Deborah Shepherd-Hayes

Deborah (Shepherd) Hayes is a writer, educator and do-stuffer. She is the founder of the brand and organization, I Can Do Stuff™ - a lifestyle brand and social enterprise organization promoting the power of encouragement for people of all ages and stages as they pursue their dreams and do their stuff.

Deborah began her career as an elementary and middle school teacher then went on to become a published author and national speaker. She has authored several teacher resource books, over one hundred curriculum guides and online resources, and has been a speaker at multiple national conferences. She founded and grew an educational training and curriculum development company writing/developing K-12 content that is engaging, pedagogically sound and extra fun. One of her latest projects is collaborating with a leading psychologist in the development of EQ Curriculum (emotional intelligence) for elementary and middle school students.

In addition to educational content, Deborah is currently writing a contemporary women’s series welcoming us into the lives of four middle-aged besties as they maneuver through the adventures of marriage, momming, mid-life, menopause and a bunch of other crazy stuff that begins with letters other than “M.” Their number one rule is keep a sense of humor no matter how unpleasant, painful and scary the stuff that life serves up – including those old buried secrets that have a way of turning worlds upside down. She is also writing a limited TV series about an Irish immigrant family at the turn of the 20th century, at the center of which is the stern patriarch, Michael "Duke" Finn, and his willful first born daughter, Mamie Finn. The intergenerational story focuses on the love, betrayal, dreams and disappointments between this father and daughter as they each strive to leave their mark and forge the fabric of the burgeoning city of San Francisco and booming west coast.

Deborah is doing her stuff and wants to encourage you to do yours!