Rosa K. Barksdale
Author & CEO
Barksdale Home Care Services Corp.: A 30-year-old, licensed Home Healthcare Agency in Pelham, providing in-home personal care service and skilled nursing delivered by Home Health Aides and Registered Nurses throughout Westchester and the Bronx.
PROFESSIONAL PATH: Worked for Abbott Laboratories, a large manufacturer of hospital products and intravenous systems. “I was the first woman in the region in the field. I increased sales by 100 percent in two years.” Moved on to Gould Statham Corp., a manufacturer of medical transducers and cardiac instrumentation. “But then I decided to change my path. … I thought I could sell on my own, so I decided to start my own business.”
WHY WESTCHESTER: “I was raised in Westchester County. I know the area that I grew up in and now serve. My familiarity has helped me to network and grow. Westchester is where people help people.”
MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES: “The Pelham Rotary; The Business Council of Westchester; The Westchester-Rockland African American Chamber of Commerce; The Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services; the NYS Health Care Providers Network; my alma mater, The College of New Rochelle; Westchester-Putnam Workforce Investment Board; and various other local networking groups.”
LESSONS LEARNED: “One must meet all challenges … to be able to grow, no matter how difficult the task. Interacting with your customers and meeting their needs is essential, because they are your business.”
SECRET TO SUCCESS: “Be faithful to your cause, be diligent in preparation, have courage to change, respect people.”
WHAT’S NEXT: “Continue in the hopes of motivating others to pursue their dreams through entrepreneurship. My first book, ‘The Intuitive Entrepreneur,’ is a go-to guide to help people navigate and pursue their dreams. I would like to promote entrepreneurship for our youth, to encourage them to be competitive and creative.” http://www.barksdaleathome.com
