Growth begins when comfort ends. Every time you level up, something you outgrew gets left behind.

Making peace with my past self wasn't a single moment. It was the cumulative effect of raising two sons, surviving personal upheavals, rebuilding a career I'm fiercely proud of, and finally giving myself permission to set boundaries. I learned to speak up without apology, to advocate for myself the same way I advocate for my team, and to stop viewing past chapters as liabilities. They're assets that inform my leadership, sharpen my intuition, and keep me grounded. Today, I don't disown the woman I used to be. I thank her. She carried me through seasons I didn't think I'd survive, and she gave me the raw material I needed to become the woman I am now. And that acceptance, more than any title or accolade, is what truly feels like success.