From Small-Town Roots to a Life of Purpose

I’ve never been one for short stories, and this one is no exception. I grew up in a small Missouri town before moving to the big city of Phoenix, AZ in elementary school. Just when I started to find my footing, we moved back to Missouri mid-high school, where I would end up living the next 35 years. I attended 6 different schools becoming quite familiar with pivoting, changing, and reinventing myself.

Born a lover of people and deeply connected to the emotions of those around me, I’ve always had a soft spot for those going through hard things. That thread of empathy carried me into nonprofit work, where I thrived in fundraising, community relations, and event planning. After earning a degree in communications and a minor in psychology, I threw myself into mission-driven work connecting people, raising awareness, and creating meaningful experiences.

Then came motherhood. I stepped away from the professional spotlight to raise my children and found joy in it, but also a quiet emptiness I couldn’t ignore. Despite all I had accomplished, something inside me felt disconnected, like I was playing a role that no longer fit.

Beyond Resilience: The Shift I Didn’t See Coming

My world cracked open after a series of life-altering events: a stroke, two sudden and painful divorces, the loss of a baby to stillbirth, and a spiral into mental health challenges triggered by unhealed childhood trauma. I was swimming in self-hatred, medicated into numbness, avoiding reality, and wondering how I got here.

I had always been a fighter, but this was different. I was terrified...of being alone, of feeling, of stopping long enough to face what was underneath it all. And yet, I knew I couldn’t keep running. So, I stopped. I slowed down. I got sober. And I let myself feel and learn to be ok being alone.

One moment at a time, I began to rebuild from the inside out. I chose healing. I chose growth. I chose to believe in something better, not despite the pain, but because of it.

Authentic Confidence: Coming Home to Myself

Through the support of a life coach, I entered a new world, one where transformation was possible through self-awareness, compassion, and intentional change. I pursued certifications in life coaching, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence. I immersed myself in healing modalities and deep inner work. I discovered the true power of authentic confidence: not performance, but presence. Not pretending, but partnering with myself.

This was no "Eat. Pray. Love." escape to Italy. This was the real kind of becoming, in the messy middle of single parenting, building a business, and choosing to rise, day by day, breath by breath.

Purposeful Self-Leadership: Creating a Life That Aligns

I’m breaking cycles I was born into- cycles of mental illness, addiction, and trauma. My great-grandmother institutionalized, my grandmother lost to suicide. I was determined to write a new story. I wanted more for myself. For my kids. For the people I serve.

So, I did the work. I rebuilt confidence. Cultivated resilience. Committed to living a life that felt aligned, meaningful, and soul-driven. I chose to lead myself not perfectly, but intentionally.

Today, I help others do the same.

What I Do (and Why It Matters)

For over a decade, I’ve worked with hundreds of women, men, young adults, and purpose-driven organizations from around the world, supporting them through transitions, identity shifts, uncertainty, and imposter syndrome. From entrepreneurs and emerging leaders to parents and creatives, I help people:

• Rebuild self-trust and inner power

• Lead with clarity, confidence, and emotional intelligence

• Turn adversity into fuel for growth

• Create purpose-driven lives and careers that feel good on the inside

I don’t believe you need to "bounce back." I believe you’re here to bounce forward.