There was a day (quiet, unremarkable on the surface) when everything shifted for me. I had been doing my job for years, pushing, learning, growing, and striving to be the best version of myself in the role I held. But on that day, something inside clicked. I realized I wasn't just capable at what I did. I was genuinely good at it. I had mastered that chapter in my career. And in that same moment of clarity came another truth: I had outgrown the phase I was in. It wasn't dissatisfaction. It wasn't restlessness. It was awareness. The kind that settles in slowly, then suddenly feels obvious: I was ready for more. Not long after, an unsolicited opportunity found me through LinkedIn, a role I hadn't sought out, but one that clearly sought me. I said no at first. Not because it wasn't right, but because fear has a sneaky way of sounding reasonable. Fear of change. Fear of the unknown. Fear of stepping away from the familiar comfort of what I already knew I could do well. Then the VP reached out a second time. And that second knock felt different. It felt intentional. It felt like a door being held open, waiting not for my qualifications, but for my courage. I realized that life doesn't always present opportunity wrapped neatly in confidence. Sometimes it arrives disguised as uncertainty, asking only that you trust yourself enough to try. So I said yes. And that yes became the biggest leap forward in my career, shaping the path that brought me to where I stand today. If there's one thing I learned from that moment, it's this: Don't fear the unknown. Don't talk yourself out of possibility. If someone is knocking, open the door. You never know what future is waiting on the other side.

The burden of comparison is dropped, for my worth is defined by my own growth. In competing only with my past, I find the true strength to both shine brightly and light the way for others.

I became the help I once needed. Early in my career, I desperately needed a coach or mentor—someone who could see potential in me before I fully saw it in myself. I looked for that support, even interviewed a few coaches, but as a single mom, every time the choice came down to investing in myself or paying the bills, the bills always won. I kept moving forward, but I carried the quiet ache of knowing I was walking alone. Fast forward to the end of 2019. A large corporate layoff shook my world and, unexpectedly, revealed my strength. Instead of letting that moment define me, I decided to rewrite the story. I gathered every skill, lesson, and hard-earned piece of wisdom from my career and used them to create what I once needed: support for women who couldn't afford it. I launched Changing Your Conversation, offering free career coaching to low-income women across the country. Over the next five years, more than 30 women found full-time employment or started their own businesses through the program. But the real transformation wasn't just theirs, it was mine. Every breakthrough they had reflected back a truth I had missed for years: I was stronger, wiser, and more equipped than I ever gave myself credit for. Helping those women didn't just change their futures, it shaped my daughters' understanding of leadership, resilience, and radical generosity. And it anchored a confidence in me that I now carry forward: I can build what I once lacked, and I can become what I once needed. That realization changed everything. It showed me that strength isn't loud, it's simply choosing to rise, again and again, and then reaching back to lift someone else with you.

When I was offered an opportunity to step into a new role on a new team, I was hesitant. On paper, it looked like a clear growth opportunity. In reality, it brought up doubts and insecurities I thought I had already worked through. Am I ready? What if I fail? What if I regret leaving what's familiar? I tried to think my way into the "right" decision, replaying conversations, weighing pros and cons, imagining different futures. And then I realized there was no way to know. Life rarely offers perfect certainty. What I did know was that growth doesn't come from staying comfortable. Opportunities don't arrive when we feel fully ready. They show up when we're capable, but uncertain. I decided to take the role. I still had doubts, but I realized fear isn't always a signal to stop, it's often a sign you're standing at the edge of growth. This decision wasn't about predicting the future. It was about trusting myself, trusting that I could learn, adapt, ask questions, and grow into what was required. Trusting that I've navigated hard things before and I could do it again. The beginning was challenging. A completely new team, new technology, and unfamiliar processes pushed me out of my comfort zone. But I got to work on exciting projects, learn new technical skills, and collaborate with talented teammates who helped me grow both technically and as a leader. I faced uncomfortable situations, solved tough problems, and found creative solutions. We women always figure out a way, so it doesn't make sense not to take the opportunity. What I'm most proud of is the realization that I don't need to have everything figured out to move forward. For any woman standing at a crossroads, wondering whether to leap or stay safe, there may never be a perfect answer, but there is power in trusting yourself. I realized I'm stronger than I thought. And that realization alone made the leap worth it.