Patience Cormier

I attribute my success to sheer determination and intentional time management. Looking back, I still don't know how I earned my master's degree while working full-time as an auditor during busy season and raising two young children. There were nights I didn't go to bed until 2 or 3 a.m., only to be back up by 7 a.m. Most weekends were spent completing coursework while continuing to provide exceptional client service and making sure my family still had home-cooked meals. That season completely changed my perspective on time. I used to believe I didn't have enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I wanted. Now I realize we all have the same 24 hours. What matters is how we choose to invest them.

I would encourage young women not to fear the future. Instead of focusing on what could go wrong, spend time considering what could go right. Believe in yourself and don't let your circumstances define your potential. I entered the commercial real estate industry without a college degree and encountered my share of invisible glass ceilings. Those experiences taught me resilience, and they motivated me to continue learning and growing until my education reflected the level I always knew I was capable of achieving.

Today, more women are leading organizations, launching businesses, and reshaping industries than ever before. Our voices, perspectives, and experiences matter, and they deserve to be heard. As a mother, I'm raising my daughter to believe there are no limits on what she can accomplish, and I hope to encourage other women to pursue their goals with confidence, courage, and authenticity.

What drives me most is encouraging others and helping people believe in themselves. One of my favorite roles was serving as an academic coach and tutor because I had the opportunity to work with students who doubted they could graduate. Many were focused on everything that could go wrong, and I would simply ask them, "What if it all goes right?" That one question often changed their perspective.

Today, that same philosophy continues to guide me. I hope my journey encourages other women to return to school, pursue their dreams, or finally start the business they've been thinking about for years. Through my consulting work, I also hope to support small businesses and nonprofit organizations so they can grow with confidence and make an even greater impact in their communities. Above all, I want to be a positive example for my daughter and son by showing them that determination, faith, and perseverance can open doors that once seemed impossible. I believe our words have power. When we speak life over ourselves, choose faith over fear, and believe we're capable of more than we think, incredible things can happen.