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Deborah Penta
Title: Founder & CEO
Company: Penta Communications
Location: Westborough
Deborah Penta has spent the past 20 years growing her marketing firm, Penta Communications in Westborough. She serves as the firm’s lead strategist on client programs and initiatives, but is also deeply committed to the community. She founded the Penta Communications Inc. Make-A-Wish Black Tie Dinner Gala, which has raised nearly $1 million for children with life-threatening medical conditions. She also founded the nonprofit FLIC (Female Leadership Interest Council), which seeks to bring women together around issues of leadership and mentoring.
Who is your most influential role model, and why?
When my father was living, he served as a business mentor without ever realizing it and his absolute love of life remains with me to this day. In my career, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many interesting and very well known people and each served as unique inspirations and role models. I believe that it’s important that we continue to seek mentors and role models all throughout life. We can all learn so much more and our lives become much richer.
Why are you good at what you do?
I’m even more passionate about my work today than I was 20 years ago. It makes me happy and fires me up every single day.
I believe it is this passion that fuels my desire to always want to bring out the best in people and to bring everything to the next level.
My standards are very high and my mantra is centered on continuous improvement and our company producing stellar work and results for our clients. I also believe in the importance of never loosing site of helping to build a stronger community.
The combination of a career that ignites my passion and a deep commitment to the community creates a level of immeasurable fulfillment in my professional life.
How does your organization give back to the community, and what role have you played in those efforts?
We have raised and donated more than $1 million to children’s charities over the past several years and are very proud to commit our time, talent and treasure to do our part. We have been a longtime supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and have helped fund more than 100 wishes over the years. We offer a leadership scholarship for high school girls demonstrating exemplary leadership.
We also do our best to contribute to many organizations that are in alignment with our charitable mission.
I serve on numerous boards in the region and I believe in providing leadership opportunities for my team.
Many volunteer and serve on boards and committees.
When the stress level gets too high, what’s your secret remedy?
Ten years ago, I attended a business growth conference where the featured speaker asked the audience an important question: “Are you managing your business or is your business managing you?”
For me, that was the million-dollar question. It was time to make changes. Now, I’m taking the time to do what is necessary to achieve a healthy balance. I exercise for an hour and a half a day at least four times a week, eat a diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables, take vitamins faithfully, don’t drink coffee, schedule regular massages, travel and nurture time with friends and family.
How have you tried to balance your career and your personal life?
Children beautifully teach us ways of putting life in perspective, and my son was the catalyst for me in achieving a much better life balance.
I’ve learned to become a “master advance scheduler.”
Everything that can be scheduled in advance is, and that has actually opened the door for spontaneity. My personal schedule and my work schedule combine into a “master life schedule.”
While it looks overwhelming on paper, it gives me great joy to have the balance of a life filled with work that fuels my passion and people that I love. By forcing myself to develop a mastery of preparation, there is always time to get everything done, regardless of how busy things get or the endless demands.
WBJ Web Partners
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