Donna Maria
About Donna Maria
Donna Maria is the Founder and CEO of the Indie Business Network and host of the Indie Business Podcast. With a background in law and journalism, she provides entrepreneurial training and mentoring services to American Maker Entrepreneurs and has received multiple awards for her contributions to small business.
Work at Indie Business Network
Donna Maria serves as the Founder and CEO of Indie Business Network (IBN), a position she has held since 2000. Under her leadership, IBN has become a significant resource for American Maker Entrepreneurs, providing entrepreneurial training and mentoring services. She leads the Maker Mastermind Intensive, an exclusive small business training program for IBN members, and hosts the annual members-only Indie Business Retreat. Additionally, she has established a robust general and product liability insurance offering for IBN members.
Experience with Indie Business Podcast
Since 2005, Donna Maria has been the Host and Producer of the Indie Business Podcast. Over the course of 19 years, she has utilized this platform to share insights and advice relevant to small business owners and entrepreneurs. The podcast serves as a valuable resource for those seeking guidance in the realm of entrepreneurship.
Education and Expertise
Donna Maria earned her Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, studying Telecommunications and New Technologies from 1983 to 1986. Prior to that, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations from the University of South Carolina, where she studied from 1980 to 1983. Her educational background supports her expertise in law and media, which she applies in her entrepreneurial endeavors.
Achievements in Entrepreneurship
Donna Maria is recognized as an award-winning entrepreneur and has received the United States Small Business Administration's Home-Based Business Advocate of the Year Award. She founded the first online recurring revenue membership business on the Internet and has been acknowledged by Forbes.com as one of the Top 20 Women in the Country Tweeting About Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Her contributions to the field include being a guest blogger for Small Biz Trends and American Express Open, as well as authoring 'Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions.'
Professional Affiliations and Mentoring
Donna Maria is a full professional member of the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists, an affiliate of the National Association of Black Journalists. She mentors coaches, experts, and consultants through the Lifestyle CEO program, focusing on building businesses based on recurring revenue and membership subscription models. Her mentoring philosophy is guided by core values that emphasize freedom, flexibility, finances, focus, fitness, fun, and family.