Community Leader. Fighter. Proud Single Mom.
Deborah Patterson is a confident and successful leader who has staked her reputation on fearlessly speaking her mind to everyone, including top executives. As caring as she is demanding of herself and of others, her candor is accepted with impunity by those who know her well. At times, you may not like what she has to say, but her track record suggests she’s worth a listen.
Prior to her retirement last year, Deborah spent the past 17 years as president of the Monsanto Fund, the multi-million dollar charitable arm of Monsanto Company. Her visionary work with nonprofits has helped to improve people’s lives in St. Louis and around the world via initiatives in education, agriculture and the arts. With a remarkable smile, a quick wit and enough facial expressions to win her an Academy Award, Patterson has won over colleagues, community leaders and a legion of devoted friends. She graciously shared a few of her thoughts and experiences.
Who knew they paid people to give away money?
At the Monsanto Fund, I was responsible for granting millions of dollars. I traveled the world for projects we funded. It taught me empathy and compassion for folks in situations beyond their control. But it also showed me that even people living in the hardest conditions – for example, in mud huts in Argentina – could be extremely happy. The lesson? Things don’t bring you joy.
If I’m going to die, I’m going to die fighting.
A burglar broke into my house and startled me in the kitchen. Instead of being scared, I was outraged. I thought, “The nerve. You’re coming into my house?” He hit me, so I hit him back. I gave him my purse and told him, “You’d better run.” I may be small, but I’m mighty.
The library was my escape hatch.
As a child, we lived in an apartment where there was no space, nowhere to listen to your thoughts. So I escaped by taking the streetcar downtown to the central library. Entering that building was like walking into the magic wardrobe in “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Those books took me around the world.
If I can raise two babies on my own, I can get through anything.
I was 42 and single with lots of “stuff” – a house, a BMW, shoes – but there was a hole inside me that needed to be filled with unconditional love. So I adopted a baby. When Emily arrived, I immediately fell in love with her as I did when Sarah joined our family three years later. Single parenthood makes you realize that you’re it. Whatever happens, you have to handle it. My kids get it, too. In fact, Emily gives me a Mother’s Day and Father’s Day card.
I tell myself, “You’ve done well for a girl from North St. Louis.”
My degrees are from UMSL, and it was Mayor Vince Schoemehl who took a chance on me, eventually putting me in charge of all housing and economic development for the city of St. Louis. He taught me to talk less and listen more. “You’re not a mind reader,” he said. “You don’t know what I’m thinking.” That helped me when I became CEO of the American Red Cross, and then president of the Monsanto Fund. I have fulfilled my dreams, even getting to live in a house and have lots of flowers.
You always know where you stand with me.
Yes, I’m frank; and yes, I’m very direct. Feelings can get hurt when you speak the truth (think of Jack Nicholson’s line in “A Few Good Men,” “You can’t handle the truth”). But I’m not malicious; I don’t say things that rob people of their humanity. And I want you to be honest with me, too. Don’t surprise me – just tell me the truth.
With the racial tension in the country, I am still hopeful.
Things are bad, but we’ve been through much darker places – Jim Crowe, hangings, segregation. Go back to the 1950s when I couldn’t go to the movies with my aunt in Alabama. Or in St. Louis where we had to get food from the pickup window because we weren’t allowed in the restaurants. If we stand together and are vigilant, we can solve a lot of things in America. I just don’t want to go backward.
