Q: What’s the best advice you have ever received? And who gave you that advice?
A: The best advice came from my mother who always said, “You can afford to be gracious.” She was right. You will cross paths with people who might not be gracious with you, but displaying grace is never a gad option. And grace under pressure is a valuable skill these days, as we continue to experience unprecedented challenges.
Q: What advice would you give to other women looking to make a difference?
A: First, believe that you can make a difference. That is the starting point. After that, don’t be afraid of asking for help. Reaching out to family, friends, colleagues and even experts you don’t know in your fired can all make you stronger and better at what you do.
Also, place yourself in your clients’, customers’, or target audience’s shoes – it will help you understand what is important to them and why. I dedicated my legal career to serving all types of community associations, but it was when I served on why own HOA Board of Directors that I fully understood the challenges volunteer directors and managers face on a daily basis.
Q: What is the one fact you would like our readers to know about you?
A: The key to success is staying curious. I’ve been a lawyer for a long time, but I started listening to podcasts during the pandemic and realized there were none that spoke to the real issues involved with living in a community association. So I started one. It’s called “Take It To The Board” and, in addition to being a lot of fun, it’s enabled me to look at my client’s issues from a new vantage point as I speak to people with useful things to say about community associations.
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Donna DiMaggio Berger is a Board Certified Specialist in Condominium and Planned Development Law, the executive director of the Community Association Leadership Lobby, and the host of Take It To The Board – We Speak Condo & HOA podcast. She has led various community association advocacy initiatives, working with legislators and other public policymakers on behalf of those who live, serve, and work in common interest ownership communities, and has testified before the Florida Legislature regarding community association law. To learn more about Donna, please click here.