Meet Deborah Jaffe | Executive Director of Non-Profit Organization

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deborah Jaffe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deborah, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success has been those working above, besides, and below me. I feel that my career has been a journey and I couldn’t have gotten where I am today without those who have surrounded me. There have been many that have mentored me along the way in addition, those besides me who have encouraged me and those below me who have brought me up. When I look at my career and especially my success, I think of myself as part of a circle. I can point to any one part or person within the circle who has made a positive impact on my career and life. I am a strong believer that I can only be as successful as those around me are.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
After graduating from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree and then an MBA, I started my career in the Financial Services Industry. I worked for a Private Wealth Management bank for the first fourteen years of my career. It was rewarding. It was through that experience that I started volunteering and loved giving back to local organizations within our community. I was one of a few women who worked on the investment management side of the business, so most of my mentors were men. I learned some valuable lessons which have stayed with me for my career. They always taught me train the person besides you or below you for your job. They each in turn always trained me for their job. This mentality has done well for me. I think it has helped in me within the success of my own career. After having children, I then transitioned and worked work for my alma mater as the Alumni Director. I was then lured into a position at a local environmental non-profit. I had the time of my life as their director of development. It was almost my favorite job ever. I learned so much, engaged my children in the organization. My only problem was that I worked ALOT of hours even at the cost of my family. They say you can have it all, but my important lesson was learning “not at the same time.” I had to put my family first which I had not done so well in the past. That’s the hard part of being a driven person. It was a tough yet important lesson for me to learn. With the intent of being a stay-at-home mother, I was approached by Bella’s Angels. They gave me everything I wanted. For the first time in my career, I could finally have that work-life balance that I so needed. It’s been almost nine years since first joining the organization. I have helped build this organization from the ground floor, engaged my children within the organization, helped families in the community who have children with life-long physical disabilities but yet, I’ve had the ability to be the mom I wanted to be for my children.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would see the sites and experienced some of my favorite restaurants.

Day 1 – North County
Jupiter Beach – you have to go to the beach
Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Manatee Lagoon
Places to Eat: Lazy Loggerheads for breakfast, Guanabanas for lunch and Topside at the Beacon and Salute Market.

Day 2 – Western County
Polo/Winter Equestrian Festival
Places to Eat: Bimini Twist, Lemongrass Asian Bistro

Day 3 – Eastern County
Bike Ride in Palm Beach
Car ride along the ocean touring
Walk Along Worth Avenue
Visit Royal Poinciana Plaz
Tour the Breakers
Places to Eat: BrickTops, Elizabetta’s, Renato’s

Day 4 – Trip to Miami
Take the Brightline to Miami
Tour Wynwood Walls
Tour Cocoanut Grove
Hang out at Eden Rock Hotel
Places to Eat: Joe’s Stone Crab House

Dav 5 – South County
Visit Delray beach
Walk and shop along Atlantic Avenue
Places to Eat: City Oyster, Playa Bowls, 50 Ocean

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to dedicate this to two groups. First and foremost, I would dedicate my success to my parents. They have been my biggest cheerleaders my entire life. Even when I thought that I couldn’t, they knew I could. The second group would be my gal pals…Christine, Diana, Natalie, Gina and Mary. We’ve been friends for many years. Not only are we family by choice, but we also collaborate together, we encourage each other in life’s important decisions including professionally. I’m so grateful for each of them.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-bowmar-jaffe-a265a285/