From Adoption to Entrepreneurship
How My Journey from Adoption to Entrepreneurship Taught Me That True Leadership Begins Long Before the Title.
People often assume leadership begins with a title.
They imagine it starts when someone becomes a director, manager, CEO, or business owner. But in my experience, leadership begins much earlier. It begins in the moments that shape who we are long before anyone ever calls us a leader.
I know this because my own journey to leadership began as a child.
A Journey That Began Early
I was born in Belize and later adopted by my aunt in the United States. At the time, I did not understand how profoundly that experience would shape my life. I was simply a child learning to navigate change, adapt to a new environment, and find my place in the world.
While adoption was part of my journey, it was not the only experience that shaped me. As a child, I also experienced abuse. For many years, I carried the weight of those experiences quietly. Over time, however, they became part of the reason I dedicated my life to working with children. I understood firsthand how important it is for children to feel safe, protected, seen, and valued.
Looking back, I realize those early experiences taught me lessons about resilience, perseverance, empathy, and purpose that would later become essential to my leadership journey.
Many Women Leaders Carry Similar Stories
While our circumstances may be different, many of us have faced experiences that required us to adapt, overcome uncertainty, or find strength during challenging seasons of life. Those experiences often become hidden gifts. They teach us how to move forward when the path is unclear and how to remain grounded when circumstances test us.
For me, those early experiences became more than memories. They became motivation. They helped shape my commitment to children, families, and educators and influenced the work I would eventually dedicate my life to.
Leadership Is About Service
For years, I dedicated my career to early childhood education. I worked alongside children, families, and educators, eventually earning a doctorate in Early Childhood Education. Throughout my career, I discovered that leadership is not about authority or having all the answers. Leadership is about service. It is about creating opportunities for others to grow, succeed, and feel valued.
The most influential leaders I have encountered were not necessarily the loudest people in the room. They were the people who listened deeply, consistently supported others, and recognized the importance of building meaningful relationships.
Those lessons eventually inspired me to create organizations focused on helping others thrive. Through Kidz Exec Excellence, I provide resources and support to educators and families. Through SILWELL-C, I focus on wellness, leadership development, and creating spaces where people can reconnect with calm, purpose, and growth.
My passion for supporting children also led me to become an author. Through children's books, I share messages of identity, cultural pride, self-worth, belonging, and resilience. Storytelling became another way to help children feel seen, valued, and proud of who they are. In many ways, writing allowed me to transform life lessons into something meaningful for the next generation.
Entrepreneurship Is About Recognizing a Need
Entrepreneurship is often described as taking risks, building businesses, or pursuing opportunities. While those things are certainly part of the journey, I have come to believe that entrepreneurship is also about recognizing a need and having the courage to respond to it. It is about seeing possibilities where others may see obstacles.
For me, entrepreneurship was never simply about starting organizations. It was about creating the kind of support, opportunity, and encouragement that helps others thrive. It was about turning purpose into action.
In many ways, the qualities that helped me become an entrepreneur were the same qualities I began developing as a child: adaptability, resilience, persistence, and the willingness to keep moving forward even when the future was uncertain.
Our Challenges Do Not Have to Define Our Limitations
What continues to inspire me is the understanding that our challenges do not have to define our limitations. Instead, they can become part of our preparation.
Too often, women underestimate the value of their experiences. We focus on what we lack rather than what we have overcome. Yet the experiences that once felt difficult may become the very foundation of our greatest strengths.
- Resilience becomes empathy.
- Adaptability becomes innovation.
- Perseverance becomes leadership.
Today, when I speak with educators, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and women pursuing their dreams, I often remind them that leadership is not reserved for those with perfect circumstances. Leadership is built through everyday choices to keep learning, keep growing, and keep serving others despite challenges.
My journey from adoption to entrepreneurship was not a straight path. It included uncertainty, setbacks, and moments of questioning whether I was capable of achieving my goals. Yet each experience contributed to the person, entrepreneur, author, and leader I am today.
Do Not Underestimate the Power of Your Journey
If there is one lesson I hope other women take away from my story, it is this:
- Do not underestimate the power of your journey.
- The experiences that once tested you may be the very experiences that prepare you to lead.
- Your story matters.
- Your voice matters.
- And your leadership may be growing long before you even realize it.
Your path does not have to be perfect to be powerful. The challenges you have faced, the resilience you have developed, and the compassion you have cultivated may become the very qualities that allow you to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
- Leadership often begins long before the title arrives. Sometimes, it begins with simply choosing to keep going.
