In the early stages of my work, I encountered academic research, institutional language, and technical subject matter that often lacked accessibility for all audiences. I realized that ideas don't always speak for themselves. They need someone to shape them, contextualize them, and connect them to the people they're meant to reach. So I began teaching myself how to do exactly that. I studied how universities communicate, paid attention to how stories were structured, and practiced turning dense information into content that thinks strategically about audience, impact, and intention. As a result, it's opened doors into higher education communications, allowed me to work across a wide range of topics, and helped me contribute to projects that support student recruitment, faculty visibility, and institutional growth. That skill has since become the foundation of my career. More than anything, communication is about connection.

Being true to yourself is the first step in moving forward. Don't second guess your inner intuition, that has no outside influences. Step out in faith, and thereafter, you will have the strength to move a mountain.

The most impactful skill I taught myself was how to understand and work within broken systems. Early in my career, especially in the cannabis space, there wasn't a clear roadmap. Regulations were shifting, information wasn't always accessible, and people were often left to figure things out on their own. I had to learn how to interpret policies, identify gaps, and find solutions in real time. That ability to navigate uncertainty opened doors for me. It allowed me to move from operations into leadership and strategy roles, where I could not only operate within systems, but help improve them. Today, that skill drives my work in equity and community development. It's not just about understanding systems; it's about making them work better for the people they're meant to serve.

Not every transformation comes with a title, a certification, or a formal invitation. Some of the most defining shifts happen quietly through choice, through awareness, through a decision to no longer operate the same way.

In 2022, I set out to make classical music more approachable for my generation. My idea was to create an iOS app that lets users play a "choose their own story" type of game with composers like Bach, Beethoven, Komitas, and Khachaturyan to learn music history through conversation, and gameified levels, not lectures. I had the musical experience and research to prove that classical music appreciation is important and a growing trend, and I had the conviction, but lacked the technical skills, so I taught myself Swift and Firebase until I could build and launch a working MVP. I was not trying to become an engineer. I was trying to stop being dependent on someone else to make the thing real. Once I could prototype, I could test, iterate, and have credible conversations with engineers about what was actually possible. The app, MAESTRO, eventually raised 15,000 euros in non-dilutive funding through a European Union creative accelerator and was featured in press coverage all over the EU. I went from someone with ideas about technology to someone who could build with it. That opened every door that came after, including my graduate research at the University of Minnesota, my move into medical device commercialization, and the way I think about translating science into products people will actually use. Looking back, the real skill wasn't mastering Swift; it was just getting it done. It's less about technical ability and more about refusing to wait for permission. That mindset has shaped every project I've taken on since.

One of the most impactful things I taught myself was how to truly communicate with people, not just talk to them, but understand them. When I was working as a behavioral technician, I quickly realized that technical knowledge alone wasn't enough. Every interaction required me to read between the lines, pick up on subtle cues, and adjust how I communicated based on the person in front of me. I started intentionally observing how people responded, reflecting on what worked and what didn't, and pushing myself to improve in real time. That skill carried over in a way I didn't expect. When I transitioned into HR and later into talent acquisition at Amazon, I found that the ability to connect with people, understand their motivations, and build trust quickly became one of my biggest strengths. It helped me guide candidates through the interview process more effectively and match them with roles where they could succeed. Learning how to communicate at that level wasn't something I was formally taught, but it completely changed my direction. It showed me that I was drawn to people-centered work and ultimately led me to pursue a career in talent acquisition, where I could use that skill every day.

The skill I taught myself was building with AI tools, and it opened doors I didn't even know existed yet. About a year ago, I hit a wall that I think a lot of sales leaders hit quietly and don't talk about. My team was working hard, but I could feel the gap between where we were and what was actually possible. There was no course, no certification, no manager who handed me a playbook. So I just started building. It started because I hit a wall. My team was working hard, but the infrastructure around them wasn't keeping up. Competitive intel was shared inconsistently. Outreach sequences were generic. Meeting prep lived in someone's head. So I started building an automated intel brief that personalizes by rep territory and lands every Monday morning, sequences tied to specific business narratives instead of recycled templates, SPIFF trackers, 1:1 prep workflows, meeting frameworks. Systems that worked every time, without me having to hold them together manually. The results were immediate. Reps went into calls more prepared. Sequences got replies because the messaging was specific. The things I used to scramble to pull together started surfacing automatically. What I didn't expect was how much teaching myself this skill would change the way I see my own potential. Learning to build with AI (through trial, error, and stubbornness) proved to me that the gap between where things are and where they could be is always worth closing. And that I'm someone who can close it.

