Deborah Risper M.B.A of Maricopa on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Deborah Risper M.B.A and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Deborah, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me right now is a fun, balanced mix of structure, service, and stillness. I usually start my mornings early with prayer, affirmations, and a few quiet moments to center myself before diving into work. From there, my day often includes managing my family affairs, engaging with social media, managing content for Women of Excellence Magazine, and planning for the upcoming Do It Scared Masterclass Weekend. I also carve out time to respond to emails, collaborate with partners, and strategize new ways to serve and empower women across all my platforms. In the evenings, I try to wind down with family time, cooking, a little music (Nina Simone or smooth jazz always sets the mood), and sometimes a glass of red wine or journaling while burning my favorite candle. Every day looks a little different, but they’re all rooted in purpose, peace, and progress.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As you can see, my name is Deborah Risper, and I am a Jill of All Trades; entrepreneur, speaker, certified tax professional, Author, business & book coach. I am also the visionary behind Women of Excellence Magazine, the voice behind the Discussions With Deborah podcast, and the visionary behind Do It Scared Masterclass Weekend. At my core, I’m passionate about helping women walk boldly in their purpose, even if they have to do it scared!

My journey hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been powerful. After facing personal loss, fear, and seasons of uncertainty, I chose to build brands that reflect resilience, Faith, and empowerment. Women of Excellence Magazine is a global platform created to celebrate, uplift, and spotlight Black women making an impact in business, community, and beyond. The Do It Scared Masterclass Weekend is an extension of that mission. Its goal is to bring women together for transformational conversations, strategy, healing, and elevation.

What makes my work unique is that it’s deeply personal. I’ve lived what I teach. Every event, article, and offering is rooted in authenticity, community, and a bold belief that women can rise from any place and still win. Right now, I’m focused on expanding both platforms and launching digital courses to help new entrepreneurs grow with confidence and clarity.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
One of my earliest memories of feeling powerful was in the fourth grade, standing in front of my class to deliver a speech I had written myself. My hands were shaking, but my voice was steady. I watched as my classmates leaned in, and even my teacher seemed moved. That moment showed me that my words had weight and that I could make people feel, think, and believe through my voice. That was the beginning of my understanding of the power of influence and purpose.

But I also can’t talk about power without talking about family. I’m the oldest sibling of four, and with that came an early sense of responsibility and leadership. I had to learn how to advocate, protect, guide, and lead, sometimes even when I was still figuring it out myself. That role made me resilient. It taught me how to show up, even when I was tired. It taught me how to serve, even when I didn’t have all the answers.

Today, that same strength shows up in everything I do. From Women of Excellence Magazine to the Do It Scared Masterclass Weekend. My mission is to create safe spaces for women to be both soft and strong, to lead with faith and fierceness, and to know that even in their most uncertain moments, they still carry power. I didn’t just find my voice, I learned how to use it to lift others, and that’s what makes the journey so beautiful.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back the most in my life has been the fear of not being “enough.” Not smart enough. Not experienced enough. Not connected enough. That fear had me shrinking in rooms I was qualified to lead. It made me second-guess my voice, my calling, and even my worth at times.

For a long time, I believed I had to have everything perfectly in place before I could start; start the business, launch the event, speak on the stage, or share my story. That fear delayed my obedience and dimmed my confidence. But what I’ve learned is that fear is a liar, and faith is louder.

When I finally embraced the idea that I could do it scared, everything changed. I realized that God wasn’t asking me to be perfect; He was asking me to be willing. Willing to trust Him, even when I felt uncertain. Willing to show up, even if my voice trembled. That’s why Do It Scared became more than just a phrase; it became a movement. Because so many women carry that same fear silently.

Now, I don’t wait for fear to leave the room. I move anyway, knowing that courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s choosing purpose in spite of it.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is my integrity. In everything I do, whether it’s leading a team, creating content, publishing Women of Excellence Magazine, or hosting the Do It Scared Masterclass Weekend, I strive to show up in truth and authenticity. I believe that how you do anything is how you do everything.

In a world that often praises performance over purpose, I’m intentional about building spaces and brands where people can trust that what they see is what they get. I don’t just want to inspire women, I want to do right by them. That means honoring my word, being transparent in business, and refusing to compromise just to keep up with trends.

Integrity builds legacy, and legacy matters to me. I want my children, my clients, and even strangers who encounter my work to know that I stood for something real, that I was consistent behind the scenes and on the stage. Because titles fade, platforms change, but your character will always speak louder than your caption.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
Though we are a family of 6, I feel most at peace when I’m home alone in silence. Just me, a lit candle, a glass of wine, and Nina Simone or some smooth jazz playing softly in the background. That quiet space allows me to exhale, reflect, and reconnect with God and myself without the noise of the world or the demands of my roles.

As someone who leads, serves, and pours into so many others, I’ve learned that peace isn’t passive; it’s something I have to protect and intentionally create. Those moments of stillness remind me that I don’t have to hustle for worth. I don’t have to be everything to everyone. I can just be—and that’s enough.

Peace also finds me when I’m walking in my purpose. Whether I’m speaking to a room full of women, mentoring a new entrepreneur, or seeing someone’s confidence rise because of something I helped spark. But before I can pour out, I need those still moments to be poured into. That’s my reset. My recharge. My sacred space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://deborahrisper.com
• Instagram: deborahthebrand
• Facebook: Deborah Risper
• Other: https://doitscaredmasterclassweekend.com

Image Credits
Perfect Capture Photography Phoenix
T.A. Media Co
Arrogant Dame Hair Quarters