Pivot, don't Panic!!! There's always more than one way to do something.

Life experiences, literature searches, and patient reviews state that "Nursing is the Most Trustworthy Profession." I value Ethics, Humanism, Compassion, and share these values with patients, students, and peers. These values influence my functioning in the Nursing Profession. I have first been an Advocate for myself in varied roles, which has been necessary. Being an advocate, and a positive influence when caring for patients, or teaching students has always been my focus. Caring Behaviors promote Positive Outcomes. I believe the Nursing Profession must remain and be allowed to expand because many lives depend on it. Yes, we need other healthcare professions, but who is actually carrying out the orders, and leaving an impact on the patients......the Nurse.

Life itself is a rollercoaster. Some experiences are full of love, others not so much. Yet every single one shapes the woman you are today. With the gifts and talents you were born with and have strengthened, you rise as an empathetic person, determined to do good without asking for anything in return.

Once I finally realized that from the moment of conception, I was enough, I now do everything I can to encourage those who seek my help to be firmly grounded in the truth of their value and worth, which helps them to show up confidently and authentically in each moment.

In my earlier years, I was surrounded by family and people, and yet I was still alone through every struggle and defeat. So I intentionally reach out to give a helping hand, a hug or a word of encouragement to other women who may be surrounded by others and yet all alone.

I lost my father to murder at the age of 13. My mother took me to a therapist and it helped me so much. I knew from a young age that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others. Initially I went to school to be a therapist but life took me along a different path where I'm working in my dream industry: sports. I now get to help others launch their sports careers. It has been the most rewarding experience.

I've spent years looking for someone to give me permission to lead. Nobody handed me a seat at the table, so I built my own and started pulling chairs up for others. Now I spend my time reminding women they never needed permission in the first place.

Becoming the individual who leads often comes from listening and encouraging others. It comes from selfless service and authenticity.

There was a time when I was waiting for someone to tell me I belonged in the rooms I dreamed of entering. Life had a different lesson. It taught me that belonging is earned through courage, consistency, and the willingness to begin again. My journey has taken me across countries, careers, classrooms, courtrooms of tax law, research, public service, entrepreneurship, and authorship. Each chapter asked me to become someone I had never been before. Looking back, I realize I wasn't searching for a mentor, I was slowly becoming the woman I once needed. Today, I hope my work leaves behind more than titles or achievements. I hope it reminds someone standing at the beginning of their own journey that impossible is often just the first draft of what becomes possible.

I stopped waiting for someone to open the door for me and became the woman who builds the table, opens the door, and invites others to take their seat.

Believe in yourself, yes. But there's more to your success than just you. Surround yourself with good, smart, talented people. And above all, embrace humility. It may be in the waiting room of your life that humility leads to healing, growth, and an open door.

Over the years, I've learned that true leadership isn't about a title; It's about being present, listening, and helping others grow. The mentors who once believed in me inspired me to become that same safe space and advocate for others, especially for those who may just need someone to believe in them.

Adjust, Adapt, Overcome!

When I look back, there isn't just one moment that shaped me, it was a lifetime of experiences. As the middle child, I often became the glue that held my family together. I was always searching for guidance but usually had to figure things out on my own. I've always loved music, yet for many years I let fear make too many of my decisions. I doubted myself, stayed quiet when I should have spoken up, and missed opportunities because I was afraid of hearing "no." When I became a mother, everything shifted. More than anything, I wanted my son to understand perseverance. I wanted him to see that if you want something, you have to be willing to ask for it. The worst that can happen is someone says no, and no isn't the end of the world. It's simply part of the journey. I realized I couldn't just teach those lessons. I had to live them. That mindset eventually led me to create South Bay Music Connection. I didn't have experience running a nonprofit or raising money. What I did have was a deep love of music and the belief that talented young musicians deserved a place to be seen, heard, and encouraged. So I started asking. I asked cities, businesses, sponsors, musicians, and community leaders to believe in an idea that didn't exist yet. Some said no. Many did. But enough people said yes that, eight years later, we've created opportunities for countless young musicians to perform and grow. Today, I try to be the mentor, advocate, and safe place I spent much of my own life searching for. I want every young musician to know that their voice matters, their hard work matters, and that they shouldn't let fear keep them from chasing the opportunities they deserve. If my story has taught me anything, it's this: don't let fear make your decisions. Take the chance. Ask the question. Raise your hand. A "no" rarely closes every door, but never asking guarantees you'll never know what was possible.

My favorite quote is not my own, but it is one that has guided my entire life. It is from Nelson Mandela: "I never lose. I either win or learn." That statement is the foundation of my mindset. In the military, and certainly in the high-stakes world of cybersecurity, things rarely go perfectly according to plan. I have faced setbacks, aggressive deadlines, and toxic environments that would have made it very easy to quit. But Mandela's words give me motivation even when I fall short of a goal. I never view a setback as a failure; I view it as data.

There was a time in my life when I was searching for someone to tell me that everything I was going through wasn't the end of my story. I was navigating divorce, layoffs, uncertainty, and raising four children while trying to figure out who I was beyond being a mother or an employee. During that season, I didn't need someone to rescue me, I needed someone to remind me that I was still capable, still valuable, and still becoming. Looking back, I realize that every setback was preparing me to become the woman I had been searching for all along. Today, whether I'm mentoring a job seeker, building stronger business operations, sharing leadership lessons, or simply encouraging someone who feels stuck, I try to be the person I once needed: someone who listens without judgment, leads with authenticity, and reminds others that their current chapter doesn't define their entire story. Success has become so much more than titles or accomplishments. To me, success means creating opportunities for other people to believe in themselves a little sooner than I did. If one woman walks away from my story believing that she can start over, reinvent herself, or pursue the life she's been quietly dreaming about, then sharing my journey has been worth it. Because sometimes the woman you're waiting to meet... is the woman you're becoming.