Recently, I revisited some of my early blog posts. At first, I laughed at the overconfident woman who was so certain she would take on the world. But as I read more closely, I noticed something deeper. Even then, I was leaving behind evidence—beliefs written in real time—that I would be successful, even if the path looked different than I imagined.

If you had asked me five or ten years ago where I would be today, I would have confidently said a Director or VP role at Medtronic. That future didn’t happen. At least not yet. Instead, I’m the owner of Leadership’s Success—a coaching and consulting business dedicated to helping people and organizations grow.

Owner. Six months ago, or even six years ago, I would have laughed that idea away. Yet here I am.

My calling first revealed itself during my undergraduate years, when I was deeply involved in outreach programs across Phoenix. One afternoon, while tutoring a young girl in a low-income district, she spoke about not seeing her father often and then asked about mine. I froze. I didn’t want to lie, I didn’t want to expose her to death and I sure didn’t want to create a false comparison between our lives. I answered carefully by asking her about other family members and we finished her assignment with a smile. That moment stayed with me. If I could connect with her—truly connect—could I do the same for others?

Early in my career, I became a manufacturing technical supervisor, leading people who were sometimes three times my age. That experience taught me how to fail with humility, how to let my guard down, and how to lead without ego. I learned that when you inspire someone with no hidden agenda, it stays with them. Often, ten minutes of encouragement or belief was enough to change someone’s direction—and seeing that was more rewarding than any title.

The last six months tested me in ways I never expected. Rejection after rejection forced me to confront the question I had avoided for years: What truly drives me? The answer was simple. Serving and inspiring others.

When I shared my career shift on LinkedIn, an acquaintance from over a decade ago reached out—someone I met once, waiting in line at a Verizon store. He wrote, “You left a lasting impression. Our dialogue was intriguing, engaging, and uplifting.”

That message reminded me why I do this work.

I am here to help people grow, to pass on wisdom earned through experience, and to inspire leaders toward possibilities they didn’t know were available to them.

This isn’t just what I do.

It’s who I am.