We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dina Abbood. Check out our conversation below.
Dina, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
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Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a Houston-based entrepreneur, author, and podcast host with deep roots in the telecommunications industry. After earning my MBA, I founded iFielder four years ago, a telecom engineering company that handles field operations and designs projects across the United States. What makes this journey even more special is that my husband joined the business two years ago, bringing our combined experience in the telecom industry to over 20 years. We’re building our empire together as a family.
I’m the author of “The World is Yours: Run it Your Way,” just published on Amazon. The book reflects my core belief that we all have the power to create the life we want – it’s about taking ownership of your journey and making the most of every opportunity. The lessons I’ve learned building businesses while balancing family life are woven throughout its pages.
Through my podcast, I sit down with fascinating people – from professional athletes to doctors, wellness experts, entrepreneurs, and business owners – to dive deep into their journeys. What I love most is uncovering how successful people manage it all: the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the wellness practices that keep high achievers at their best both professionally and personally.
I’m also the founder of Reel Impact, a digital growth company that empowers small businesses with innovative content and strategies. Having built multiple successful businesses while being a wife and mother to our daughter, I understand the real challenges entrepreneurs face when trying to grow their business without sacrificing what matters most.
When I’m not in business mode, you’ll find me at home with our little zoo – our daughter, dog, and two cats who keep life interesting and remind me daily why building a business that supports your life, not consumes it, is so important.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I needed everyone’s approval and permission before I could do anything meaningful. I was constantly seeking validation from others before making decisions or pursuing my dreams. Looking back, I think this came from being in a family where entrepreneurship wasn’t the norm – there wasn’t a blueprint for what I wanted to do.
What I believe now is completely different. Being the first female entrepreneur in my family taught me that you don’t have to follow the same path as everyone in your circle. You can be the first one to do something different, to break new ground, to create your own blueprint.
This shift in mindset was crucial to my success. When I decided to get my MBA and start iFieldder, I had to stop asking for permission and start trusting my own judgment. When I launched my podcast and started writing my book, I realized that waiting for approval would have meant waiting forever.
Now I teach my daughter that she doesn’t need anyone’s permission to dream big or pursue her goals. Sometimes being first means being lonely, but it also means creating a new path for others to follow. That childhood belief that I needed everyone’s approval was actually holding me back from becoming who I was meant to be.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
The moment I stopped hiding from my pain happened at 3 AM on a cold February night when my sister called to tell me my father had passed away. He’d been in a coma for months, and I’d been preparing for this call, but nothing really prepares you for that moment.
My daughter and husband were sleeping next to me, and I couldn’t scream or cry – I didn’t want to wake them. So I did what my heart told me to do: I quietly got up, laced up my running shoes, and stepped out into the night.
I had never run ten miles in my life, but that night, tears streaming down my face, I ran all the way to the beach. For two and a half hours, I ran through my grief, through the numbness, through the disbelief. When I reached the water, I jumped in, and that’s when I heard my father’s voice as clear as day: ‘Go home now and stay with your family. I am in a better place now.’
That night changed everything. Running became my ritual, my therapy, my way of moving through pain instead of drowning in it. Every morning, I’d lace up my shoes and tell myself, ‘Stay strong. You’ve got this.’ I stopped caring who was watching or how it looked – this was for me.
What I learned is that healing isn’t about waiting for the pain to go away. It’s about moving through it, one step at a time.
That grief that could have destroyed me became my fuel. It taught me that I was stronger than I ever knew, and it gave me the courage to trust my own voice and build the life I really wanted.
Now, when I face challenges in business or life, I draw on that same energy. The pain didn’t break me – it became my superpower.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely, but that’s been a journey. For years, I was hiding parts of who I am – my accent, my background – because I was afraid people would judge me or think I didn’t belong in certain spaces. I even used to dress only in black and white, trying to blend in and look like what I thought successful people were supposed to look like.
But going through my healing journey taught me that authenticity isn’t just more comfortable – it’s more powerful. I realized something game-changing: really successful people don’t actually care where you’re from or what you look like. They care about you being real and the energy you bring to the room.
I learned that healing isn’t about becoming something different; it’s about unbecoming everything that isn’t you. I stopped trying to change my accent, stopped hiding where I came from, and yes – stopped wearing only black and white to try to fit some imaginary mold.
Now, what you see is what you get. On my podcast, I show up as myself – accent, personality, and all. When I’m building my businesses, I draw from my real experiences and bring my authentic energy. I ask the hard questions because I’m genuinely curious about people’s real stories, not their highlight reels.
The truth is, my background and my authentic energy are exactly what give me my edge. When I stopped trying to be what I thought people wanted and started being who I actually am – bringing my real energy and perspective – that’s when doors started opening. You can’t inspire others to be authentic if you’re not being authentic yourself
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What will you regret not doing?
I would regret not betting on myself. For too long, I played it safe because I was afraid of what people would think. I would have deeply regretted staying in that mindset forever.
I would regret not embracing my authentic self – my accent, my background, my story. I spent years trying to fit into what I thought successful people looked like, even wearing only black and white clothes. I would have hated spending my whole life trying to be someone else.
Most of all, I would regret not trusting my own voice. Every major success in my life happened when I stopped asking for permission and started following my instincts. I never want to look back and think, ‘I wish I had been braver.’ Life is too short to spend it playing small or hiding who you really are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://reelimpact.io/
- Instagram: Livingwithdina
- Linkedin: Dina Abbood
Image Credits
Tommy Flanagan
