Donna Riedel’s story of success and empowerment has become an inspiration to many, and a way of life to those she mentors. As a former nurse educator and current personal investor and mentor, Riedel’s passion for education and growth is evident in every aspect of her life.
“I started life off without a whole lot of money. I had to work really hard. I'm kind of one of those stories where I went from nothing to something,” said Riedel.
Riedel began her career as a CNA, and if it weren’t for the mentors she encountered during her time as a nursing assistant, she may not have felt the push to pursue higher education.
“I had a lot of nurse mentors when I was a nursing assistant. When you work under good leadership, it gives you the passion that maybe you didn't know you had before. They all saw something in me that I didn't see in myself, and it really encouraged me to pursue nursing and then nursing education. I mean, I went from having my CNA license to my associate's degree, then my bachelor's, and then my master's degree. I've gone from the ground up,” said Riedel.
While pursuing her education, Riedel faced the loss of her mother and her 21-year-old son. While both experiences were extremely difficult, Riedel relied on her friends, family, and faith to persevere and continue pursuing higher education. Riedel’s perseverance is a source of pride for her.
“The most rewarding part for me is the fact that I've accomplished so much against all the odds. I just feel like I persevered through some of the hardest possible situations,” said Riedel.
Riedel’s experience with hardship throughout different points of her life has led her to become a mentor to other young women who may be in similar situations. Though it can be hard to pursue an education while dealing with difficulty, Riedel feels receiving an education and achieving a dream career is possible no matter the circumstances.
“I'm very much about empowering other people to educate and follow their career dreams and pursue their best life because it's possible no matter where you come from. No matter how hard life can be, you can push forward and move through that and move past it and become an example of what it looks like to be a strong woman,” said Riedel.
Riedel was able to lead by example with her own daughter by encouraging her to pursue a career in social work. She strongly supported her daughter’s desire to pursue a career in the field, and her current role as a personal investor allowed Riedel the freedom to watch her grandson while her daughter worked toward a degree.
“My daughter just graduated with her degree in social work. I feel like I was a good example to her. She's a single mom and I wanted to give her the opportunity to be able to to get her feet wet and really get strong in her career. It's a gift to be able to watch my grandson as well,” said Riedel.
Her daughter isn’t the only young woman that Reidel has helped mentor through a career search, though. She has built relationships with many young women in the community that are looking to find their perfect career path.
“I have a lot of relationships with women of the community usually in their 20s or 30s that are looking for a career path. We all support each other and stick together. I am a huge advocate for supporting small business owners and empowering our small business owners that are women in this community. I just really believe in kindness and lifting one another up,” said Riedel.
Riedel’s passion for helping others in the community is one of the driving forces in her everyday activities. In addition to her individual work with young women in the community, Riedel also enjoys supporting charities and people in need. She quotes the Bible in Philippians 2:3 as a guiding principle in her life.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others,” reads the verse.