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Entrepreneur of the Month

Each month, the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute will recognize an entrepreur from the Temple community, from the Philadelphia region, or from the annals of business history.  Their stories provide valuable insight into the entrepreneurial mindset, and about what it takes to succeed with new ventures.

Rebecca Davis

The Rebecca Davis Dance Company

Q&A With Rebecca Davis - Lessons In Entrepreneurship



Rebecca Davis is an entrepreneur who embodies the spirit of innovation in her dance business. The winner of the 2004 IEI Business Plan Competition, she agreed to share some of her hard-earned knowledge with fellow entrepreneurs:


Q: What is the biggest challenge you have faced in starting your business?
A:  I struggled with the initial decision of incorporation a year ago: to organize as a for-profit LLC, or to incorporate and apply for 501c3 tax exempt status as a not-for-profit entity. As I sought guidance and advice from business leaders in Philadelphia, I realized that the latter was the proper structure because it suited my entrepreneurial goal: to produce an artistic product for the community.


Q: Was anything easier than you expected?
A:  Nothing in the start up phase was easier than I expected. In fact, everything was more difficult than I had expected. When I graduated from Temple University, I knew that I was pursuing a different career path. The majority of my peers would be making $40,000/year as college graduates, and I was hoping that, in two years, I could stop making emergency phone calls to my sister: “Umm…Hi, Melinda. Do you think you could pick up my rent this month?”


Q: What is the biggest lesson you have learned? How did you learn it?
A:  Predictably, I have faced the daunting task of raising start up capital. I learned that the fundraising strategy must be well-suited to the goals of the business and the entrepreneur. When I first started raising funds, I was trying to make my dance-theater company attractive to venture captalists, but this was contrary to a non-profit organization that offers a “social return”, rather than a financial return. Now, I am seeking support from philanthropists and community leaders, not venture capitalists.

Q: What advice would you give to others starting out?
A:  You must believe in yourself and your business. When you are starting out, you should expect many people to tell you that you are not ready or that you will not succeed. A true entrepreneur has the strength to overcome this pessimism and focus on building a realistic and innovative business model.Rebecca Davis


Q: Who do you admire in the business world?
A:  I have two role models: Mr. David St. Clair and Ms. Lucinda Holt. Both are well-known Philadelphia entrepreneurs and absolutely amazing speakers. I have had the privilege to hear Mr. St Clair, CEO of MEDecision, speak at The Entrepreneurs’ Forum and Early Stage East. Mr. St. Clair uses examples from his company to explain how managers need to build a team comprised of “visionary leaders” and “detailed organizers”. Listening to his presentations had the effect of clarifying my own thinking as I faced strategic decisions regarding my own company.
Ms. Holt has been applauded for her amazing leadership and sale of TurnTide. She is an energetic entrepreneur who shows her impressive intelligence in how she identifies and seizes market opportunities. She understands the psychological challenges entrepreneurs face and demonstrates an infallible determination to succeed.


Q: How have your views on your business evolved? Is anything dramatically different than when you first started out?
A: When I first started out, I was working with a roll out plan that predominantly focused on creating strategic alliances with existing arts organizations. However, after spending time working on my service in Russia, I realized that it would be difficult to demonstrate the distinctive competency of my business while collaborating with existing entities. I still believe partnerships are important, but now I put my organization’s strengths first and then search for complementary opportunities.
Rebecca Davis, 23 year-old American Fulbright Scholar, is returning from Russia with big plans for the City of Philadelphia. After training as a ballet dancer and choreographer in Saint Petersburg, she is ready to choreograph modern ballets that will make Philly famous. Just how is she planning on doing this? By combining her dance training, business skills, and experiences from Russia.


Read Rebecca's Biography

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