Deanna Singh
Brookfield, WI
"Passion is often masked as a luxury when it is really an essential ingredient in life."
Deanna Singh is Owner and Chief Change Agent of Flying Elephant, LLC. Deanna Singh is a thought leader who travels the world motivating and educating audiences about living with joy and purpose. She is a champion for marginalized communities and an inspiration to all those who want to be agents of change in their work, lives, and society.
Ms. Singh has been recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal as one of the community’s most influential 40 under 40 leaders and the 8 Under 40 to Watch for the University of Wisconsin School of Business. She is also the recipient of the United Way’s Philanthropic Five Award and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Leadership Development Hero Award. She sits on the national board of LIFT and College Possible.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Fordham University, a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University.
Ms. Singh impacts the world as a speaker, a teacher, a principal, a leader of large foundations, a social entrepreneur, a businesswoman, an author, a publisher, and a mother.
What would you say to other women and girls who want to make or support change in their community, state, world?
If there is a young woman out there that wants to change the world, I say something simple: DO IT! Think about the things that you are most passionate about changing, and then align your studies, your work, and your personal time with that mission. Do not wait for someone to give you permission to do things differently. The only person you need permission from is you. So grant it, and then get to moving. We have too many social issues out here, challenges that we need you to solve. So let’s get it done!
Inspired by the centennial of the 19th Amendment, would you like to comment on voting or have a story to share?
Anyone who knows me knows that my grandmother was a major influence in my life. When I was a little girl, I loved sitting at the foot of my grandmother’s easy chair. I loved listening to her stories and watching how she interacted with people. I learned all about how to have a strong will and still listen to other people, how to be a boss through service, and the importance of laughter. Amongst many other things I often found myself admiring her hands. I wondered about all of the things she had done with them in her life. Nursed people back to health, picked cotton, raised her children, and planted in her garden. But one of the most vivid memories I have of her hands was of her patting her “I voted” sticker. I remember how proud she was of that sticker. I have heard of the sacrifices that were made to get the right to vote, but she lived it. It made me want to have one of those stickers too. And now, when I get mine, I pat it in the same way. My hands do not have as many lines as hers did. I have had a much easier life. But I do hope that my hands produce as much goodness in the world as hers did and that I can keep on patting my sticker until it is my time to depart too.
Learn more about Deanna at https://www.deannasingh.com/.
Flyng Elephant Foundation https://www.deannasingh.com/flying-elephant-foundation