Shake It Off Leadership

"Shake it off!", shouts my coach and teammates from the sidelines after I missed a point.

Whether on the court, field or professionally, this phrase has motivated Betsy Cerulo to shake off the losses and get back up to give it her best. Being a successful business owner for 30 years has brought a myriad of victories and setbacks especially navigating the business playing field as an LGBT woman. Betsy takes on her labels of diversity with great pride and has been relentless in guiding employees and colleagues to never, ever give up, even when the odds are not in your favor. Betsy transformed her failing company out of the 2008 recession to a thriving 8(a) federal government contractor with a culture driven by collaborative compassion.

Betsy chronicles her journey to overcome discriminating barriers from childhood through business. Her courage to be vulnerable in revealing the tears and fears that she overcame, teaches the reader that with fire in your belly, you will tap into your own greatness to live your dreams. If you want to start a business, leave a job, clear out toxic relationships or allow yourself to surrender to love, Betsy shows us that our greatest riches are within our souls when we take the time to ask tough questions and be willing to listen for the answers. More than likely, we already know the answers yet it's how we take action that leads us to the quality of life we are seeking.

Through her own mistakes, Betsy has overcome adversity to come from behind to live a joyful life filled with pride, as an LGBT woman, wife, parent and grandparent.

Betsy Cerulo is the CEO of AdNet/AccountNet, Inc., based in Baltimore, Maryland and Co-Founder of the Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce.