Helping Our Communities Thrive: Zip Code Wilmington. A Sit Down With Desa Burton — Outside Insights Podcast Episode #38

Outside Insights

As many of you know, I’m a proud Delawarian. There’s nothing I enjoy more than watching our local businesses thrive. When a business’s core mission is helping other Delawarians thrive, well, I’m sold.

In this episode of Outside Insights, I sit down with Desa Burton, Executive Director of Zip Code Wilmington, a nonprofit coding bootcamp. Zip Code Wilmington provides adults with intensive software developer training, with no college degree requirements. In turn, the program helps build tech talent pipelines for employers in the Wilmington region.

Many Zip Code students see dramatic boosts in their income after completing the program. This lifts up individuals and families while also benefiting the Wilmington community.

During our chat, Desa shared her own career journey, from graduating the US Naval Academy and serving as a Surface Warfare Officer, to earning a law degree and working in intellectual property, and eventually, leading Zip Code Wilmington.

Of course, I had to dig into Desa’s leadership philosophies. She discussed the importance of empowering her team to help them grow, which she links back to lessons learned from mentors in the military.

Other key topics we discuss in this episode of Outside Insights include; taking care of yourself to avoid burnout, overcoming inertia to embrace change, and continually developing new skills.

If you’re a burgeoning entrepreneur with an idea, someone interested in learning new skills, or you just want to learn more about businesses doing good in Delaware communities, this episode is for you.

Reply and let me know what topics you’d like to hear next on the podcast!

Until next time, friends.

Chris

Zip Code Wilmington:

• Website: https://www.zipcodewilmington.com
• Email: [e-mail]

Books mentioned:

• A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink
• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
• Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell