WALNUT CREEK -- Elegantly attired in a slim black dress, Catherine Delcin's high-wattage smile lights up as she talks business.

Delcin is definitely in her element. The Haitian native came to the United States with her family as a young teen, obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology from Florida State University and later, a law degree from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

With her own consulting group that specializes in law, life sciences and business process management, Delcin lives the American dream. Now, she's dedicated to helping others fulfill theirs through "Entrepreneur Initiative," her recently published book.

"This book is a product of a passion that I have for entrepreneurship," Delcin wrote in the book's acknowledgment. "This passion, along with my experiences, has placed me in a unique position to empower people with the necessary resources for their entrepreneurial journey through consulting, writings and presentations."

Delcin said that her book, acting as personal guide and business coach, will help people uncover their strengths to achieve success. She said she created the guide in a workbook format that encourages people to practice their goals and strategies for success and not just read about them in theory.

She strives to empower people with skills such as embracing the right mental disposition, overcoming their fears and selecting the right business idea.


From an early age, Delcin was fascinated with understanding the intricacies of what constituted a successful business. She felt people who wished to start their own business needed to know that having a passion in something and being mentally prepared are just as important as being financially prepared.

Delcin said she learned her path to success through her own humble beginnings. She dedicates her book to her father, "a man who embodies the essence of entrepreneurship. His repeated success happened despite limited education, financial resources, and limited life in a Third World country. There are hardworking people, and then, there's my father; his work ethic is unparalleled to anyone."

"We didn't have much in Haiti," said Delcin, a former Concord resident. "You always think, 'How do you get more?'"

Delcin said that learning how to thrive in the United States as a young teen and eventually, as a young adult, included overcoming fears and going for what you want.

Even though she knew she wanted to be in business, Delcin majored in psychology because she believed it was important to understand human behavior -- the person behind a business.

"I wanted to understand myself," she said. "Find my natural talent and build a business around it."

She's committed to helping others do the same. "First, find out what you're passionate about then figure out, 'How can I turn that into a business?'"

Delcin once turned her own passion for fashion and entrepreneurship into an online boutique business venture. She said people can also learn from failure as well as successes in life.

Rebecca Hall Gruyter met Delcin at a business networking group and the two became friends as well as fellow motivational speakers and advocates for women pursuing successful business opportunities.

"I'm not surprised she wrote a book," said Gruter. "She has a passion for business and entrepreneurship as well as a passion for helping people develop their businesses and continue to be successful. She's always brainstorming, always coming up with ideas for helping people use their resources wisely."

Rachel Van Cleave, dean and professor of law at Golden Gate University said she hopes Delcin will return to the San Francisco campus to discuss her book.

"She's a genuine person who truly believes in entrepreneurship," Van Cleave said. "She helps people figure out how to take that entrepreneurial spirit and how to make the most of that interest and passion."

The book arrives at a time when people are figuring out that the key to inventing their own careers can be attained by first figuring out what they love to do, she said.

A portion of proceeds of Delcin's book go to a Entrepreneurs du Monde, a nonprofit that helps people in developing countries succeed in their own economic initiatives and small business opportunities.

"Entrepreneurship is part of our lives. This opportunity exists for all of us," Delcin said. "Live the best life that you can."

If you go
WHO: Author Catherine Delcin
WHAT: Book signing
"Entrepreneur Initiative"
WHEN: 1 p.m. July 20,
Walnut Creek Library,
1644 N. Broadway