In the most brutally honest way, my story began in uncertainty. For many years, I allowed uncertainty to rule my world. And when you're standing on unstable ground, growth becomes impossible. Any opportunity that tries to take root will eventually expose the cracks beneath you. That's exactly what happened to me. When growth finally came knocking, my foundation couldn't hold it. I reached a breaking point—and that was the moment I understood something clearly for the first time: if I wanted to move forward, uncertainty could no longer come with me. I had to transform it into confidence and certainty. What I also recognize now is that this transformation could only have happened when it did. Mastery requires time. You must spend years doing the work before you can truly stand in it. I had to move through the phase of apprentice before I could become a master. My confidence didn't appear overnight—it was built through years of hands-on experience, trial, failure, and repetition in my field. As I stepped into certainty and released doubt, my mindset became just as important as my skillset. I found myself drawn to the book Don't Believe Everything You Think, which reshaped how I understand thoughts and thinking. One of the most meaningful lessons I carry with me now is this: when you are present, you are at peace. In peace, you gain thoughtfulness. From thoughtfulness comes intention—and from intention comes impact. That shift changed everything. If there's one thing I hope others take from my story, it's this: the moments, the memories, and the methods you accumulate along the way are what truly shape you. Stay true to yourself. Stay grounded. And stay at peace. I've always admired Gary Vaynerchuk for saying that even as a child, he wanted to pair success with kindness. As a woman in a highly competitive industry, that belief resonates deeply. I don't measure success by how far I can go alone—I measure it by how many people I can bring with me. I believe continuity of purpose within a shared mindset creates more momentum than any single person ever could. Community multiplies growth. Shared goals create resilience. When people rise together, the impact lasts longer and reaches further. When we work together we foster not only successful ecosystems in local communities; we build relationships that will be hand down to generation that will follow. We grow stronger when we grow together. And we grow best when we grow through grace.

I joined a lawyer mom social media group during the pandemic with other female lawyers across the U.S. Then, I decided to fly 5+ hours to a new city by myself to "network" and explore with 100 of these brilliant women – none of which I had never met in person.

Expansion is a test of perspective; whenever I feel overwhelmed, I pan out to see the bigger picture and how the challenge serves my long-term growth. I've found that you stay grounded not by avoiding the storm, but by remembering the tougher ones you've already weathered.

I navigated growth by leading with intention, sticking to my core values, and learning that true success doesn't require you to sacrifice being your authentic self.

Growth doesn't require abandoning identity; it requires expanding capacity. Staying grounded comes from honoring core values while allowing old survival versions of the self to evolve into something more aligned and sustainable.

Growth stretched me, but it never erased me. I learned that expanding doesn't mean becoming someone new—it means standing more firmly in who you've always been, even when it's uncomfortable.

I consistently prayed daily with love and faith in my heart. I also have read and obeyed the Bible

Growth, anchored in my values, required me to shed internalized biases. I remain grounded by leading with integrity, purpose, and service to others.

Growth challenged my identity by tempting me to shape-shift, but it ultimately clarified it. I stayed grounded by letting my values, not the scale of opportunity, set the pace and direction of my expansion.

Having a support system of people who are honest with you and care about you is key, because they can provide insight via "proof points" that can help keep you grounded. It's just important to listen to them without taking offense and recognize that they are coming from a caring place (which hopefully they are!) To balance that- it's ok to get professional help from a counselor. They can provide an objective perspective and help keep you accountable to putting in the self -work that is needed to grow.

Growth comes when we allow challenge to refine us, not define us. Every obstacle is an invitation to return to who we truly are.

Growth has challenged my identity more than once; and each time, it demanded courage before clarity. Divorce with young children forced me to step into a growth path in my career faster and bolder than I ever planned. When the pandemic decimated the hospitality industry, I chose to jump in headfirst without a full blueprint, trusting instinct, resilience, and a willingness to rebuild what no longer worked. Most recently, I walked away from an 11-year tenure and made a conscious decision to focus on joining an organization that aligned more closely with my values. I refused to let fear keep me rooted in misalignment. Expansion, for me, hasn't meant losing myself; it's meant choosing integrity over comfort, values over security, and growth over familiarity. That choice has led me to renewed energy, clarity, and excitement as I lead in a new space. Staying grounded meant returning to my core values—integrity, accountability, and mindfulness; again and again.

Never surrender your dreams or the goals you've chosen for yourself. No matter how many rejections come your way, trust in your own strength and potential, you will rise to the top.

Don't let yesterday's scars prevent you from finding today's beauty

Growth doesn't require becoming someone new, it requires becoming more anchored in who you already are. As the vision grew, I learned to expand without changing who I am or my values. Real expansion is rooted in values, not ego

I grew by shedding what no longer fit and grounding myself in what mattered most. Expansion felt sustainable once I stopped performing and started leading from wholeness.

For a long time, growth meant forward motion; more responsibility, more impact, more momentum. I built a career by saying yes to complexity and challenge, and I was good at it. But over time, I learned that growth isn't just about what you take on; it's also about knowing when to pause, reassess, and choose alignment over acceleration. Stepping away from work for an extended period was unexpectedly disorienting. Without a role or title, I had to confront how much of my identity had been tied to what I did. That pause forced me to ask deeper questions about who I was beyond my career and what kind of life and work would truly align with my values. Navigating caregiving responsibilities and personal transitions required me to slow down and listen more closely to myself. In that space, I became clearer about what matters most to me: integrity, curiosity, and staying connected to who I am, not just what I produce. Today, growth looks different. It's less about chasing a single version of success and more about making intentional choices; ones that honor my values, my energy, and the people I care about. Whether I'm leading, coaching, or supporting others through change, I bring that same clarity and self-trust to the work. I've learned that growth doesn't require losing yourself. In fact, the most sustainable growth often begins when you give yourself permission to redefine who you are.