I found the confidence to reinvent myself by living through the moments that left me no other choice but to grow. It wasn't sudden or effortless; it was intentional.

January 5th 2026, I was told my job was eliminated due to budget cuts. I gave myself 2 hours to feel all the feelings and then I dedicated every minute after that to finding a job. Many people are experiencing the same situation, I knew some personally, that had been looking for months before finding a job or are still looking for a job. I am happy to say, I start my new job Monday, February 2nd! Once I made this LinkedIn official, my messages were flooded with people asking how did you find a job so fast? Here is what I did that worked for me: 1. Reach out to colleagues, fb friends, hiring managers, recruiters, influencers and more directly! Share your story, in private messages and emails, text, phone calls, letting them know what you are looking for and ask them to keep you in mind for any roles that you could possibly fill. Sure, posting one paragraph on your LinkedIn is good, but it's a generic post that everyone else has done. Unless someone is actively monitoring your page, it doesn't get read. 2. Remote work is good but maybe it's time to get back in the office. Most of our deepest connections with persons related to point 1, were made in the office not remote. Right now, the market (IT and for me Healthcare IT) is heavily saturated. Be willing to do what others won't, put on real pants and drive to the office. 3. Hire a professional resume and interview coach. Yes, there are AI options out there that are free, but (in my case) the person I hired changed my entire mindset and approach during our initial phone call. AI could not accomplish what this actual person did. She was also able to create a resume for each type of role I was applying for, and I could edit those according to the specific job description. The cover letter used AI option on a certain platform generates the same words on all cover letters, and your cover letter will look no different than the 500 submitted before you. 4. In my case, I found AI filtering out my submissions b/c my degree was in Psychology but the jobs I was applying for wanted an IT, computer science or healthcare admin degree. Somehow, I knew I had to find a way around these obstacles. I had the premium membership for LinkedIn, and with that came an option to send the hiring managers or recruiters messages directly. I would create a personal style cover letter along with my resume directly to that recruiter or hiring manager. The personalized cover letter would speak to what my resume couldn't, this was an opportunity to tell my story and to stand out from the rest. I would state why my degree was a key to the success in my career and how that could be beneficial in this role. The reason I did this was to get a second chance to be seen in case my application was filtered out b/c my criteria on paper didn't match. 5. Be open to contract work. My initial approach was to do contract until the market opens up. This was my first time considering contract and this was my first time reaching out to recruiters directly. This was the biggest game changer for me, as I learned these recruiters can also find full time roles in some cases. The recruiters provided great feedback and advice as to improvements for interviews and specifics that could be beneficial on the resume to get more traction. To keep my mind focused on getting a job I did the following: 1. I continued to get up at the same time as I would if I was still working. I did this to avoid sluggish mindsets and behaviors. I didn't want one lazy day to lead to two unproductive days that would lead to weeks of uncertainty. 2. I would dress as if I were going into the office, hair and makeup done. The reason for this came from reading about the great depression. During this time of mass unemployment, men and women would wear suits and dresses every day, even if they were homeless because they wanted to be ready at a moment's notice for an interview. The same rule would apply to me; I wanted to be ready for any potential Webex or teams meeting that could be requested on the fly. 3. I would share leads with other colleagues that were looking for jobs. If there is a role that is not right for you and you know someone who would be great in that role, share it. Reach out to others that are in similar situations and form a co-op where you can share leads and resources. 4. I found that many managers and directors that were actively seeking people to join their team were active after business hours. Actively monitoring for post during 6 to 9 pm, was beneficial because if they were posting after hours then it let me know they were online and more likely to connect with and express interest.

Always be yourself, and don't ever apologize for it! Don't ever give up!

Confidence is built by taking action before everything feels certain. Reinventing myself wasn't about becoming someone new, but about finally owning who I've always been and being proud of the journey.

I let go of the idea that confidence comes first and learned it's built by action. I stepped into unfamiliar roles, survived discomfort, and proved to myself—repeatedly—that I'm capable. Confidence followed because evidence beats self-doubt every time.

I was at the lowest point of my life. A recently divorced mother of 3 children under the age of six. Thankfully, I was able to find strength in God which encouraged me to show up Everyday. Although, I moved forward in fear, eventually I found the confidence in myself to accomplish my dreams!

I quit a very toxic job after only a few months. It was a traumatic experience. Everyone said I was acting irrationally and that I was hurting myself professionally. I was and it did. Having no income and no job, I arranged for my family to go on a trip to a dude ranch! Why not? It was a needed break, and very focusing. I mean when you're on a horse going 30 miles an hour across a field you can't worry about not having a job! I got help negotiating a severance and moved - eventually- into one of the most productive periods of my professional life. It turns out people admired me and my decision as evidence that I would not allow myself to be in a situation that was toxic. It took a long time to recover, but I did.

