Criminal justice and corrections expert, former law enforcement officer and supervisor, entrepreneur, executive, international speaker, Christian, wife and mother – these are all titles I wholeheartedly embrace. Frankly, I’ve worked very hard to earn all of them and there’s a sense of honor and responsibility that comes along with each one.

 All of these experiences have helped shape who I am today. They’ve each been a step along my unconventional path to leadership and success. As a woman of color who started my career in tough, male-dominated industries, I have learned the value of professional resiliency, agility, and hustle. I know what real leadership looks like and the beauty that comes from forging your own individual path to success.

I often say that I’ve learned “How to Make Chocolate Cake from Lemons,” or how to turn life’s challenges into your own unique advantages. These lessons have served me well in my life and career and I have been fortunate to share them with people around the world from the U.S. and Canada to Argentina and Australia.