Diana de Rosa is a six time Equestrian Olympic journalist. She currently owns a Public Relations firm that specializes in horses. She is an accomplished photographer, editor and travel writer too.
Photos on Diva Maverick Mavens courtesy of Diana de Rosa.
How did you become involved with horses? And did your family have a love of horses?
Diana de Rosa
When I was in High School I off handily said to my dad that I thought I was going to get 100 on my Algebra Regents test. He thought I was joking of course and made me a bet that if I did he would buy me a horse. I did and he did. We lived in the woodsy section on 5 acres and it was possible to build a barn and have a horse.
OK. Take me into the psyche of a horse lover. Why horses?
Diana de Rosa
The best times on horseback are when you are riding on the trail. There's a constant silent communication going on with you and your horse. And you are surrounded by the beauty of nature all around you. It gives you a sense of freedom and peace both at the same time. I found it especially relaxing when I was under a lot of pressure.
Does this peace come from nature or do you feel this from the horse as well?
Diana de Rosa
The combination of the two. With me I was always training my horses on the trail, especially green young horses. I would try to take little steps with them - getting them to be supple or listen to my aids (hands, legs, seat). Little responses were very rewarding. But in addition to that it was so great being out there. You'd hear the birds and see squirrels, even an occasional fox or raccoon. It was you, the horse and the hidden animals negotiating your way through the trees.
How integral is nature to grounding you and keeping you focused on the goals at hand?
Diana de Rosa
Nowadays, I don't spend as much time outside and riding back when I was doing it on a regular basis was on the trail and in the ring. As much as I enjoyed the peace and calm of going on the trail, there was also great appreciation on working with a horse in the ring. So, I would say it was more the horse that would keep me focused and the setting would set the basis of what the day's plan would be.
I see you are a language major so how did you get to Equestrian school?
Diana de Rosa
Strange series of events. When I was a kid I always knew I wanted to travel and so I took up languages in college. But then when I graduated, my dad, who was a contractor, had this opportunity to take over a riding school and he asked me if I wanted to run it. So, crazy me said yes.
So you were already an accomplished rider. Tell me more? Had you been an competitions?
Diana de Rosa
I actually wasn't an accomplished rider. I'd only ridden bareback on trail but then when we took over the riding school I dove in. It was pretty much the way I do everything. I would spend a month in Virginia annually to studied riding intensively. I did a course in California and then I would come home and practice. I often trained 6 horses a day and taught and so in time you learn and get better.
What would you say is the secret ingredient to success? What's your salt?
Diana de Rosa
Responding quickly to people who call or email even if only to say when I can really connect with them. Delivering a quality product every time. Something you would be proud of. Networking to connect yourself with other key people in your industry. Staying visible. Working smart (and sometimes hard).
Remembering to always treat people well and be friends with everyone, even your enemies (yes we all have them). Go that extra mile to do favors for people when they need and deserve it. Meeting your deadlines or at least connecting to let someone know if you are having trouble doing that. People know that I deliver what I say I will deliver when I say I will deliver it and that I'll always give more than expected. And they know they can count on that every time.
What has been your biggest obstacles? What story or advice could you impart to someone who is having difficulty with making their dreams happen?
Diana de Rosa
I've been lucky. I generally decide what's important to me and figure out a way to go after it. When I wanted to travel but couldn't afford it, I started sending out letters to places I thought might be interested in having me do stories and asked if they would cover the expenses and told them where the stories would be published. I got that first trip and delivered and then was able to use that to get even more trips. That's just one example of many things I've done. I think that you need to be realistic with your dreams. I am single but if I were married and had kids I'd have to look at different dreams and less time to devote to them. So, your dreams have to be realistic and fit within your lifestyle. Perhaps your dreams then would involve your husband or children. If you wanted to sing, you could sing at church. If you wanted to ride horses you could do that with your kids. I think the key is defining what those dreams are and then figuring out a way to do it. I recently lost my mom and after that I decided I needed to decide what would make me happy. I decided it would be getting back into TV reporting. So, I started to reach out to avenues where I thought I could make that happen. Just today I got a call from a web site I do work for and they asked if I would be interested in co-hosting their show jumping shows on the web. Of course I was ecstatic. That was my dream being fulfilled.
But the reason that happened was because of all the seeds I've planted over the years and the contacts I've made. So, you have to build a strong base so people know you are good to your word.
How do you deal with the passing of your mother and working towards your dreams. I'm sure other women would be inspired by your response?
Diana de Rosa
It's tough. I miss her every day, every hour but I keep myself busy and just try to remember how much of her she left with me. She often lived her dreams of travel and seeing the world through me since she really never had the chance. She was always so proud of everything I achieved. So, now I try to do things that make me happy. I also try even harder to work smart and not hard. I try to give myself more time to do some of the other things I enjoy beyond work while still making sure I deliver to all of my clients. Over the years I've learned to work fast and achieve things that others would have to take much more time doing and that's what I mean by working smart. I've kept my files very organized. I have great distribution lists that I keep current and build on. I try and streamline the way I do things to make them the most efficient I can so that I have time to go dancing at night with my friends or to take a course or to do things beyond work. I think when you lose someone it makes you realize that we all will die some day and so how can we live the rest of our lives doing what makes us happy. Even the work we do needs to make us happy. We need to fill our days and find ways to enjoy whatever we do.
