Bonnie Ross Parker
The Ultimate
SuperMOM
I sat next to a stranger during an expo. Behind a booth of an organization I knew nothing about. And these women kept coming to the booth hugging and greeting this stranger as though she was their mom, and they hadn’t seen her in a while. I sat, I stood, I shook hands, I sat, I stood, I shook hands as this stranger introduced me to these women. I observed and giggled as this stranger and her husband lovingly fussed with one another over a Subway sandwich.
Soon it was no longer an expo, it was no longer about an organization, and she was no longer a stranger. It was a family reunion. These women were my business sisters, and this stranger was our business mom. What an interesting change of events.
"You are enough." When asked what advice SuperMOM Bonnie Ross Parker would give to fellow Female Over-Achievers she replied, "you are enough. No matter what it is you set your mind to do, you are and have enough to accomplish it." When many women these days are engaged in unhealthy relationships, exploiting themselves, and doing all manner of (for lack of a better word) ratchetedness on videos and such just to be validated, Bonnie's words of encouragement couldn't come at a better time. Which is why she is in our BOSS Spotlight.
Bonnie has a unique way of getting female entrepreneurs to be their best self. She coaches them to “Xperiance Connections.” Which is the organization she founded almost 12 years ago. “I get joy from cheering people on.” Bonnie says, “I always have. In Jr. high and high school I was a cheerleader and I guess it never left.”
Like many of us, being a business owner was not Bonnie’s first career. “I wanted a profession that worked well with my children's schedule, so I became a teacher. And although I loved it I had a feeling there was something more for me to do” she says.
In a time where women were expected to devote all their energy and effort to their families; Bonnie went against the grain and opened a small packing and shipping franchise. Now for the first time this MOMpreneur had to balance home and business. When asked what advice she would you give to moms who are considering making the same transition, Bonnie replied, “be sure to plan it out. Making certain you not only have the necessary financial resources but also the intellectual, intrinsic, and supporting resources is essential. I realize times are different now. But I still believe that is unfair for a woman to withhold reaching her full potential because of family responsibilities. But the transition is a family affair and everyone including the children should be involved.”
BNA: What is your definition of a BOSS?
Bonnie: A BOSS is someone who takes charge and is willing to lead with integrity.
BNA: If you had 30 seconds to speak to every girl America, what would you tell them?
Bonnie: You are enough because you are a child of God. It’s all about you and your contribution to the world. You are as worthy and deserving of happiness and success as anybody else. You are unstoppable. Have your own understanding of yourself and your goals. The current hype is irrelevant.
BNA: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Bonnie: I’m proud of my life. And anyone who is reading this should be proud of her’s. No matter the outcome, we should be proud of our choices. And never diminished responsibility in pursuing what we want. If we want it, we must find a way to make it work.