In this Business Blast podcast episode, host Tyler Wagner interviews Rebecca Cox, a special events administrator for a national nonprofit. Rebecca shares her upbringing as a military child, moving across the United States, which sparked her fascination with anthropology and communication. She discusses how her undergraduate degree in communication studies became essential in sales roles—first at a car‑rental company—where she learned to adapt her approach to diverse customers, a skill she now applies daily in nonprofit event fundraising. Rebecca offers business advice centered on "go big," emphasizing the importance of not judging prospects and aiming for larger opportunities. She advises her younger self to be confident even when uncertain and defines happiness as finding joy in everything. Her favorite book is the graphic autobiography Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, from which she takes the lesson that life is too short to be lived badly. Her favorite quote, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" by Eleanor Roosevelt, reflects her belief in self‑worth. She concludes by directing listeners to her Instagram handle @becca_bolcox.
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Welcome to the Business Blast podcast. I'm your host, Tyler Wagner. This episode is brought to you by Authors Unite. Authors Unite provides you with all the resources you need to become a successful author. You can learn more about Authors Unite and join the free community at authorsunite.com. Now let's jump into the episode. All right everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Business Blast podcast. I'm your host Tyler Wagner. Today I have Rebecca Cox with us. She is a special events administrator for a national nonprofit organization. So welcome to the show, Rebecca.
Thank you so much, Tyler. I'm so glad to be here.
Of course, we're glad to have you on. Uh, we'll dive into the first question. The first one I have for you, Rebecca, is what is the best story from your life that has an underlying valuable message?
So I was a military kid growing up. We moved around a good bit during my childhood. I went from the South, from Georgia, South Carolina, to Washington State, back down to the South in North Carolina and Georgia. And most people would say that was, you know, hard as a kid. I'm sure that was so difficult. However, I learned how to adjust to different environments, which I think is a really neat tool to have in my back pocket. Moving place to place, picking up on different cultures, religions, family dynamics, accents, just everyone's differences. You know, I had two friends in my neighborhood in Washington, and both houses were completely different cultures. So what I, you know, even from as little as taking my shoes off at one house and not having to at the other, you know, how How cool was that as a kid to learn about people's differences? And I, I just don't think we can see that here in the South, especially not as much. You're usually in a neighborhood with people like you most of the time. But, you know, I got to experience this whole other part of the country. And little did I know that that was shaping my love for anthropology and communications. Today, I look at people with an interest in their story and finding out Where they come from, what is their culture like, and more importantly, how can I communicate with you to the best of my ability?
I love it. Thank you for sharing that story with us. The next one I have for you, Rebecca, is what is the most valuable piece of information we should know that is within your expertise or industry?
Yeah. So again, I was in— my undergrad is in communication studies, and I just don't think I realized how much I would I don't think any of us really do think we're going to use our undergrad, but I have just learned in sales especially, you know, communication is key. How you approach that person you're speaking with. In my case, I worked for this car rental company when I first graduated. And so I would get the grumpy guy that just got off an awful plane. And he just wanted to get out of there, and I had to learn how to speak to him correctly and hopefully turn his day around. But I also had to learn how to sell something and how to communicate to the best of my ability to do that. So, and now in the nonprofit world, I just, I get to visit with so many people, and I just use communications on a daily basis. So it is so important in my role today, in the past, and in the future, of course.
And what is your best piece of overall business advice? So not necessarily industry specific.
Yeah, so I would say go big. I know that that's probably pretty repetitive. However, I just think it is so important. I almost messed up one big sale once because I, again, this was in the car rental world, but this gentleman comes up to my desk and I just assume that everybody wants that cheap clown car. And he goes, "Yeah, I want the Porsche for a week." And I just kind of laughed. And luckily he was very kind and he ended up getting that Porsche and he ended up getting all the bonuses and, you know, the coverages and whatever. But from then on out, I just, I told myself, go big, don't ever judge a book by its cover. You could have just lost the, you know. So that is a big part of what I do now as well. I ask for donations for, our events. And so instead of asking for a, you know, small auction item, I can— I just go big.
Yes. And if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would that be?
I'd say be confident, even if you have no clue what you're doing, because you are very easy to read.
And in your opinion, what is the key to happiness?
I think finding joy in everything because it's there, you just have to look for it.
And what is the best book that you've read and what was the number one thing you learned from that?
So one of my favorite books because of the education I received from it and the format it was in is called Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. And it is actually a graphic autobiography. So it was basically a comic strip story of her childhood into her early adulthood during and after the Islamic Revolution. So again, my interest in other cultures, but she is quoted in her second book, I believe, saying, "Life is too short to be lived badly." And I just love that, and I think we can all resonate with that. Live life finding joy and beauty in all things and all people.
And what is your favorite quote and why?
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor Roosevelt. The first time I heard this, I was watching Princess Diaries as a kid, funny enough. But as a young adult, I just love it so much. You know, we're all new to the workforce and we're probably working with people that might walk over us at times, but no one can make us feel less of ourselves unless we allow them to.
Yes, I love it. Thank you so much for coming on. The last question I have for you before we let you go is where's the best place for people to find you online?
Yeah, you can find me on Instagram. I am @becca_bolcox.
Perfect. Thanks again. We appreciate it.
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