I didn't reinvent myself all at once. I did it the way I've done most things—piece by piece. For a long time, my confidence came from roles I knew well: teacher, conductor, caregiver, the reliable one who showed up prepared. When those identities shifted—or fell away—I had to ask a harder question: who am I when I'm not needed in the same way? Writing changed that. Becoming an author wasn't about starting over; it was about finally saying the things I'd carried quietly for years. On the page, I found a voice that didn't need permission or applause. It didn't have to be perfect. It just had to be honest. Confidence didn't arrive as certainty. It arrived as courage—the courage to tell the truth, to be seen, and to trust that my story could help someone else feel less alone. Reinvention, for me, wasn't becoming someone new. It was claiming the woman I already was.

Reinventing myself after a crossroads where my belief in my own abilities was at its lowest took courage and absolute trust in the women around me encouraging me to take the next step. They knew I could, and eventually, I knew I could too.

After my first role supporting C-Suite leaders in the electronic manufacturing industry, I realized that to be the most effective partner, I first had to be my most authentic self. I didn't need to change my career path to reinvent myself, I just needed to change my approach. I began by rebranding my identity, stepping into the name I actually go by, and bringing a new level of intentionality to my work. I kept the high-stakes confidence I earned in the boardroom but traded the 'auto-pilot' for a life centered on what I truly enjoy. Now, I still support top-tier leaders, but I do it on my own terms and with a renewed sense of purpose. By prioritizing my own happiness and living authentically, I've found that I'm not just supporting a vision, I'm helping lead it with a clarity I never had before.

Reinventing myself meant choosing alignment over expectation. Leaving a traditional doctoral path in healthcare for a career in sales reshaped how I define credibility and success. When my work began to reflect who I truly am, confidence followed naturally. Reinvention is not failure, it is self-awareness, and choosing your truth despite expectations is one of the most rewarding decisions you can make.

I found confidence by surrounding myself with people who believed in me. They helped me see what I didn't see in myself. Their support guided me in the right direction.

Focus on your goals and passion then stay the course to achieving those goals, while remaining true to yourself the entire time, no matter how many times you get knocked down, how many people tell you no and how long it takes.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

I spent what I thought was my entire career working for organizations; never considered entrepreneurship. That was until I saw the change happening in our industry and knew a new approach was necessary. That's when I felt the "gravitational pull" to launch my own firm. The feeling was undeniable. I've never felt more vital or happy than right now.

Life does not always unfold as planned. In late August, just before beginning my MBA journey at Kellogg, I found myself in an ambulance after an unexpected e bike accident in the Great Smoky Mountains. One moment I was laughing with friends, the next my arm was immobilized in a sling and my face streaked with dirt. After X rays, the ER doctor delivered difficult news. My elbow was fractured and displaced and required immediate surgery. To accommodate the bulky cast, the medical team changed me into a thin hospital gown. Wearing that same gown, I boarded a flight home from Knoxville to Chicago, drawing curious glances from airport security who half jokingly asked if I had escaped from the hospital. The surgery went smoothly, but recovery was anything but easy. Everyday tasks turned into challenges, especially getting dressed. Each sleeve, button, and zipper required strategy and endurance. The clothes I once loved became daily reminders of discomfort and limitation. It was during those quiet, frustrating moments that a new idea began to form. What if clothing could adapt to the body, not the other way around? What if recovery could be comfortable, confident, and even stylish? That question became the seed for Fracture Club, an adaptive apparel brand I founded to support individuals with limited range of motion, from fractures to chronic conditions. Fracture Club is designed to bring comfort, dignity, and style to recovery, transforming what is often a painful and isolating experience into one of empowerment and ease. For me, this journey is more than a business or an MBA project. It is a story of resilience, empathy, and purpose. What began as a personal injury has grown into a mission to help others heal with confidence. Fracture Club continues to evolve with that same spirit, turning moments of hardship into opportunities for connection, care, and design that truly fits life in motion.

I used all that stress, worry, and panic and channeled it creating a name for myself. I didn't turn down work, no matter how small. I built reasonable with people by gaining their trust in my craft, talent, and professionalism. I became my the boss of my future and word of mouth came through.

For most of my career, I was known for the work I did inside the hospital walls — first as a Lead Open-Heart Surgical Technologist, then as a Sterile Processing Manager. In the operating room, I learned precision under pressure. I learned how preparation determines outcomes. I learned that excellence isn't optional when someone's life is on the table. As a Sterile Processing Manager, I carried that same mindset into leadership — building systems, strengthening compliance, mentoring technicians, and protecting patient safety behind the scenes. My identity was rooted in discipline, structure, accountability, and service. But reinvention didn't begin with a new title. It began with permission. I had to give myself permission to grow beyond the roles people were used to seeing me in. Becoming recognized as an Influential Woman wasn't about chasing recognition. It was about embracing impact. I realized leadership extended beyond policies and procedures — it included mentorship, faith, visibility, and helping other women see what was possible for themselves. Then came the most personal reinvention of all — becoming a published author. Writing required vulnerability. It meant stepping out from behind the structure of the OR and the standards of compliance and allowing people to see my journey — the resilience, the faith, the setbacks, and the growth. It meant trusting that my voice had value beyond my credentials. Confidence in becoming someone new didn't come from applause. It came from alignment. Alignment with the woman I was becoming. Alignment with the gifts God placed inside of me. Alignment with understanding that reinvention is not abandoning who you were — it's expanding into who you are called to be. I didn't stop being a surgical technologist. I didn't stop being a sterile processing leader. I built on that foundation. From the operating room… to executive leadership… to influence… to authorship — each season prepared me for the next. Reinvention taught me this: You are allowed to outgrow old definitions. Growth is not arrogance. Visibility is not vanity. And becoming "someone new" is often just becoming more fully who you were always meant to be. That's how I did it — with faith, courage, discipline, and the willingness to step forward before I felt completely ready.

