Dee Bowden shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Dee, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
For me, self-care is all about making time for the things that bring me joy. That means attending smooth jazz concerts, savoring a glass of delicious wine, and enjoying the fun and energy of a Broadway show whenever I can. Those moments remind me to slow down, enjoy life, and savor the experiences that nourish my spirit.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dee Bowden, founder of Collect the Cash and host of the new podcast Collect the Cash with Dee Bowden. I teach companies and entrepreneurs that the sale is not complete until the money is in the bank.
My passion for accounts receivable started with a career-defining moment—being tasked with recovering $8 million in outstanding invoices for a small IT company and collecting $6 million in just 60 days… while working part-time.
That experience shaped my 4 Keys to Collect the Cash: Problem Solving, Customer Service, Express Gratitude, and Relationship Building. These principles guide everything I do, from consulting and training to sharing real stories and strategies on my podcast—all designed to teach businesses to recover their revenue, improve cash flow, and keep great client relationships intact.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was the day I played a piano solo and saw the audience’s faces light up. In that moment, I realized that sharing a part of yourself—whether through music, words, or actions—can bring joy and make a real impact on others. That lesson has stayed with me. It’s the same approach I bring to Collect the Cash: using my skills, experience, and 4 Keys—Problem Solving, Customer Service, Express Gratitude, and Relationship Building—to create positive results for the people and companies I work with. Just like that piano solo, it’s about making a difference that others can feel.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes—when I was writing my book Collect the Cash, there was a moment I almost gave up. I kept asking myself, Will this really make a difference for small business owners and consultants? Will anyone care? Writing a book is a huge undertaking, and it’s easy to get caught up in doubt. But I reminded myself of the $6 million I collected in 60 days and how many business owners struggle with unpaid invoices. I knew the strategies, stories, and 4 Keys I share—Problem Solving, Customer Service, Express Gratitude, and Relationship Building—could teach them how to improve their cash flow and keep their businesses alive. That belief pushed me to finish the book, and today it’s teaching people exactly the way I hoped it would.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the accounts receivable and collections world is that it’s all about the numbers—aging reports, DSO, and quotas. While those metrics matter, they don’t tell the whole story. The truth is, unpaid invoices aren’t just a numbers problem—they’re a people and process problem.
That’s why one of my favorite questions to ask is, “What had happened was…” It’s not just a catchphrase—it’s the key to uncover the real reason an invoice hasn’t been paid. Maybe it’s a missing purchase order, a billing error, or a breakdown in communication between departments. Whatever it is, you can’t fix it if you don’t know the story behind it.
My experience has shown me that resolving accounts receivable issues requires more than sending another invoice or making another demand. It takes Problem Solving, Customer Service, Express Gratitude, and Relationship Building to uncover why payments are delayed, fix the gaps in the process, and preserve relationships while getting the money in the bank. When we ignore the human side of AR, we miss the real opportunities to collect the cash and keep it flowing.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope to be remembered as someone who made a difference—using my gifts to teach others how to solve problems, build relationships, and collect the money they were owed without damaging trust. I want people to remember that I brought a human touch to Accounts Receivable and proved that business can be both profitable and personal.
That I believed in celebrating both the wins in business and life, and that I was an encourager and supporter of the goals others strived to reach. They’ll smile and recall how much I loved smooth jazz concerts, great wines, attending Broadway shows, and riding Ferris wheels.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://collectthecash.biz/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deecollectscash/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deebowden/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
