There was a constant feeling of an intuitive shift within me from a very young age. That feeling edged me to begin writing about my life experiences. But at that time, as a child living on the island, The Commonwealth of Dominica, whenever I would begin writing with my pencil the inspiration would filter through poetry. A genre of writing that I did not fully understand at that tender age and did not even know or realize its purpose. I was provoked about this misunderstood phase, which was thought to be absurd work that I was writing. But, during the passage of time as my intuition evolved, there began my understanding and wisdom behind the purpose of this inspirational calling. I am now a Multi-Global-Awards Winning Author of Oceans of Thoughts, a Historical Non-Fiction book series written about my life experiences through inspirational poetry. I have taken moments from the beginning of my childhood memories, and growth decades with maturity to write a book series in my poetic style. These inspiring books have also been awarded for Excellence in Literature. There were many instances of discouragement and criticisms before Oceans of Thoughts Book One was published in 2020. I was impertinently asked 'who I thought I was to write a book about myself.' And was also told some insulting remarks, 'no one would want to read my book about my life experiences'. It is Biblically written, "Those who are not against you are for you" (Luke 9-50). But there is a spiritual phenomenon context that speaks, "many would drop off along the way, and many will stay and embrace you." From narratives of my life journey, I want to let women know that they are good enough to write their own story. That they are their own competition. That they must remain immensely focused on their divine purpose. That many times it is always the ones who are closest to them that are their strongest distractions for it is that which disturbs their emotions. The path of Oceans of Thoughts is anchored in meditation. Everyone has their own path that they have chosen. I would like to add that women must practice some form of meditation and listen to their inner voice in the silence of meditation. Oceans of Thoughts will influence all to look within themselves, find some inner peace, and empower positive change in themselves.

The colleague who said I was hired to fill a quota, he watched me get promoted twice. I don't bring it up often. I'm bringing it up now because if you're a young woman reading this, wondering whether you belong in a room that hasn't fully decided it wants you there yet, you do. Go prove it. Not for them. For literally nobody other than yourself. That's how I did it.

That experience reminded me that leadership is not a destination; it is a continuous journey of purpose, reinvention, and impact. I realized my story was still being written because there was still more to build, more to contribute, and more communities to support. Sometimes the next chapter begins when we give ourselves permission to grow beyond the roles we once thought defined us. Today, I see the future not as something to wait for, but something to shape with intention, courage, and faith in what is still possible.

What helped me see my future differently was building my family and deciding to prioritize intention over expectations. I found it necessary to shift my mindset from living according to external expectations to pursuing a life that I truly wanted. This transition required making sacrifices and acquiring new skills to open different doors and opportunities. I felt a strong desire to grow and become a role model for my daughter. By identifying my personal values and taking action based on a commitment to continuous learning, I have been able to align my life with my goals.

I sit here now in April of 2026 realizing I am not and will never be that person I have known all my life. Having hit a milestone of 49 years, and alone with my dog and 5 cats, I sat and had a real conversation with myself for the 1st time in my entire life. I said, Bernadette, what do you want? As I lifted a paper to my work desk, and a pen, I started webbing what Bernadette wants. I realized my life looks nothing like what I want, my direction was nothing what I wanted, and there was so much trash to get rid of from living a survivor's life. I realized in order for me to truly have what I want, it would require me to dump the trash, take the wisdom, and co-create an entire new life. I now have a legal size white paper folding in half; on one half is my prior life of surviving webbed out, and the other half is my new life I am creating. That is what inspires me to keep putting my effort into believing in myself, and doing the work within my plan to get exactly where I want to be. The truth is, I had to lose myself to find myself. Now, I sit as my story is still unfolding, I am still creating my story of my true success.

In 2025, I closed two careers in the same year, 39 years in the U.S. Army and 25 years in federal civil service, both honorable, both marked by meritorious service. I knew exactly what came next: rest. After four decades of giving well beyond 100%, I had earned the quiet, and I intended to take it. Artificial intelligence had other ideas. Let me be clear about what AI did and did not do. It did not make me capable. It did not make me impactful. That work was already done, over decades, under real consequence. What AI did was meet me where I already was, as a thought partner that could match the pace of my thinking, pressure-test my reasoning, and help me extend an idea beyond the version I arrived with. Every output still passes through my judgment. I accept what holds. I reject what doesn't. AI placed on top of a mess only produces a faster mess. Used with discipline, though, it is an amplifier of whatever is already in you. That realization became FlowLogic Solutions and a commitment to reach other women who assume AI belongs to someone else. It doesn't. If you are reading this and wondering whether your story is still unfolding, I'd offer you what I had to learn myself: the chapter isn't closed. The tools have changed. What you've already built is still yours and it can still travel further than you think.

