Women in Tech Tampa Bay: Lori Dann, COO/CFO at Breeze

In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Embarc Collective is excited to introduce you to Women in Tech Tampa Bay — a content series profiling women who are building at Embarc Collective and how they’ve built their careers.

Meet more women tech founders and investors across the state of Florida here.

Meet Lori Dann, COO/CFO at Breeze.

What pivotal points in your career led to your current role?

I had worked in the Industry for several years and the frustration of our clients lead me to leave for a year. I was presented with the opportunity to run a startup to disrupt our industry — the idea of doing “it right” intrigued me to take the position.

What do you wish you had known earlier in your career?

I believe this is unfortunate, but get everything in writing. I was brought up knowing that your word meant something, but in the world we live in today, that does not always apply. If you are made promises professionally, make sure you get it in writing.

What communities, networks, or resources have helped you build in your career?

I have had the pleasure of having wonderful teams to work with, which has allowed me to take on more. I had the opportunity to work with an executive coach that reminded me to always keep learning, which sometimes that seems difficult when you are a working mother. Don’t forget to build your network and take every opportunity to learn. However, my greatest resource was my father and what he taught me growing up. Always stand by your word, be honest and hard work will pay off in the end.

What is one piece of tactical advice that you would give to another woman considering your career path?

Over the past few years, I was introduced to Brene Brown, who reminded me of an excerpt from a speech of Theodore Roosevelt gave that I have come to love:

Don’t let anyone criticize you if they are not in the arena with you. It is not the critic who counts; not the woman who points out how the strong woman stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the woman who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if she fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Connect with Lori and follow Breeze.

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