Leadership Lessons from My Journey

How the hardest chapters can shape the strongest leaders.

I didn’t step into leadership through a traditional path. My story includes moments of deep struggle, navigating stigma, and rebuilding when doors were shut. There were days when I questioned whether I belonged in the rooms I now lead.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the very experiences that made me doubt myself are the same ones that now fuel my leadership.

• Resilience. Surviving hardship taught me to keep going when others give up.

• Empathy. Knowing what it feels like to be left out means I will always make space at the table for others.

• Courage. When you’ve faced real loss, you learn to speak truth even when it’s uncomfortable.

Leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about using every part of your story — even the painful ones — to create something better for others. My journey shaped me into a leader who leads not with ego, but with heart.

And that’s a lesson I’ll never stop carrying.