After earning my doctorate in toxicology, I entered a highly competitive post-pandemic job market with limited professional opportunities in my local area. Like many women who prioritize family, I made the conscious decision to remain close to my loved ones rather than relocate for career advancement. Instead of allowing external expectations to define my path, I chose to listen to my inner voice and remain true to my ambitions. Refusing to confine my goals to a single professional lane, I explored new horizons. By aligning my logical thinking and data analysis skills with emerging market opportunities, I expanded my professional scope. Alongside my identity as a scientist, I developed new expertise as a self-published author, demonstrating adaptability during a time of economic uncertainty. Throughout this transition, I continually reminded myself: no matter how difficult the journey becomes, I will succeed. Stepping beyond my comfort zone, I launched a new venture in May 2025 by publishing my first book. Comprehensive Breast Cancer Guide: From Risk Factors and Diagnosis to Treatment Choices—11 Natural Strategies to Detox Your Body, Boost Immunity, and Improve Overall Well-Being on Amazon. Through this work, I transformed my scientific knowledge and compassion into a resource designed to empower women navigating one of the most challenging health journeys of their lives—helping them move from fear and uncertainty to clarity, confidence, and strength. I firmly believe that strong women do not compete with one another; they uplift, empower, and support each other.

Reinvention, for me, came from a moment of realizing that I wanted to contribute to healthcare in a deeper, more meaningful way. After years of experience in medical background and patient care, I saw how much potential there was to connect patients with innovative treatments through clinical research. Building something new required stepping into unfamiliar territory, but it also meant trusting the experience, resilience, and perspective I had gained along the way. Confidence didn't arrive all at once, it grew through every challenge, every decision, and every step taken toward creating a research program focused on integrity, collaboration, and patient access to innovation. What helped me most was recognizing that reinvention isn't about starting over; it's about evolving. Each chapter of my career prepared me for the next one, and that realization gave me the confidence to embrace becoming someone new.

I became an advocate for public safety in Memphis. I started telling my story — not because it was easy, but because it mattered. Memphis has one of the highest vehicular crash rates in the developed world. If my voice could help create change, then the pain from my own vehicular, hit-and-run crash wouldn't be wasted.

I have not always had it easy, but I had the choice. Instead of choosing to be average and watching impact being made from the outside, I chose to beat the odds, go over every roadblock that was placed in front of me, and live a life of visible leadership with a balance of head and heart. I chose to persevere instead of having pity on myself. I rode to the occasion and never took "no" for an answer. I lived a life searching for my voice and trying to focus out what a healthy family looked like and what an empowered woman looked like. I realized that somewhere along my journey, I had to make the decision of who I was going to become, not just for myself, but for my children and other women who I would encounter along the way. I didn't always have the support, direction, or knowledge of where to start and what direction to go. When I was pregnant with my second child I began feeling lost and stuck in the shadows of my husband and children. I needed more. I knew that God had more for me to do and be. I began attending the Professional Women's Group of Connections to Success. I entered into an amazing space filled with women who had gone through their own transformations and were now opening themselves up and helping other women to transform themselves through sharing their testimonies, skillset, experience, and heart. I knew that I needed that and wanted to be that for another woman. As I continued to grow, heal, and evolve, I began becoming more involved in PWG and started seeing the value in sharing my story, realizing that I had so much to offer to empower others. Twelve years later, I was honored with the Dennis and Judy Jones Lifetime Achievement Award. I also acquired my Doctorate and second Masters in Educational Leadership through Maryville University all while going through cataract surgery on both eyes followed by several rounds of laser treatment during my last semester. I had to find the strength and motivation to push even when I struggled to be able to see clearly and still had to finish my dissertation, which I completed before the deadline. This was not an easy task. The level of perseverance that was needed to complete this goal was insurmountable. I am extremely grateful for the support of my husband, daughters, professional network, and mentors who have poured into me along the way. As I am now embarking upon preparing myself to transition out of the classroom, I am again tapping into the power behind Chosen and so I have the power to choose. My daughters deserve to have an example of what is possible when you believed in yourself, set goals, and don't quit. I realized that I needed to survive every struggle because somewhere in my life I will encounter another woman who needs to see what surviving, healing, and forgiving looks like when it is done consistently and authentically. I AM HER.

Coming back into the industry after an 18-month hiatus gave me a completely new perspective on my career. For many years I worked at the relentless pace that logistics often requires. Stepping away reminded me just how much I value the relationships, the problem-solving, and the purpose that comes with this work. Returning to the industry has truly made me feel alive again. It reminded me why I fell in love with logistics in the first place; the people, the challenges, and the satisfaction that comes from solving problems that keep industries running.