Rebecca Scarberry, Blissfully Extraordinary

As you are finding out, nominating Rebecca for FEW’s EWoM was a no-brainer! Check out her answers to my interview questions and you will agree! Here goes-

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Kim: Who are two extraordinary people that have inspired you most?

Rebecca: My mom and my mentor.

My Mother.
I didn’t realize what an incredibly strong woman she was when I was growing up and truly how much she sacrificed for her children and family. She was the bread-winner in the family and started college and her career at a time when women had to fight to just go to college. S he was asked to leave her economics class at UNCC because, “the instructor didn’t teach women” and when she explained to the instructor the class was a requirement for her degree, he told her to change her degree and drop his class.

She did not take his advice and was the only female who stayed in the class; he made it as difficult as possible for her, but she passed. Later in her career she was denied an office as the lead salesperson because, well… they never had a woman as a lead salesperson and they didn’t know how to give her an office. That would mean asking a man to leave his office? So, they said she could “share” an office space with a man, whose sales were consistently less than my mother’s every month. This lasted until his wife found out her husband was sharing an office with a beautiful blonde woman, then he moved his desk back out into the center cubicle area with the other sales associates.

She was featured in the local Business Journal as the top salesperson for her company. After being recognized in the paper, an employer she had interviewed with previously called her to offer her a sales position. He told her he didn’t know how to hire a woman but now that she had “proved” herself and that she could sell, he wanted her to work for him. She gracefully declined his offer and continued to work off of ONLY commission and raise her family of four as a single mom. She was the primary care giver for our grandfather, handled all of the finances for two homes and was left with over $50,000 debt after paying off a lien on her house after a “mistake” made by the nursing home that took care of my grandfather before he passed away.

As an adult, I look at her as the strongest trailblazer I know. As a child, I didn’t understand why she didn’t come to my basketball games, swim meets or cheerleading competitions. I wish I had the opportunity to go back to those moments, hug her tight and tell her how much I appreciated what she did and how hard she worked for me to be able to afford to do any sport, activity or event of my choosing. She never had any validation, support or acknowledgment of her accomplishments, sacrifices and unending loyalty and love for her family. However, she kept on blazing and became well known in the business community.

Today, she is still a member of Rotary; she donates to several charitable organizations, volunteers and is an avid reader at 78 years old.
 

Kim: What kind of impact do you strive to have on other women?

Rebecca: I want to have a positive impact on other women and let them know that they truly can do and be anything they want, regardless of their circumstances.

Kim: In your own words, what do you think it is that makes a woman extraordinary?

Kim: What is your favorite inspirational quote?

Rebecca: My favorite quote is by John Wesley:

Well, I told you that you’d love her! I am so blessed to have her in my life and to be able to learn from her. Rebecca’s courageous journey both personal and professional has inspired me to dream bigger and act on those dreams. How about you?