Debbie Middendorp (MCM 2014) is nothing if not ambitious. She has a strong vision – to provide societal and cultural empowerment services to women, allowing them to gain financial independence. As the co-Founder of 6 Degrees Academy for Women, she helps many women to find jobs through vocational skills training programmes, job matches, and in setting up small businesses.
The journey of 6 Degrees Academy for Women began when Debbie met Gita Pelinck, a like-minded individual who shared her vision for women empowerment. Together, they founded the organisation in 2017 in the hope of providing better lives for women and future generations. Working out of The Netherlands, the organisation’s focus is on Nepal, the birth country of Gita, where they have since completed two significant projects and are working on more initiatives such as farming and starting an eco-soap factory.
These projects have provided job opportunities for the women in Nepal.
As Debbie can attest, the commencement of a project requires tremendous work and effort. It takes time to find motivated people to join the cause, and even then, these partners have had to demonstrate that their vision, direction and values are aligned with the organisation. This can be a massive hurdle, especially if one is a foreigner and unfamiliar with the local business culture. Thankfully, Debbie is no stranger to integrating with different cultural perspectives - she attributed this to her time spent in SMU, where she experienced the various cultures which has widened her horizons. She also met two special friends for life, Melisse Ming and Tuk Orapan, strong supporters of her activities in Nepal. Tuk is 6 Degrees’ digital marketing expert and plays an important role in professionalizing the organization.
Adopting cultural perspectives was not her only takeaway from SMU. Debbie augmented the training, learning, and skillsets acquired as the essential “tools” which had propelled her business to grow.
She applied the concepts of leadership, strategy, and stakeholder management in the organization’s move from the start-up phase to the current expansion phase.
While reflecting on her success thus far, Debbie thought of the larger alumni community who would be embarking on the social entrepreneurial journey. To those who aspire in this direction, she had the following practical tips to share:
“Firstly, it is important to work hard, but even more important to work smart. Don’t try to over-accomplish; focus on the things that will create the most impact. Next, should one ever feel overwhelmed, take a step back and take a ‘helicopter view’ of the situation - this helps provide a better perspective. Finally, do not be afraid to ask for help. It does good to be humble and learn from others.”
May these words empower us to bless others the way her enterprise has, for the women in Nepal.
