The only constant is change. To me, evolution has come to mean the trajectory of one's life as a whole rather than the contributory parts. I am not the same leader, or even person, now as I was 20 years ago. However, both periods are equally meaningful to me, as they have shaped who I have become. I used to be a black-and-white, right-or-wrong, yes-or-no leader, where decisions were made in absolutes and with blame. As a new nurse 20+ years ago, it was about proving to myself and my co-workers that I could do the job, and do it well--that my drive was to excel. I thought that if the goals and opportunities of an organization didn't align with my ever-increasing aspirations, then it was the organization's loss, not mine. I have since learned and evolved to foster relationships on a personal and professional level. I have learned that personal goals and organizational operations don't always align, but that doesn't mean they never will. My body may never again let me work as a floor nurse, but it doesn't mean I have lost that perspective or the ability to relate and connect with those individuals who do. I may not be able to physically assist with patient care, but the evolution of my purpose and higher calling now is to create and foster an environment where the nurses coming into the profession are supported, uplifted, and advocated for. That is my leadership evolution, but it's also the legacy I want to leave in nursing...to leave the profession in a better state than when I entered it. Further, my ambitions extend not just to uplifting the nursing profession but also to promoting the evolution of the nursing leader. Nursing leadership demands a unique and calculated skillset that requires a multi-year investment, strategic succession planning, and deliberate effort. It's not just a nursing shortage, it's a nurse leader shortage, a nurse educator shortage, and a clinical nurse shortage - each deficit conjoined with its own unique needs, pipeline, and outcomes. So, while my journey from nurse to nurse leader is not unique, the evolution of my ambitions as a nurse has gone far beyond what I ever predicted, bidirectionally. I think, had I not just closed my eyes, embraced the unknown, and moved in the direction my gut was directing me to go, I think my professional life would have arrived at a vastly different destination--one that would not have challenged me or forced my growth and internal drive to its limits. Bottom line: know what feeds your soul, know what return you're looking for on your personal and professional investments, then use that to recognize the signs it's time to evolve. As ambitious women, we are inherently driven to manage our lives and our goals with tenacity and, many times, urgency. I have found that one will often spend a great deal of energy trying to align external factors to an internal timeline, which results in exhaustion and frustration. Let go. Evolve. Ask the question: Should I be doing this differently? Is it time to change my approach? This is not just the mark of a great leader, but also a sign of an evolved professional who demonstrates the introspective paradox of humility and greatness.