Deana Cheney, founder of Bosisi Designs, LLC has worked in Corporate America for over 20 years for powerhouse companies like the NBA, Kraft Foods/Nabisco (now Kraft Heinz Compa- ny) and Keurig Green Mountain (now Keurig Dr. Pepper). Her experience in marketing, con- sumer engagement, event management, and customer relationship management coupled with her creative expression, design capability and passion for helping underserved women have helped her create a brand of her own: Bosisi Designs, that employs disadvantaged women in South Africa to hand-make designer bags.

Born in Rome, Italy while her parents were working abroad, Deana moved back to the United States when she was four years old. An athletic and adventurous child, Deana was fascinated by different cultures, languages, customs and traditions. She would focus on a goal and then put her ‘all’ into achieving it. She often threw herself into challenging situations with the strength to persevere even if she wasn’t fully prepared.
Taking on challenges and seeing them through is part of Deana’s DNA. She takes on situations and uses strategic and thoughtful ways to complete it and be successful. Obstacles don’t dampen her passion, they’re part of the long game. Like, attending Indiana University, over 800 miles from home, site-unseen, not afraid that she knew no one else going there. Or pleading to do her junior year abroad at the University of Bologna (Italy) with mediocre language skills but figuring out a way to improve her speaking and reading skills for oral final exams and increasing her GPA. And then as a 22 year old who never camped, deciding to take a mountaineering course, hiking 75 miles, carrying a 70 lb. pack and rock climbing through Wyoming. Training and completing several triathlons. And now becoming an entrepreneur. The choice is to push herself to her limits and find a way to succeed and be better for the experience. Mental and physical fortitude describe her ability to keep pushing forward.

Moving to Johannesburg, South Africa in 2017 was another challenge to conquer. She ap- proached it with gusto and a determination to make it not only work out but make it as great as possible. This wasn’t a solo adventure, now married and mom of two teenage boys that she needed to carefully support with love, strength and leading by example. Teenagers do not like change, especially at this critical stage in life. It proved to be the most challenging experience of her and her family’s life. Moving, let alone to another continent can be overwhelming affecting relationships with family, friends, and spouse. No work permit for a ‘trailing spouse’ is frustrating but also provides the ability to take a step back, observe, uncover a passion. Becoming an en- trepreneur didn’t seem so scary to Deana because she’s been through many challenges and because of this international opportunity Deana found other women who also persevere. A key difference was that some of the women she met did not choose to embark on their challenges, they live them every day, and sometimes passed on from the previous generation. For other women she met, they want to change the outcome for future generations.

Deana saw first-hand that black South African women are disproportionately affected by poverty and often deal with many disadvantages in both patriarchal and still culturally tribal society. She witnessed a lack of available resources and some of the difficulties they face. Yet they exhibit resilience, pride and sheer will to do what needs to be done for their families.

Upon her return to the United States in July 2019, it became Deana’s mission to empower and give underserved South African women an opportunity to work in order to lift themselves out of poverty; and bring new meaning and accomplishment to their lives; and Bosisi Designs was born.

Currently four South African women sew all the Bosisi bags. With eyes wide open, Deana is de- termined to help women in South Africa so they feel dignified, pride, empowered and free to earn a decent wage, confident in their ability to take care of themselves, their families and for future generations.

To learn more about Bosisi Designs, it's seamstresses and products, please visit www.bosi- sidesigns.com, @BosisiDesigns on social media (Facebook, Instagram), via email at info@bo- sisidesigns.com, or by phone at (802) 922-6377.