One of the biggest things I taught myself was how to build genuine relationships and become a connector within my community. There wasn't a class or a formal training that taught me how to walk into rooms, create meaningful conversations, build trust and develop partnerships. That came from experience, passion and a genuine love for people. I also taught myself to market with heart. In healthcare especially, I realized people don't connect to sales pitches, they connect to stories, compassion, and purpose. Your why, how and journey. Learning to communicate emotionally, build community relationships, and advocate for seniors and their families completely changed the direction of my career and opened doors I never expected. Another thing that I taught myself was confidence in leadership. I learned to trust my voice, trust my instincts and stop shrinking myself in professional spaces. That growth helped me step into opportunities, leadership roles, networking events, public speaking, and community involvement that ultimately expanded both my career and my impact. Most importantly, I taught myself that success comes from being real, staying consistent, and leading with heart, and that mindset has opened more doors than any title ever could.

I taught myself how to communicate beyond project updates, translating complex work into clear business impact and helping leadership see the bigger picture. That skill completely changed the opportunities that came my way.

I taught myself how to navigate uncertainty and still keep building. Between school, business goals, and real-life setbacks, learning resilience changed the direction of my life more than any classroom ever could.

One of the most important things I taught myself was how to bridge professional expertise with real-life human needs. Learning to navigate complex aging, healthcare, and family systems conversations while integrating insights and skills from my various career experiences into something meaningful and unique which ultimately led me to create ElderCARE Collaborative. My work grounded not just in knowledge, but in advocacy, clarity, and connection.

Finding the right mentor has taught me more about career growth and success than any formal training or education ever could. I've learned that having the "right" mentor at different stages of my career has been pivotal to my growth. Each mentor brought a different perspective and their guidance helped me avoid mistakes, recognize opportunities, and think bigger about what was possible for my future. Success depends on so much more than technical skills and application. It's mostly about learning from people who have already walked the path before you.

I taught myself how to turn vision into action. By learning as I went and trusting God through every challenge, I helped grow a small dream into a place where thousands of children now learn through play.

Honestly, one of the biggest things I taught myself was how to bridge the gap between design, fabrication, and construction technology. I went to school for Interior Design & Architecture, but my career path shifted when I entered the MEP industry. From there, I started learning everything I could: BIM workflows, fabrication processes, CADMep databases, robotic total stations, production planning, coordination, implementation, and training. A lot of it was self-taught through hands-on experience, problem-solving, and saying "yes" to opportunities that pushed me outside my comfort zone. That self-driven learning opened doors I never expected: • Building BIM teams from scratch • Rolling out fabrication workflows across multiple companies • Leading software implementation initiatives • Training hundreds of users • Becoming a technical specialist and eventually a Strategic Implementation Manager supporting Naviate MEP But beyond the technical side, I also taught myself how to keep going in spaces where I often had to work twice as hard to be heard as a woman in construction technology. That journey is a huge part of why the MEP Goddesses exist today. To help other women see that there is space for them here too and that their knowledge, voice, and leadership matter. Sometimes the skills that change your life aren't learned in a classroom. They're learned by stepping into challenges before you feel fully ready.

As I navigated perimenopause, I began to notice a disconnect between what I was being told by my physician and the realities of hormones, intimacy, and sexual health. Working in physical therapy gave me a unique perspective, and I quickly realized how rarely sexual health is discussed throughout the different stages of life. That realization pushed me to dig deeper. I started having more open conversations with my patients, asking questions that often go unspoken. At home, my partner and I began exploring what this season of life meant for us, our relationship, and our sense of connection. Those conversations sparked a deeper curiosity, leading me into research, education, and ultimately a passion for helping others navigate these changes with more understanding, confidence, and openness. The rest, as they say, is history.

One thing I taught myself that changed my direction was learning how to be flexible and adapt to new roles. Throughout my career, I have moved through several different titles and responsibilities, and each position required a different mindset and skill set. I learned how to step back, process expectations, and adjust my approach to meet the needs of the job. I am not someone who makes spur-of-the-moment decisions, so for me, growth comes through reflection, processing, and intentional adjustment. That ability to adapt thoughtfully has opened new doors and allowed me to continue growing professionally.

The most important skill I taught myself in Human Resources was truly listening beyond the words to understand context, emotion, and impact. That skill changed how I lead, solve problems, and build trust across the organization.

Early in my career as a junior engineer, I worked in plan review focusing on hydrology, hydraulics, and storm drain design. Wanting to transition into design work, I asked for an opportunity to design a storm drain system. When the opportunity came, I took the design manual home over the weekend and taught myself the process. By Monday, I had completed 30% plans. That initiative changed the direction of my career. It demonstrated my willingness to self-teach, step outside my comfort zone, and grow as an engineer. That same commitment to learning and pushing myself to the next level has continued to propel me throughout my career.

Honestly, I engaged in a lot of positive self-talk over the years. It's a skill we teach our students, and as adults, we could benefit from this as well. We tend to be our worst critics. Your brain believes what you say, so tell it you can do it and you are worth it!