How She Built a Career Her Children Could See

I wanted all children to see that it is never too late to change your life, chase a dream, or find a new purpose. More than anything, I hope they learned that success isn't just about opening doors for yourself, it's about reaching back and holding the door open for someone else.

I've chosen to build my career, education, and businesses before having children so they can enter the world with generational knowledge, resources, and wealth already being established for them especially when it's time for their education and future. I also want to become an amazing mother and wife, carrying forward the example of love, strength, and dedication I've witnessed in my own mom while creating an even stronger foundation for the next generation.

First thing I hope my children notice is that mama does not have it all together, and that sometimes in life you have to build the plane while flying. You don't reach new heights without movement!!

My daughters have grown up watching me build a career in the aerospace and defense industry; an environment that is demanding, technical, fast-paced, and still largely male-dominated. They have seen the travel, the preparation, the long days, the meetings, the presentations, and the responsibility that comes with managing important customer relationships and helping solve complex problems. But when they look back, I hope the lesson they remember has very little to do with aerospace and defense. I hope they learned that they can walk into any room and know they belong there. I want them to know that being a woman, a mother, a wife, and a professional does not require them to diminish one part of themselves to succeed in another. I want them to see that you can be strong without losing your kindness, ambitious without losing your compassion, and confident enough to lead while still being humble enough to listen and learn. My career has taught me that success is rarely about knowing everything. It is about being willing to learn, asking the right questions, building trust, doing what you say you are going to do, and having the courage to keep moving forward when something is difficult or unfamiliar. Those are the qualities I hope my daughters have seen in me. They have also watched me pursue bigger opportunities and continue challenging myself rather than becoming comfortable simply because I had already achieved something. I want them to understand that growth does not have an expiration date. You are allowed to keep setting new goals, reinventing yourself, and believing there is another level you can reach. Most importantly, I hope they have learned that achievement and service can exist together. Some of the most meaningful parts of my career have come from helping people, solving problems, developing relationships, mentoring others, and finding ways to make a positive difference. Titles and accomplishments matter far less to me than the way we treat people along the way. One day, my daughters will choose their own paths, and those paths may look nothing like mine. That is exactly what I want for them. My goal has never been for them to follow in my footsteps. My goal is for them to have the confidence to create their own. And if watching their mom build a career in aerospace and defense taught them anything, I hope it is this: Work hard. Stay curious. Lead with integrity. Help others. Never be intimidated by the room you are walking into, and never stop believing that you belong there.

I hope my example shows that who you are while pursuing your goals matters just as much as what you accomplish. Stay true to yourself, be of service, treat others the way you want to be treated, keep your word, and always give your best to what you commit to.

It was the promise to them and me by the Grace of God, to not let them fall between the cracks just because I was a single parent with limited resources.

When things got tough, my daughter saw me rise instead of crumble-, persisting when all other options failed and finding strength that followed tears. Through it all, I hope she learned that worth isn't measured by how many trials I had to overcome, but by the will, tenacity, and perseverance it takes to get through them, without feeling like I had failed somewhere along the way.

There's something truly special about seeing your children witness the work God has placed in your hands, and love it too. ❤️

As a woman in the automotive industry, I hope my children see that resilience, courage, and strength can help you find your place even in spaces where you may not naturally fit in. More than anything, I want them to know they can achieve whatever they set their minds to through hard work, while never compromising who they are or what they value.

My son can see that I can balance being a mother but also pursuing my career in a selfless way!