I always thought that in professional career, seniority means job security, and "being comfortable" in your role is the goal. But as I found out for myself, comfort can be the opposite. When the private company I worked for was acquired by a national chain, the operational focus quickly shifted from innovation to standardization. I found our company suddenly going backward, while we were all used to being pioneers and risk takers. I became bored, I was no longer challenged. For twenty years, I knew my industry, my coworkers, our workflows, and our operations well. I continued learning and being challenged. I had the seniority, the track record, and the respect of my coworkers, I had every opportunity to innovate, to change how we did things. I was comfortable. Then, my professional world changed almost overnight. My company was sold to a national chain and the culture changed. The pioneering, the risk taking, the innovation, the constant aim for progress, everything I was used to was replaced by very old-fashioned, standardized approach that was taking us backward. We were no longer leaders. I was safe, I was well paid, but I was totally bored. We often mistake stability and comfort for success. We often think that after a period of hard work we earn the right to coast. But for a true leader, boredom is not an option. It's a signal that you no longer give your best. When you stop being challenged, you stop evolving, and if you aren't evolving, you're becoming obsolete. An opportunity found me in the public sector, in an industry I knew nothing about. I decided to take the chance. It was the best thing I have ever done. Sometimes things in life happen for a reason: when the right opportunity finds you, trust your gut and take the chance. The hardest part of my transition wasn't learning about the new industry; it was giving me permission to leave the one I knew. I realized that trusting my gut meant walking away from a sure thing to pursue a maybe. I realized that the risk of staying in my comfort zone was greater than the risk of starting over. Trust the opportunity that finds you. When I walked out of private sector and into a government office, I changed my life. It was one of the best professional decisions I ever made. Sometimes, life must shake up your comfortable world to show you that you're capable of so much more. If an opportunity finds you today that feels a little bit scary and a lot challenging - take it. Your gut will know when you're ready.

My path to leadership wasn't traditional, but it was intentional. There was a time in my life when I was navigating addiction, incarceration, and the reality of starting over. I had to make a decision about what my life was going to look like moving forward, and recovery became the foundation for everything that followed. It didn't happen overnight. It took accountability, consistency, and people who believed in me when I was still learning how to believe in myself. Over time, I began to rebuild; not just my life, but my purpose. Today, I serve as the Executive Director of The Upper Room Recovery Community in South Bend, Indiana. In this role, I have the privilege of helping men and women transition from addiction, homelessness, and incarceration into stable, independent lives. This work is deeply personal to me, because I understand firsthand what it takes to start over. At The Upper Room, we focus on more than just sobriety. We focus on dignity, structure, and long-term success. I'm also leading the development of the Bridges to Recovery Center, where we're expanding access to employment support, life skills, and community connection because recovery doesn't happen in isolation. I've been fortunate to have people in my life who supported me, challenged me, and didn't give up on me. Today, I carry that forward by creating spaces where others feel seen, supported, and capable of change. My story isn't perfect, but it's proof that transformation is possible. And now, I get to help others build a future they once thought was out of reach.

There was a point in my life where I realized I had been focused on doing what needed to be done, rather than defining what I truly wanted for myself. I've spent over 20 years in transportation, starting as a driver, growing into training, safety, and now operations leadership. For a long time, success looked like showing up, working hard, and making sure everything and everyone else was taken care of. And while I was good at that, I wasn't always taking the time to step back and ask myself what kind of leader I wanted to be or what kind of life I wanted to build. That shift didn't happen overnight. It came through experience, through challenges, managing people, handling high-pressure situations, and learning from the leaders I worked alongside over the years. Some showed me what strong leadership looks like, being present, communicating clearly, and supporting your team in real time. Others showed me what doesn't work and those lessons were just as valuable. I took pieces from each experience and began shaping my own leadership style. The moment things really changed for me was when I stopped just reacting to everything around me and started leading with purpose. I began setting clearer expectations, holding people accountable, and also holding myself to a higher standard. I learned that being present matters, communication matters, and how you show up every day impacts not just the operation, but the people around you. I also realized that I didn't have to stay in one lane. Alongside my career, I built a travel business, something that allows me to connect with people in a different way and create experiences for others. That was a step toward doing something for me, not just what was expected of me. Living life on my own terms, for me, doesn't mean stepping away from responsibility. It means owning it but doing it with clarity, confidence, and intention. Today, I lead with real-time accountability, strong communication, and a focus on continuous improvement. I don't aim for perfection, I aim to show up, do the job right, and keep growing. Because success isn't just about where you end up, it's about how you lead along the way.

