Theresa Roemer is the CEO of Theresa Roemer, LLC and a small business owner who specializes in business philanthropy. She owns several home goods companies in Houston, Texas and is a partner in Roemer Oil. As an expert in business philanthropy, Theresa works regularly with major motion pictures, television studios, corporations and high profile brands to expand their philanthropic reach to raise millions of dollars through business charity events. Theresa consults with organizations such as LVMH to understand their business goals with fundraising, then turns those objectives into a reality with her ability to produce high-impact business fundraising events.
How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?
Through my many hardships , life has toughened me and made me stronger. As a small child , and again as an adult, I have learned that when you get knocked down you can either stay down or you can put your big-girl panties on and deal with it and learn from it. I have brought this mindset to my professional life. My drive and willingness to push through hardship to succeed has been there all my life , but now I know how to harness it and that struggle to work through the bad stuff can lead you right to success if you learn how to harness it.
How has your previous employment experience aided your entrepreneurial journey?
I learned early on that it was more financially rewarding to work for myself than to work for corporate America. You may have to work longer hours and not take paid vacations, but the payoff is when your idea, your blood, sweat and tears come to fruition ; to be successful entirely at your own hand is the ultimate payday.
What have the highlights and challenges been during your time as an entrepreneur?
The highlight of my career has been starting businesses and selling them and making millions. Seeing the payoff of hard work is truly rewarding. Even more rewarding is the ability to use my resources to help others through my philanthropic work.
Helping others has been has been the highlight of my life -- I am living the life of my dreams. The biggest challenge I have encountered has been to prove myself as a woman in business. There really are no days off , and there have been those seven-day work weeks where I have also missed seeing my family and worked when I was sick. The biggest challenge is staying consistent and not letting the determination wane.
What advice can you offer to women who are seeking for different entrepreneurial challenges?
Find something you are passionate about and stay focused on pursuing that path. Don't let someone ever tell you that you cannot do something. The only person standing in the way of your success is you.
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
Most entrepreneurs don't have balance in their life/work but it is something that you consciously are aware of and have to work very hard to make sure that your family and life is not forgotten. Entrepreneurs do not always get to clock out at 5PM and generally work through weekends, so it takes a lot of effort and patience from everyone involved. I make the work/ life balance a priority. It took a while to get there, as it does for all entrepreneurs, but you must make time for life outside of work.
What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?
I think the biggest issue in the workplace is that women are not being taken seriously . They constantly have to prove that they are capable of doing the job, as well, if not better than men.
How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?
I find it an honor to think that I am someone's mentor. To this day, I still remember some of the mentors that left their biggest impressions on me. They changed my life, and to know that I can leave that same type of impression on a young person, makes my heart happy.
Which other female leaders do you admire and why?
I adore Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, Betty White and Joan Rivers. They prove day in and day out that if you really want something, you can have it.
What do you want to professionally accomplish in the next year?
Professionally, over the next year, I would like to become a more recognized motivational/inspirational speaker on philanthropy and entrepreneurship and create more national exposure for my True and Real brand. I never want to limit my possibilities or options when it comes to what I want to accomplish in a year's time. The sky is the limit.