Serial entrepreneur Stephanie Lynn Zader not only wants to fulfill her own dreams, but to help others see their dreams come true. After establishing her first business, she plans to establish at least nine more before moving on to become a motivational speaker and venture capitalist.
Zader hopes to “empower people everywhere.” “That’s my mission, to empower them to do whatever it is they want to do,” she said.
Stephanie Lynn Events, Zader’s first established entrepreneurial venture, has seen enough success that she has hired a manager, thereby freeing up her own time for future ventures. “I’ll still be hands-on, but I’m forming a board because we plan to transition to non-profit,” she added. Zader noted that the company will be renamed and the entire business model will be updated.
Her second venture will be a direct sales company, yet to be named, which will focus on personal self-defense. Zader said that with the event planning business, she has been very hands-on in the direct sales industry, planning vendor events as well as joining direct sales companies.
“The thing I like about direct sales is that the overhead is lower. You don’t have a storefront, so you don’t have those operating costs,” Zader said.
As for additional entrepreneurial ideas, she noted she has a large list to choose from but is undecided as to which she will pursue next.
Zader said that her background was difficult, coming from foster care and rising above the troubles she had as a younger woman. She added that she had recently been honored at the Public Children Services Association of Ohio’s “Rising Up and Moving On Awards,” an honor bestowed upon those who have been serviced by Ohio’s child protection system and have risen above their past and moved on.
“I feel there are people that have probably done far more and overcome a lot more than I have,” Zader added, “but I also know that I’ve overcome a lot.”
Zader said that her life was “messy” when she was younger, but that she worked hard and persevered to establish herself as a business woman. “I’ve spent the last five years building,” she said, noting that at one point she was working four jobs while building her way to a career position.
Zader hopes to bring her success, as well as her rocky start, to her motivational speaking. “I will be able to show people that just because this is who you were, it doesn’t mean that’s who you are today. With hard work, no matter what you’ve done or where you were, anything can be overcome.
“I hope to change lives, that’s my goal,” she said.