For me, growing up in a traditional household meant viewing success as a solid marriage with children. My mom was not a career woman but it was understood that having a job would be necessary for financial security, so I got married, had two children and found a stable job. For many years, I considered myself successful and so did those around me until one day in June of 2009 everything changed. The ugly hand of domestic violence shattered my dreams and forced me to confront a new and unfamiliar reality. I was now a single parent with two children and hopelessly in debt. That unforgettable moment of pain and betrayal forced me to see how I had been living a life based on what others expected but one that was not truly my own. I was terrified that I would fail and my children would be forever scarred by my inability to succeed. But success comes in ways that aren't always visible at first and through determination, hard work and very little sleep, I was able to turn things around and start living my version of what life should be. I measured success in whether I could pay the electric bill and have enough gas to get to work and over time, these little milestones became the catalyst for future growth. If I can make $50 worth of groceries last for the week, then I can take on more responsibility at work, go back to school and get another degree, etc. When you live your own truth and put other people's expectations aside, it sets you free in ways you can't imagine. I found my strength when I let go of what others thought made me strong and I am so happy that I did that.

God has encouraged me to "Begin Again"! So I would say to all women of all ages and every area of life "Don't Quit"! Don't give up"!!

For me, becoming isn't about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn't end.

For most of my life, success in my personal life looked like everyone else being okay. My children were taken care of, my family was supported, my friends were happy and somewhere at the bottom of that list, if there was anything left, was me. I didn't see it as a problem. I thought that was just what love looked like. Losing my mother to COVID in 2020 and my father to Alzheimer's in 2025 changed that completely. When you watch the people who raised you leave this world, you stop being able to pretend that time is unlimited. You stop being able to justify putting yourself last indefinitely. I realized I had been so busy being everything to everyone that I had never stopped to ask what I actually needed. What filled me up. What kind of life I genuinely wanted to be living. So I redefined what personal success means to me. It's no longer about how much I give or how many people I manage to keep happy. It's about living intentionally; taking care of my health, being truly present with my children rather than just physically there, and showing up in my relationships as a whole person rather than a depleted one. I am a single mother. I know what it means to carry a lot. But I've learned that sustainability matters. That I cannot pour endlessly from an empty cup. And that the greatest gift I can give my children isn't my sacrifice. It's showing them what it looks like to choose yourself without apology. That is personal success to me now. Not a perfect life. Just an intentional one lived fully, on my own terms.

The moment I stopped measuring my life by other people's expectations was the moment everything shifted. Choosing my own definition of success gave me the freedom to build a future rooted in purpose, peace, and the confidence to honor what I truly want.

I used to stay quiet, convinced I didn't have enough experience to speak with authority, that people only wanted to hear from those who had already "made it." But the more I started sharing my story, the more I realized just how much I'd lived, built, and learned. And that my voice wasn't lacking, it was needed.

Yes! There is a moment in everyone's life, when time was not in our control where the same people we were living with our known circles, whether it's a family or friends or strangers, the world getting weirder, we all have to face it in sometime of our life. This is exactly what I have faced in my postpartum phase, where COVID situation gave me anxiety, where I couldn't understand why everyone around me was treating me bad. That was the phase I stopped pleasing the people and chosen my pain into power by following my passions. Then I won the Title holder of Runner up of Mrs. India Florida, USA, 2022-23. Then I started focusing on my Career and my Passions, whether it is going for a Job or Getting Featured in the Lure & Fashion Republic Magazines, I never stopped following my heart. That was the phase I chosen myself over others. People called me as Selfish, not a Perfect Mom, but I corrected them, "This is Self Love"! It was not easy as I described it here. It was challenging, lonely life at first, eventually now it felt like that was one Powerful life, I have lived! What is more important is Being kind no matter what life throws at you. Some were saying, "Showing off". Yes! It is Showing off to inspire some people who are facing the same challenges like me. Because life is not end, challenges are just a testing phase! Today I'm proud to say, I have crossed my loneliness by following the passions. And Featured as a Leader on digital platforms like New York Weekly Magazine, and being recognized by Influential Women.

There was a point where I realized I was living based on what was expected of me instead of what actually made me feel fulfilled. I was overwhelmed, burnt out, and constantly trying to keep up with everything without ever feeling like it was enough. That's when I decided I needed to stop just getting by and start making decisions that actually supported my well-being and long-term goals. The biggest moment for me was choosing to leave my job and accept a new opportunity that better aligns with my goals and growth. It wasn't an easy decision, and there was a lot of uncertainty, but I knew staying where I was would keep me stuck in the same cycle. Since making that decision, I've started to feel more in control of my life. I've been more intentional about my time, my energy, and the direction I'm heading. It also helped me build confidence in myself and trust that I can make decisions that are right for me, even if they're uncomfortable at first. That shift changed how I define success. It's no longer just about pushing through or meeting expectations, it's about creating a life that feels balanced, purposeful, and sustainable.