, I lost both my parents just 3 weeks apart due to prescription drug addictions, as well as my little brother years later to the same fate at the age of 24.

I married at the age of 18, but the relationship became toxic. Over the years, I became a dedicated stay-at-home mother, raising 3 children while enduring an abusive relationship. After nearly 15 years of marriage, I found the strength to leave, and my children and I faced homelessness for nearly 4 months. It was during this time that I began to rediscover myself and my drive to create a better life for my sons making the courageous decision to return to school, determined to rewrite my story.

After completing my associate degree, I discovered that my dream school, the University of Florida, offered an online program. To my delight, I was accepted into the bachelor’s program at the age of 34, officially becoming a Florida Gator.

At 36 years old, I walked the stage in cap and gown for the very first time. My incredible journey led me to be the Online Student Commencement Speaker for the Graduating Class of 2022. My impact has been profound working in multiple local and national nonprofits in areas such as marketing, advocacy, fundraising, event planning, volunteer management, communications, programs, public speaking, and more.

My resilience and dedication didn’t stop there. I founded “The Trauma Survivor’s Guide to Life Abundantly,” an inspiring business dedicated to using advocacy, content creation, events, fundraisers, consulting, and more to support individuals as they navigate life after trauma. My written blogs, which have been reposted by numerous sites and viewed worldwide, provide solace and guidance to countless individuals.

I earned the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award for my hours of volunteer work. As a devoted mother, wife, and stepmother, I continue to prove that one can rise from the depths of adversity to inspire and empower others to create their own incredible stories of triumph. My goal is to be a shining example of what it means to never give up on one’s dreams and to always strive for a life lived abundantly.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
With my business, “The Trauma Survivor’s Guide to Life Abundantly,” we are all about the day-to-day life after trauma. Our slogan is “Rebranding the trauma survivor,” because we want to show an image of hope and strength instead of gloom and doom. We do this with advocacy, content creation, events, fundraisers, consulting, and more.

We have also created a video and podcast series called Survivor, Empowered. Its focus is showcasing women who have done incredible things in their business and ventures despite walking through trauma or people who can help those who have endured trauma. Included in that is our very first Survivor, Empowered. Women’s Conference coming on May 4, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. Those who attend will hear from survivors of trauma who are now rewriting their stories as entrepreneurs, professional leaders, community partners, business owners, and much more. It will also include panel discussions, time for networking, vendors, a raffle with prizes and lunch provided by The Salt Smokehouse.

We are also officially launching A Million Dreams Creative Consulting, providing specialized knowledge, guidance, and solutions in corporate events, fundraising, marketing, graphic design, strategic vision planning, public speaking and advocacy, and company workshops & trainings such as “Building a Culture of Philanthropy in Your Business.” We continue to do what we are passionate about, but we hope to help the community do the same,

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. My passion and drive 2. My ability to communicate with people and publicly
3. My marketing and branding skills

Find that thing in life that makes you feel like you could burst inside with drive and find a way to make it your career. Remember that YOU are your best brand, even if the journey has not always been the easiest.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest area of growth and improvement has been with my confidence in what I do. I realized that I have a lot to offer, and I had to stop beating myself up as I try to encourage others. I had to let go of feeling like I wasn’t worthy, and it made my business go to new levels. I now see a woman who can change the world!

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Image Credits
Dana Rutherford

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