There was a day (quiet, unremarkable on the surface) when everything shifted for me. I had been doing my job for years, pushing, learning, growing, and striving to be the best version of myself in the role I held. But on that day, something inside clicked. I realized I wasn't just capable at what I did. I was genuinely good at it. I had mastered that chapter in my career. And in that same moment of clarity came another truth: I had outgrown the phase I was in. It wasn't dissatisfaction. It wasn't restlessness. It was awareness. The kind that settles in slowly, then suddenly feels obvious: I was ready for more. Not long after, an unsolicited opportunity found me through LinkedIn, a role I hadn't sought out, but one that clearly sought me. I said no at first. Not because it wasn't right, but because fear has a sneaky way of sounding reasonable. Fear of change. Fear of the unknown. Fear of stepping away from the familiar comfort of what I already knew I could do well. Then the VP reached out a second time. And that second knock felt different. It felt intentional. It felt like a door being held open, waiting not for my qualifications, but for my courage. I realized that life doesn't always present opportunity wrapped neatly in confidence. Sometimes it arrives disguised as uncertainty, asking only that you trust yourself enough to try. So I said yes. And that yes became the biggest leap forward in my career, shaping the path that brought me to where I stand today. If there's one thing I learned from that moment, it's this: Don't fear the unknown. Don't talk yourself out of possibility. If someone is knocking, open the door. You never know what future is waiting on the other side.

The burden of comparison is dropped, for my worth is defined by my own growth. In competing only with my past, I find the true strength to both shine brightly and light the way for others.

I became the help I once needed. Early in my career, I desperately needed a coach or mentor—someone who could see potential in me before I fully saw it in myself. I looked for that support, even interviewed a few coaches, but as a single mom, every time the choice came down to investing in myself or paying the bills, the bills always won. I kept moving forward, but I carried the quiet ache of knowing I was walking alone. Fast forward to the end of 2019. A large corporate layoff shook my world and, unexpectedly, revealed my strength. Instead of letting that moment define me, I decided to rewrite the story. I gathered every skill, lesson, and hard-earned piece of wisdom from my career and used them to create what I once needed: support for women who couldn't afford it. I launched Changing Your Conversation, offering free career coaching to low-income women across the country. Over the next five years, more than 30 women found full-time employment or started their own businesses through the program. But the real transformation wasn't just theirs, it was mine. Every breakthrough they had reflected back a truth I had missed for years: I was stronger, wiser, and more equipped than I ever gave myself credit for. Helping those women didn't just change their futures, it shaped my daughters' understanding of leadership, resilience, and radical generosity. And it anchored a confidence in me that I now carry forward: I can build what I once lacked, and I can become what I once needed. That realization changed everything. It showed me that strength isn't loud, it's simply choosing to rise, again and again, and then reaching back to lift someone else with you.

When I was offered an opportunity to step into a new role on a new team, I was hesitant. On paper, it looked like a clear growth opportunity. In reality, it brought up doubts and insecurities I thought I had already worked through. Am I ready? What if I fail? What if I regret leaving what's familiar? I tried to think my way into the "right" decision, replaying conversations, weighing pros and cons, imagining different futures. And then I realized there was no way to know. Life rarely offers perfect certainty. What I did know was that growth doesn't come from staying comfortable. Opportunities don't arrive when we feel fully ready. They show up when we're capable, but uncertain. I decided to take the role. I still had doubts, but I realized fear isn't always a signal to stop, it's often a sign you're standing at the edge of growth. This decision wasn't about predicting the future. It was about trusting myself, trusting that I could learn, adapt, ask questions, and grow into what was required. Trusting that I've navigated hard things before and I could do it again. The beginning was challenging. A completely new team, new technology, and unfamiliar processes pushed me out of my comfort zone. But I got to work on exciting projects, learn new technical skills, and collaborate with talented teammates who helped me grow both technically and as a leader. I faced uncomfortable situations, solved tough problems, and found creative solutions. We women always figure out a way, so it doesn't make sense not to take the opportunity. What I'm most proud of is the realization that I don't need to have everything figured out to move forward. For any woman standing at a crossroads, wondering whether to leap or stay safe, there may never be a perfect answer, but there is power in trusting yourself. I realized I'm stronger than I thought. And that realization alone made the leap worth it.

