Suzanne Graham-Anderson – EforAll Greater Worcester
Suzanne Graham-Anderson, an EforAll Greater Worcester mentor since 2022, is the founder and CEO of Positively Suzanne LLC, a lifestyle brand whose tenets are to inspire, motivate, and empower. An entrepreneur herself, Suzanne also has over 20 years of experience in sales leadership. She is passionate about helping others see their worth and has worked with many individuals and collaborated with organizations to help connect people in the community to helpful resources.
What made you want to become a mentor?
I am passionate about giving back and have worked with other organizations as a mentor. When I heard about what EforAll Greater Worcester was offering in our community and met the Executive Director at the time (Miguelina Peralta), I was really impressed by the organization’s passion and commitment to changing the lives of these entrepreneurs. When she asked me to become a mentor, the answer was an enthusiastic yes.
Is there a specific mentoring experience that you are most proud of?
It is so rewarding to see the mentee’s growth, and there are so many moments to be proud of. One of the proudest moments for me was when my mentee proudly spoke about her final presentation and how well it went, and the great feedback she received. Previously she was nervous, and she realized that not only could she do it, but she would blow them away, and she did. That was a very proud moment when she recognized it had been in her all along.
What is your favorite part of being an EforAll mentor?
Seeing the growth of the mentees. Week after week, they are learning, absorbing, asking questions, turning their ideas into reality, and becoming thriving business owners.
What do you think makes EforAll special?
That’s simple. The opportunity that EforAll provides to so many individuals free of charge. Many would not have this opportunity without EforAll. It’s changing the lives of future generations, making dreams come true, and providing these entrepreneurs with life-changing opportunities. Did I mention this is free to them?! That is special.
What are the biggest challenges that women entrepreneurs face?
Depending on the industry, they are not taken as seriously as men, so they sometimes lack confidence and are less likely to take risks. They end up having a harder time getting access to funding and resources, which can be frustrating and cause them to give up. Also, because women are often the family’s caregivers, they are often overworked because while building a business, they are still running their household. Being an entrepreneur is very rewarding but also very demanding and can cause burnout and frustration.
What advice would you have for entrepreneurs?
There is so much I could offer, but I will keep it to five.
- Believe in yourself.
- Constantly seek knowledge and growth.
- Ask questions.
- Be teachable and adaptable.
- Find and build your network.
Interested in becoming a mentor? Learn more here.