Soraya King, MPA, PMP®

I attribute my success to my parents and to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Growing up with older parents, I spent much of my childhood listening, watching, and learning. I was naturally observant, and the conversations my father had with me—his wisdom, guidance, and life lessons—proved to be invaluable as I grew older. Over time, I watched his words come to fruition in my own life.

My parents also instilled in me a heart for serving others. Whether it was helping older adults with their taxes or simply looking for ways to make someone’s life a little easier, my father demonstrated that success is measured not only by what we achieve, but by how we help others. That mindset has stayed with me throughout my life and continues to shape both my personal journey and my professional work.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is to network more. I’m comfortable speaking in groups, but by nature I’m also highly reflective. I spend a lot of time thinking deeply, developing ideas, and building solutions on my own. While that has been one of my strengths, I’ve learned that I can’t keep my best ideas to myself.

I’ve had to intentionally step outside my comfort zone, connect with more people, and talk openly about the work I do. Every time I share an idea and bring together people with different perspectives and expertise, those ideas grow stronger and move forward much faster. I’ve realized that innovation doesn’t happen in isolation—it accelerates through collaboration, relationships, and meaningful conversations.

My advice to young women entering this industry is simple: support one another. There is far more to be gained through collaboration than competition. Jealousy and unnecessary rivalry only hold us back, while encouragement and shared success create opportunities for everyone.

If you meet someone who excels in an area where you want to grow, don’t be intimidated—learn from them. Ask questions, seek mentorship, and celebrate their strengths while developing your own. There is no shortage of opportunities when women are willing to lift each other up.

I also encourage women to move beyond the barriers that too often divide us—whether those differences are race, culture, education, background, or life experience. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. When we choose respect, collaboration, and mutual support, we become more effective leaders, stronger innovators, and more powerful advocates for positive change.

While women have made significant progress, biases and structural challenges still exist in many industries. That’s why it’s so important to build genuine networks of support, champion one another’s successes, and create space for the next generation of women to thrive.

Artificial intelligence has created one of the greatest opportunities our industry has seen in decades. It is changing the way we work, solve problems, and create value. For many professionals—especially women and those from historically underrepresented backgrounds—it is helping make barriers that once seemed immovable far more surmountable. The glass ceiling hasn’t disappeared, but AI is creating new pathways for innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership that weren’t as accessible before.

The opportunity, however, comes with a responsibility to keep learning. Those who embrace continuous education and adapt to new technologies will be best positioned to lead the future.

I’m grateful to have a strong mentor in Alicia Lyttle and her team at AI Innovision whose guidance has helped me understand not just how to use AI, but how to apply it strategically to create meaningful impact. Their mentorship has reinforced my belief that the future belongs to those who are willing to learn, collaborate, and innovate.

The value I want to bring through my work is improving people’s lives in meaningful and practical ways. I believe that even simple solutions can create lasting change when they help someone save time, make better decisions, reduce stress, or create new opportunities.

At the heart of everything I do is a commitment to serving others. Success, to me, isn’t measured only by wealth or recognition—it’s measured by the positive impact we have on the lives of others. I believe in sharing knowledge, creating opportunities, and helping others grow alongside me rather than competing with them.

If we’re fortunate enough to gain wisdom, resources, or success, we have a responsibility to use them to uplift others. When we share what we’ve learned and invest in people, we don’t just build successful businesses—we build stronger communities and create a legacy that extends far beyond ourselves.