Meet Dora L. Rankin, the Founder of Dora Rankin Consulting, where she helps women leaders build thriving, purpose-driven businesses.
Dora didn’t always envision herself as a business coach. After years of climbing the corporate ladder and juggling the demands of single motherhood and caregiving, she realized her true calling: empowering women to break free from traditional expectations and build businesses on their own terms. Inspired by her own experiences, she founded her company as a way to give women the tools not only to succeed but to define success for themselves. Her approach blends heart-centered strategies with a no-nonsense practicality, offering solutions that are both authentic and results-driven.
We asked Dora about the pivotal moments that led to the start of Dora Rankin Consulting, the hard-won lessons she’s learned, and her plans for helping even more women embrace their economic power.
Tell us the story behind your company’s founding. How and why did you start working on Dora Rankin Consulting?
Thirty-nine percent of businesses in the U.S. are owned by women. Here’s something you may not know about them—only 2% make $1 million in revenue and only 18% are earning more than $100,000 per year. I am on a mission to change these statistics. With a lifetime of expertise developing top performing sales leaders, creating complex road maps for businesses, and being certified in empowering women's leadership from Cornell University, I have claimed my title as business coach, globally advocating for women in business at all stages.
Can you delve deeper into the evolution of your company's mission and values over time?
The reality is that it is all too easy to have shiny object syndrome and waste time and money looking for a magic pill. Remember the days of infomercials and QVC? Just replace them with TikTok and Instagram. It's a trend. Growing your business with long-term proven methods is always a smart move. Relationship-driven sales have been around for ages. It is timeless, but it can feel foreign to those of us building a scalable and sustainable business. I know you can learn the skills needed to make six-figure quarters, months, and contracts a new reality for you because my clients do it all the time.
My business was started in my mother's honor. I decided to use my decades of experience to empower women to shift paradigms and own their economic power.
In what ways has your upbringing or past experiences contributed to how you operate as an entrepreneur?
I’ve always been a mover, shaker, and heart-led change maker. I got it from my mom—my first coach; the love of my life. This business was started in her honor after my sister gave me a reality check. She reflected back to me that I could be using my decades of experience building businesses and activating markets to empower women who can shift paradigms, and that I was uniquely suited to help them do just that while making sure they own their economic power.
Have you ever felt like you’re “different”? If yes, in what ways has this contributed to your journey as an entrepreneur?
My lived experience from teen drinking, single motherhood, being the primary caretaker of my mom, being in the executive suite, and finally entering the startup world has shown me that my legacy is to pave the way for women who are on the journey to living their purpose and creating wealth. But the work continues for me to fully embrace the areas of my life where I am thriving. That is the true journey.
Did you always know that you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
Not even a little. I knew I was meant to be self-sufficient but I thought that meant work hard, climb the corporate ladder, and, if I’m miserable, remember everyone else is too. The moment I lost my mother I knew I had to make a change. I had to find out if there was something beyond the hustle. I took a hiatus and joined a fintech startup while studying empowering women's leadership at Cornell. A few years after that, I had a moment of clarity and took the leap to start my own company.
What’s been the hardest and most rewarding part of your entrepreneurial journey?
Publishing The Heart Sell and educating women founders on how to implement a sales strategy without ‘fussing.’ It’s not your people’s job to find you and get excited about how you can help them; it’s your job to find them and share your passion and solutions. The most effective way to do this is by having Heart Sell conversations, otherwise known as non-salesy sales calls.
How can a sales call possibly be non-salesy? Hear me out. Sales calls aren’t what you think. In fact, they can become something you come to love. They can feel good, authentic, and heart-led.
No matter what your industry is, whether your business-to-business, business-to-consumer, or direct-to-consumer, I’m a big believer that your business can benefit and grow from more sales calls. This means actually getting on Zoom or the phone, or having a chat with your prospective clients, rather than waiting for them to come to you.
How have you grown as a leader since starting your company? What experiences have contributed to this growth?
As a coach I realize that women hire me to guide them. As a result, they get to decide if they want to listen to me or not. I can lead you to water but it’s still your journey on when you drink and how much. When you finally decide to take a sip, your willingness to keep going gets easier. My leadership style is to guide you; the results are up to you.
How would you describe the journey you’ve had in a few sentences? Would you do it all over again?
I’m currently watching the Northern Lights from a natural hot spring in Selfoss, Iceland. Today, this is my life. I had to go through the hard, trudge through the trenches, and truly act out faith. Once I made the decision, the path became clear. It’s still getting clearer and evolving along the way.
What’s next for you and Dora Rankin Consulting?
I have my heart set on teaching The Heart Sell around the world, even beyond Iceland. I’m not going anywhere, business—coaching women founders is in my DNA.