One of the other things I did was start to network locally a bit more. I attended a Long Island Press Club meeting and within a month they named me to their Board. I wanted to get involved and I found out they are a great group of proactive people. I offered to help out at a few things and I think it was a perfect match. It's local. It's doing stuff I know how to do and it's giving me the opportunity to meet new people. It's all about networking. They want to tap into my skills and I want to help them grow. It's a win-win situation because I am surrounded by people who do what I do. And so I can also learn from them.
Excellent. How do you marry photography, horses, travel and writing into a career that most people would consider a dream?
Diana de Rosa
It started out with me learning about the horse world. Then one day a man from a local sports publication came to the barn and was looking for someone to write a horse column for him. I said that I would do it. Before I knew it they started a horse publication at my suggestion and I became the editor. That was the marriage of all my dreams. I then started to travel to cover events, would write about them and brought a camera along. I think I always had a knack for writing but over time and with the help and guidance of other photographers I became quite a good photojournalist as well. I just covered my 6th Olympic Games last year. I was still running the stable at the same time that I was editor of this magazine. Tell us about the Olympics which was going to be my next questions. Thanks for the intro. One of my associates at the magazine covered the first Olympic Games even though I was the editor. I was a bit miffed that I didn't get to go and mentioned that to another associate. And so he said go after it if you want it. So, that's when I started writing letters to see if I could get some international trips underwritten. I think the first one was to Spain but overall I was taken to Spain a couple of times, Hungary, Malaysia, Italy, Hong Kong, German and other places over the years. Some of them multiple times. Those trips kind of opened the door to the Olympics. It's very hard to get Olympic credentials but once you get it the first time it's a bit easier. I somehow got that first credential to cover Seoul in 1988 and networked a lot with the USOC. I believe they were impressed with how hard I worked and remembered me. I then requested credentials for the Pan Am Games which not as many journalists like to cover but that also was something the USOC likes to see - that you are not just doing the Olympics. Again that helped get me the credentials for the next Olympic Games. I was the only U.S. equine journalist to cover the Cuba Olympic Games and one of the few to go to Brazil because many of the other journalists were nervous of the dangers involved. But not me. I knew with the USOC and IOC involved we would be fine. Covering the Olympics is beyond good, but I know of a few journalists that did it once and will never do it again. It was too much work for them. You get on average 2-4 hours sleep a night for 2 1/2 weeks straight. You really run on adrenalin and I can tell you it's that way for every journalist who is there. And if you are getting more sleep then you probably won't be considered for the next Games because they are very restricted on who they allow to cover an Olympic Games.
Define gumption to a woman who doesn't think she has any?
Diana de Rosa
It's researching on the internet to see what company has a rider they feature and writing them to see if they'd be interested in photos you have of that rider. It's writing that letter to a Tourist Board or government outlining why they should consider bringing you to their country to write a story. It's believing in yourself when others may not. It's keeping your word even though others may wonder if you will come through. Don't say it if you aren't going to do it. It's going out there and going up to someone you want to interview even though you feel awkward doing that. It's taking that photo of the person shining someone's shoes just because you see the beauty in that. Gumption comes in many forms. It's also setting an example for your kids that you can do whatever you want if you set your mind to it.
You've covered funding as a theme in this interview. Tell someone who is looking for funding what mistakes you've made that might help them in their search?
Diana de Rosa
Funding can come on many levels. I don't know that I can recall ever making a mistake that way because I always tried to be realistic and widespread. Meaning I would contact multiple people in hopes that something would come through. Early on I think I would price myself too low and had to work too much. Sometimes by doing that you miss things but then again when you are starting out you have to prove yourself first. So, funding can be through the money you earn or in kind that you do or through others underwriting projects for you. Also, one thing that I haven't done a good job of is looking into grants. They do exist and you should reach out for them.
One final piece of advice--If you could speak to a room of women of honor about living their lives with passion, what would you say?
Diana de Rosa
Remember to treat others as you would want to be treated. Decide what would most make you happy and figure out a way to either achieve that goal or some piece of it. Don't take on a task unless you have the ability to be proud of the final product. If you do decide you are going to do something, do it with your whole heart and soul. Remember that we only go through life once and no one every said that work had to be boring. So, bring happiness and passion into everything that you do.
Tell me what kind of contact info you would like included in this article and any other info?
Diana de Rosa
I'm always happy to have people email me directly at dderosa1@optonline.net. And to visit my web site photos at www.dianaderosa.com. I am just getting into the facebook thing but I sure love having fans and friends travel with me. I am Diana De Rosa. And at twitter I am danceace. I often like to let people know where I am traveling and where people can follow my articles and when any new photos go up. Diana's other websites include: www.TwoSistersOnAMission.com, www.aperfectpresskit.com, www.dianaderosa.net.
Angelia Miller is the founder of Diva Maverick Mavens www.divamaverickmavens a new bread of feisty, non-conformist adventure loving adrenaline-high entrepreneur. The tagline is: Empowering Women by Interviewing Empowered Women and inspiring them to take Action! Casting exceptional dynamic talent for fresh content is the mission of Diva Maverick Mavens. The interview is in the original transcript form with minimal editing to preserve the integrity of the content.
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