After providing community education and outreach for 3.5 years for an agency, I decided I wanted to offer education on a larger platform. I was passionate about the cause as a survivor and felt my education allowed me to do just that! I realized that domestic abuse was not just my career but my calling! I knew this feeling was the motivation I needed to start EmpowerED. My voice, my platform, my trainings….all for survivors! 💜

For years, my resume had a gap that was anything but empty. While a stay-at-home mom, I was leading, serving as PTO President for a charter school and running other nonprofits. I wasn't just volunteering; I was creating value-driven, revenue-generating programs. When my kids started driving, I was ready to return to the workforce. I worried that my non-linear path wouldn't count compared to peers on traditional corporate ladders. But I soon realized that leadership is leadership, regardless of the setting. My journey didn't need to look like anyone else's to be powerful. I leaned into my experience and started where I could. I moved from a volunteer to a temp Volunteer Manager at Love, Hope, Strength, which quickly became a permanent role. Later, I joined the Dear Jack Foundation as a part-time Office Manager. I wasn't starting over. I was building. In under ten years, I transitioned to full-time and climbed from LifeList Coordinator to Manager, Program Manager, Senior Manager, and finally, Senior Director of Operations. I still keep all my name tags in my office; they are a physical timeline of how far I've come by simply trusting my own pace. Don't let a non-traditional path make you feel behind. Whether you're running a PTO or a boardroom, the skills you're honing are transferable and valuable. Own your detour, take the foot-in-the-door opportunity, and then let your work ethic do the talking.