I began my journey in a small town, attending an HBCU that many dismissed as “not as good” as the major universities. I didn’t have standout grades, abundant resources, or seasoned mentors to guide me. What I did have was a relentless work ethic — the one thing that leveled the playing field. When I realized that working harder on myself than on anything else could change my future, I answered the call to grow. That decision set me on a path far beyond what my circumstances predicted.

The road wasn’t easy. I immersed myself in personal development, becoming a devoted student of great leaders. I read, studied, and trained with the intensity of an athlete because self-improvement became my sport. My athletic background gave me discipline, my HBCU sharpened my resilience, and my environment fueled my hunger. Those forces together transformed my mindset and allowed me to defy every expectation about where someone like me could go. That mindset carried me from the plant floor to the Executive VP level, leading global transformations, coaching high performers, traveling to more than 20 countries, and training tens of thousands of people.

Now, having completed that journey, I return with a message for others: your work ethic, your mindset, and your willingness to grow can take you farther than privilege ever will. I stand as living proof that where you start does not dictate where you can finish — and my mission today is to help others uncover that same power, rise above their narrative, and become proof of their own potential.