Interview with Cathy Derksen

Cathy Derksen is a catalyst and disruptor, supporting women to step into a life that inspires them. As the founder of her company Inspired Tenacity Global Solutions Inc, Cathy helps women take on the courage to face major changes in their life. Her passion is dedicated to helping women tap into their own brilliance to create lives filled with genuine joy and fulfilment. After working in finance for over a decade, she left her corporate job and started Inspired Tenacity to focus on helping women create success on their own terms. Cathy is an international speaker and a bestselling author who inspires her audience to dream big and take a leap of faith into reaching for their goals. She has created a platform supporting women to share their own inspiring stories in books, TV and podcasts. With her all-in-one program, Cathy takes you from chapter concept to published bestselling author in a simple, exciting process.

Cathy lives near Vancouver, Canada. She has two children and 2 fur-babies.
She enjoys spending time in nature, travelling, meeting new people, and connecting with her community around the world.

If you could give your past self some advice, what would it be?
Give yourself time to breathe and recover after major events. When I left my corporate job and started my business, I rushed straight into it 100%. Looking back now I see I should have let myself transition more gently. You can’t recover from burn-out by running full speed ahead.

When you first started your career, how did you know you were ready and what made you start?
I started my business two years ago because I knew I had to get away from my previous job before it drained me of everything I had left. I knew that my big vision was to have a true, life changing impact on women’s lives. In my old job I felt like I was treading water, getting no where toward this vision. I knew I had to jump completely out of that job and into my business to get building that dream.

What or who has been your greatest influence in business?
The greatest influence on my business has been my intuition. Learning to trust it and make choices that were true to my heart has been a huge shift. There have been many people who have impacted my business as well. My mentors who have supported me in following my big vision, and continuing to expand it, have allowed me to step into a life that I had never dreamed of.

What is your number one business goal to accomplish this year?
I always like to choose a word for the year that sums up my big goals. For 2023 my word is ‘Impact’. Over the past two years I have focused on establishing my business and expanding my community on a global scale. Now its time to serve my community on a deeper level with impactful services. Curating and publishing multi-author books is a main part of my service. My goal for 2023 is to support 200 women to share their stories with the world and to become international bestselling authors.

What do you have going on that you’d like to share?
I plan to publish at least 10 books this year. The themes I am currently working on include Midlife Awakening, Conquering Imposter Syndrome, and exploring the many layers of grief people experience.
In March 2023 I have a new group coaching program launching that will support new authors through the journey of developing the skills and courage to be published.

Where do you see yourself in five years? 
Over the next few years I plan to expand my speaking business. At the moment I do mainly virtual speaking engagements. Going forward my goal is to combine travel with speaking opportunities around the world.

How do you envision your future?
I see my business as a lifestyle that I can continue for many years. I can see myself continuing to create books and support women around the world even when I’m in my 70s. I love my work.

What is your favourite thing about what you do in your career and why?
My favourite thing about my work is seeing the excitement on my clients face as they hold their book in their hand. I create my success by supporting my clients in creating their success. It creates a ripple effect of positive momentum.

Do you have a mantra or phrase you live by? What is it?
Howard Thurman’s quote: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, then go do that! Because, what the world needs is people who have come alive!”

What is your number one priority when it comes to your career and daily work?
My top priority is to contribute in a positive way to the global community. I support women in create a better life for themselves. This in turn helps their families and their communities and amplifies out to the world.

What keeps you motivated on a daily basis?
I’m motivated by the knowing that this is my true calling. I have a responsibility to contribute in a big way and create a legacy of positive change. I am grateful to be able to spend my days doing work that I love.