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Before creating a trio of eponyms gymnastics and ninja training academiesDominique Dawes was a standout member of the iconic 1996 Magnificent Seven – the first US women's gymnastics team to achieve Olympic gold.
During those Games, Dawes also won a bronze on the floor exercise, becoming the first African-American female gymnast to medal in an individual event. But ever the competitor, Dawes ponders what might have been. She says she made her biggest athletic mistake during that floor routine: a slip in front of three billion viewers that cost her the gold. Decades later, Dawes has transformed that embarrassing experience into an empowering one. “It gave me the perseverance I have today,” she said The entrepreneur. “Every time I falter in my business endeavors, or get rejected, I see it as an opportunity for growth.”
Hard work and perseverance
Dawes' historic career began and ended at an unusually young age. She had her first competition when she was just six years old and was competing in the Olympics at 15. By the time she was 24, Dawes was in her third and final Olympics and began to feel the pressure to figure it out. her life after athletics. “It was quite challenging for me,” she admits. “I had to search long and hard for something I had the same passion and talent for.”
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After transitioning from broadcast television to the Broadway stage, Dawes gravitated toward motivational speaking because of the impact she could make on other people's lives. The discoveries of decades of misconduct within the USA Women's Gymnastics organization strengthened her resolve to be a force for change. “When all the abuse in gymnastics came to light, I knew I had to be part of the solution,” says Dawes. This commitment to progress inspired him to open Dominique Dawes Gymnastics and Ninja Academy in 2020, focused on creating a supportive and educational space for young gymnasts.
Learn to be flexible
In November 2019, Dawes posted a photo of herself smiling with her children Instagramshowing off her midsection as she signed her 10-year contract for her first academy. Little did she know, just four months later, that a global pandemic would turn the world upside down.
The academy was supposed to open in April 2020, but COVID-19 destroyed any possibility of that. Still, Dawes persevered. Proving that it can be flexible in more ways than one, it pushed the opening to July 2020. “I had a chance to walk away and cut my losses,” says Dawes. “But I know from experience that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.”
Passing over obstacles
The obstacles Dawes dealt with as a new business owner during COVID-19 were a little more relatable than slipping through the Olympics and settling for Bronze. Small businesses across the country suffered record losses during the pandemic, with some studies showing closing rates as high as 43%. In July 2020, the same month Dawes opened its first location, Wells Fargo launched the Open for Business Fund, aimed at helping small business owners. The fund has awarded approximately $420 million to community development financial institutions and nonprofits between 2020 and 2023, helping over 336,000 small businesses nationwide.
Although her academy did not directly benefit from the fund, Dawes, a lifelong advocate for small businesses, embraced the opportunity to support the initiative. “I love that Wells Fargo stepped in and supported these small businesses so they could stay open during the most difficult time in their lives,” she says. “Ask yourself, how many fashion and pop shops have you grown up supporting? Imagine what a loss it would be to the community if they closed their doors.”
Maintaining a balance
Supporting small businesses is personal to Dawes, who grew up in an “entrepreneurial family.” Her father and uncle each owned and operated landfill companies in Takoma Park, Maryland, where they worked long hours every day. Dawes was inspired by watching family members build their businesses, but was wary of how taxing the work was on their personal lives. “Running a business full-time can be draining, so it's also important to make sure you have your priorities straight,” Dawes said.
While she no longer has to worry about slipping during her beam routine, keeping her balance is still crucial to Dawes' success. When she opened the first academy, Dawes was on the ground 24/7, putting out fires and helping with training. She quickly realized that this was not a sustainable lifestyle, especially for someone who values family as much as she does. “If I tried to run this business and train full-time, my kids would never see me as a mother,” she says. With her coaching days behind her, Dawes finds other ways to be hands-on. She has personally interviewed over 100 of her employees and tries to sit down with them one-on-one and discuss their needs whenever possible. However, there are rare occasions when Dawes makes an appearance as the most overqualified substitute gymnastics coach to ever grace the mat.
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