The moment I realized I was stronger than I thought came after I was laid off from my previous agency. It was the first time in my career I had ever experienced a layoff, and the length of that period brought a level of uncertainty and emotional weight I wasn't prepared for. I felt discouraged, defeated, and deeply unsure of what the future would look like. But instead of allowing that moment to define me, I made a decision to use it as a turning point. I committed to staying sharp and continuing to grow, even without the structure of a full-time role. I enrolled in Coursera courses across multiple sectors of public relations, expanding my skill set and deepening my understanding of the industry while reminding myself of my capabilities. At the same time, I began offering my PR expertise pro bono to small businesses and founders who needed a voice. What started as a way to stay busy quickly became one of the most meaningful chapters of my career. I worked with a women-owned boutique in my community with five locations across Westchester County and Connecticut, securing major national coverage including a full feature in The New York Times around the impact of tariffs, as well as placements in Business Insider and ForbesWomen. I also supported a small candle-making business, helping the founder earn a full Forbes print feature, a national television appearance on CNN, and quotes in The New York Times. In addition, I worked with the CEO of a boutique wealth management firm in Los Angeles, placing his expertise across CBS News, Business Insider, and Forbes. I even assisted a local Italian/Croatian restaurant in New York City, securing coverage in Business Insider and Bloomberg, which directly led to an increase in customers after the stories ran. Through this experience, my resilience showed up in consistency, generosity, and belief. Even while navigating my own challenges, I continued to show up for others, amplifying voices and businesses that may not have otherwise had access to national platforms. What began as a difficult and uncertain period ultimately reaffirmed my confidence, my talent, and my purpose. That realization changed everything. I learned that my strength lies not only in my skills, but in my grit, my determination, and my commitment to uplifting others. Even in the darkest moments, I was capable of building impact, creating opportunity, and continuing to do the work I love. That knowledge has stayed with me and continues to shape how I move forward — with confidence, resilience, and intention.

The moment I truly realized my strength came during one of the hardest seasons of my life; I was displaced, fleeing a deeply toxic relationship, and trying to keep my two young boys safe while holding my life together. There were days I had no stability, no power, and very little support, yet I had to make critical decisions for the safety and wellbeing of my family. What pushed me further than I expected was not just surviving the chaos, but continuing to show up fully as a mother, a professional, and a creator. My resilience showed up in the way I adapted, problem-solved, and rebuilt, even when the odds felt insurmountable. I leaned on faith, discipline, and the vision of the life I wanted to create, not just for myself, but for my children. That realization (that I could navigate unimaginable hardship while still moving toward my goals) shifted my confidence entirely. I learned that my strength is not just in enduring, but in creating, leading, and thriving despite the circumstances. It has shaped every part of my life since, reminding me that no matter how difficult the challenge, I am capable, resourceful, and resilient beyond measure.

The moment I realized I was stronger than I thought was when I kept moving forward even while feeling uncertain, tired, and unseen. I learned that strength isn't about having all the answers; it's about showing up anyway. That experience reshaped my confidence, reminding me that resilience is built in the quiet moments when you choose not to quit.

The moment I realized I was stronger than I thought came when I stepped into a leadership role that expanded faster than the infrastructure around it. I was responsible for building teams, fixing systems, and delivering results at the same time, often without a clear playbook. The pressure was constant, and the margin for error felt small. What tested me most was learning to make decisions before everything felt fully ready. Resilience showed up in my ability to stay steady, prioritize what would actually move the business forward, and lead with clarity even when things were messy. Over time, I learned to trust my judgment and stop waiting for external validation. That experience shifted my confidence. I stopped measuring myself against titles or expectations and started measuring impact. It taught me that real leadership is built in uncertainty, and that growth often comes from being willing to step forward before you feel prepared.

I realized I was stronger than I thought during a season when I was balancing demanding leadership responsibilities with personal challenges that required more resilience than anyone could see. From the outside, everything looked steady, but internally, I was learning how to carry pressure with intention and composure. My strength showed up in how I chose to respond rather than react. I leaned into the language of logic to gain clarity around structure, analysis, and perspective, trusting that calm, thoughtful leadership would always be more powerful than force. Instead of letting urgency drive my decisions, I focused on understanding what was truly within my control and moving forward with steady purpose. That realization reshaped how I define strength. I stopped measuring it by how much I could endure and started recognizing it in how thoughtfully I could lead myself through uncertainty. It gave me a deeper confidence, not just in my ability to handle difficult moments, but in my capacity to shape what comes next with clarity, discipline, and trust in my own judgment.

The moment I realized I was stronger than I thought came when I learned how to remain spiritually aligned while stepping into greater levels of responsibility and visibility. As my work expanded across leadership, advanced scholarship, and service, I became intentional about grounding myself through meditation, reflection, and inner stillness. That practice allowed me to move through growth from a place of clarity rather than pressure, and to stay connected to a deeper sense of purpose beyond outcomes or timelines. What pushed me further than I expected was choosing alignment over urgency, and presence over constant motion. Resilience showed up in the way I protected my energy, maintained a positive and disciplined mindset, and trusted inner guidance when navigating complex decisions. Meditation became more than a practice. It became a way of orienting myself toward calm certainty, allowing me to respond thoughtfully rather than react. Strength revealed itself in consistency, patience, and the ability to remain centered while continuing to expand. That realization reshaped my confidence in a profound way. I stopped measuring strength by how much I could carry or how fast I could move, and began measuring it by how grounded I remained while growing. Spiritual alignment taught me that when the inner foundation is steady, progress does not require force. It unfolds with intention and ease. That understanding continues to shape how I lead, learn, and serve, and it reminds me that true strength is rooted in inner peace, trust, and alignment with purpose.