When I looked at my children, I knew I had to lead by example. I chose courage over comfort, growth over fear. Earning my MBA was more than a degree, it was a declaration that a woman can lead boldly, love fiercely, and still rise to the highest level.

I realized my story was still being written the moment I stopped waiting for the next opportunity and decided to create my own. Up until that point, I had done everything "right", but I wasn't building something that was fully mine. That shift forced me to take ownership of my direction, think beyond traditional paths, and move with intention instead of permission. Since then, I've approached my career differently. I don't wait for clarity, I build it. I create opportunities instead of waiting for them, and I move with intention in everything I do. I treat my career as something I own, not something I follow. And that mindset is what continues to push everything forward.

The moment I realized my story was still being written, I understood that every second becomes a new minute, every minute a new hour, and every hour a new day. With each moment comes another opportunity to shape the parts of our story we can control. We may not control every twist or turn, but we can choose to take the wheel and keep moving forward—through every bump, every curve, and every new beginning.

Mine came after a serious Vespa accident that left me in a wheelchair for six months and on crutches for nearly two years. I had spent much of my life being the provider, the builder, the person who held everything together. Suddenly, I couldn't move through the world the same way and I realized how much of my identity was tied to control. What changed me wasn't the accident itself. It was the surrender. The realization that my story wasn't ending; it was being redefined. That season eventually led me to build Morris Hoeft Group differently with more clarity, more humanity, and a deeper understanding that meaningful work starts with truly seeing people. Sometimes the future opens the moment we stop trying to force it.

Life evolves organically with mindfulness as our guiding light.

For me, that moment came when I made the transition from a long career in Corporate America into the nonprofit world. After 25 years, I could have easily believed that my story, and my lane, was already defined. But stepping into Kids' Meals showed me something completely different: that purpose doesn't have an expiration date, and impact can take on entirely new meaning at any stage of life.

I realized my story was still unfolding when I stopped measuring my future by my past and started focusing on the impact I could still make. Growth doesn't have an expiration date; it expands when you choose to keep evolving. There came a moment when I understood that experience wasn't closing doors for me, it was preparing me to walk through bigger ones with confidence. Some of the best chapters begin when you finally trust your own voice.

Life gets busy, and somewhere between responsibilities and routine, it's easy to stop imagining what's still possible for yourself. What changed for me was realizing that growth doesn't have an age limit. The more I leaned into helping others grow and building meaningful connections through my work, the more I rediscovered my own confidence and purpose. I've learned that your story doesn't stop evolving just because you've reached what you once considered success. I think I'll always have an internal drive for growth, and that doesn't end because of a milestone, title, or age.

I think many of us go through periods where we question whether we're "too late" for something. Every new skill, challenge, and even setback can open doors you didn't originally plan for. Especially now, with AI changing industries so quickly, continuing to learn and adapt proves that growth, career changes, and new opportunities don't have an expiration date.

There were days I questioned if my chance had already passed, but I keep showing up and giving my best and heart anyway. I realized growth often happens quietly, and the door you've been waiting on can open when you least expect it as long as you don't stop believing before it does.

I think anyone who lives in the world today must feel like they are living in a social experiment and that each day presents new challenges, be it in work, personal or social settings. We live in a time when trying to keep up with technology should challenge everyone to bring their A game to everything they do because it is an ever-changing entity and staying on the cusp of it in the world of education is both challenging and exciting. It provides opportunities for students in pathways such as AI and coding while demanding that postsecondary institutions find new ways to recruit and educate these new, technologically sophisticated students.

Sometimes the dream doesn't die, it's just waiting for the world to catch up. I had the vision for InnerVue in 2007, but it took until AI could finally solve the challenges of anonymity, candor, and pattern recognition for me to realize maybe this thing was really possible. So despite being in my 50s and running an active consulting company, I dove in and got started building.

There was a point where I realized growth does not always arrive loudly. Sometimes it comes after disappointment, exhaustion, or a season where life feels repetitive. What changed my perspective was understanding that timelines are not proof of purpose. Just because something has not happened yet does not mean it was never meant for you. What helped me personally to see the future differently was shifting from asking, "Did I miss my chance?" to asking, "What if I'm still being prepared for it?" That small change creates room for possibility again.

At The Phoenix, I've learned that meaningful work is about more than building a business. It's about building trust, connection, and lasting impact. Working alongside my team and our clients in brand strategy, community engagement, and strategic communications has shown me that some of the best chapters of our story are the ones we create in service to others.