Meet Donna Wise | Certified Global Shipping Concierge

We had the good fortune of connecting with Donna Wise and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Donna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I ran a successful freelance consultancy for 12 years, specializing in developing strategies for business growth. My thought was to buy a consultative franchise that would leverage my expertise and also allow me to explore new industries and markets. InXpress was the perfect fit because of all the supply chain disruptions and confusion. Business owners crave access to accurate, trustworthy information and support. Logistics is an area where many nonprofit and business leaders want to take back control. Others would prefer not to spend too much time and effort, but rather hand it off to someone with access to discounts and up-to-date information. It’s been a great way to enhance my skills while providing a valuable service.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
InXpress is a technology platform and global franchise organization, focused on bringing high levels of personalized service and significant shipping discounts to small to mid-sized business leaders. We are unique in that we do this with no fees, contracts or minimum volume commitments. Each franchise owner takes ownership for providing the best possible experience for their customers. I’m excited to belong to such a valuable network at a time when our services are needed more than ever. What sets me apart as a franchise owner is my dedication to enhancing our services with expert complimentary consultation for each client.

I won’t say it was easy getting where I am today, but it has certainly been a wild and enjoyable ride. I have been thrust, sometimes unwillingly, into many diverse business environments from corporate sales, to creative agency strategy, to regional marketing, to customized research to nonprofit strategy to global innovation. Each position was more intense than the last and taught me valuable lessons about the importance of resilience, creativity and collaboration. Having studied multiple languages and having lived and worked abroad, I’d like folks to see my brand (#goglobalwithdonna) as a consultant who is passionate about inspiring business owners to optimize all that global trade has to offer.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I prefer staying off the beaten path. The first thing we would do would be to explore some of the many walking trails around Atlanta. I love the Roswell Riverwalk, Gold Branch Trail, Westside Park and the Blue Heron Nature Preserve, to name a few. Of course, after a brisk walk we would need to reward ourselves with a refreshing drink and a bite to eat at Zama, Tupelo Honey, Twisted Soul Cookhouse, Cristy’s Kitchen or Big B’s Fish Joint. And you can’t come to Atlanta without attending a play or live musical performance at The Southwest Cultural Arts Center.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m so glad you asked. My Shoutout is to my dear Mom, Evelyn Bailey. She made her heavenly transition many moons ago but continues to inspire me daily. She was not your typical “stay at home” mom. While my Father, James Bailey, held down a white collar 9-5, she deftly raised 4 children on a single income in inner city Philadelphia. I didn’t realize it growing up, but she modelled the entrepreneurial spirit on a daily basis. My father didn’t want her to work full-time so she found creative ways to drive much needed revenue well before “working from home” was a thing. During my formative years, I became an unwitting intern to many of her home-based businesses, each of which was hugely successful considering how full her plate was with children and caring for our home. She ran a babysitting service out of our home, but I don’t remember much about it because I was a toddler at the time. She launched a stud service for Great Danes that was much in demand and lasted for several breeding generations. Mom made a name for herself as one of the top Tupperware Dealers in our area, with the most fun and creative hostess party ideas. She launched a delicious Mrs B’s Gourmet Popcorn business, often popping into the wee hours each night. It quickly grew to be so popular that she had more orders than my sister and I (and all my friends) could help her to manage. On top of all this, she played piano, built dollhouses, fixed electrical problems around the house and managed to volunteer as a poll worker, all with humility and grace. Watching her and listening to her encouragement is what shaped who I am today.

Website: www.InXpressRoswell.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donna.inxpress/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnalwise/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WiseStrategies/status/1296936369286270981

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InXpressRoswell/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVnb_g0eUqjfpBR6FBGAiJA

Image Credits
AKR Productions