The journey to discovering your purpose isn’t always straightforward. Sometimes, the path takes unexpected turns, challenging you to grow in ways you never anticipated. This is my story.
Chicago Beginnings
I grew up in Chicago, the fifth child and youngest girl among my five siblings. Our home was filled with both challenges and love. My parents worked tirelessly while caring for two special needs brothers, instilling in me the core values that would shape my entire life: Resilience, integrity, humility, and the transformative power of a strong work ethic.
My parents possessed a remarkable gift for transforming ordinary spaces into sanctuaries of beauty through their work with trees, plants, and flowers. This ability to create something beautiful from simple elements would later inspire my own approach to leadership and coaching—finding and nurturing the potential for growth in others.
The Sensitive Child
Like many children, I struggled with aspects of my identity. Extreme shyness and a deep desire to please others often led to misunderstandings. My siblings labeled me as “too sensitive”—a characteristic that I initially viewed as a weakness but would later become one of my greatest professional strengths.
As the youngest daughter and, admittedly, my father’s favorite, navigating family dynamics required resilience I didn’t yet know I possessed. Despite these challenges, my natural leadership abilities emerged early in our neighborhood community. I found my place, my voice, and my happiness.
My First Major Challenge
Just as I was settling into my sense of belonging, my world shifted dramatically. We moved as I was entering eighth grade—perhaps the most challenging time for such a transition. This sudden change from a familiar environment where I’d established myself to a much larger school filled me with anxiety so profound it manifested physically, worry made me literally ill.
This experience, though painful, taught me crucial lessons about adapting to change and finding inner strength during uncertainty—lessons that would prove invaluable throughout my life and career.
Blossoming Through Work
My professional journey began at sixteen with my first retail job. Here, I discovered that the workplace offered me something my shy personality had previously limited—a structured environment to develop confidence and build connections.
My dedication to hard work—a value my parents had modeled—quickly set me apart. By twenty, I had moved into management, the youngest person in such a role at my company. Mentors recognized potential in me that I couldn’t yet see, gently pushing me beyond my comfort zone toward increasingly challenging leadership positions.
Finding My Leadership Voice
It was in Human Resources that I discovered my true vocational calling. The qualities once viewed as weaknesses—my sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and empathy—became recognized strengths. I built a reputation as an authentic, empowering leader who could connect deeply with others while driving results.
My career in HR progressed rapidly, eventually leading me to the role of Vice President within Fortune 500 companies. What began as a passion for supporting people evolved into a demonstrated ability to transform organizations. I became known for my expertise in organizational development and culture change, with colleagues and leaders actively seeking me out to join their companies.
These leaders recognized that my approach to human resources went beyond traditional personnel management. They valued my ability to enact meaningful change initiatives and build positive cultures where people could thrive. Being recruited by respected professionals who had witnessed my work firsthand was both validating and humbling.
The “too sensitive” child had become a leader precisely because of that sensitivity, not despite it. My emotional intelligence gave me intuition about others’ needs, my empathy allowed me to connect authentically, and my sensitivity helped me notice subtleties others might miss—all qualities that proved invaluable as I led transformational initiatives across multiple Fortune 500 environments.
Personal Challenges and Growth
Life, as it often does, presented personal challenges alongside professional growth. Marriage at 21, followed by divorce after 12 years, could have derailed my journey. Instead, as a single mother of three sons, I embraced the opportunity to model resilience.
Those years tested every resource I had. While working full-time in HR, I completed both my undergraduate degree in Applied Behavioral Science and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. I earned coaching certification and even found time to run several marathons—all while raising my three wonderful boys.
Each obstacle became a stepping stone toward something greater. Each challenge refined my sense of purpose.
The Dream That Became Reality
I held a dream that seemed impossibly distant—launching my own coaching practice and teaching in higher education. This vision required courage beyond what I thought possible and resilience to pursue it despite all rational reasons to play it safe.
In 2008, I took the leap. I became an adjunct instructor at the University of St. Catherine, a women’s college in St. Paul, Minnesota, and established Journey Bound Coaching. Teaching Principles of Management on Saturday mornings became one of my greatest joys.
Many of my students were working full-time, pursuing degree completion, seeking job promotions, or exploring new careers. In these determined women, I saw reflections of my own journey. It was here, in a classroom on Saturday mornings, that my purpose crystallized: to walk beside other women, supporting them through their own transformations.
Life Today
Today, my life flourishes in ways I once couldn’t imagine. Happily remarried since 2004 to my best friend, my family expanded to include three daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, our beloved golden retrievers, and my horse. Owning my horse is a passion story for later! 😊
I cherish simple joys—family and friend gatherings, outdoor adventures, reading, live shows and great movies, exploring new places, and moments of peaceful solitude. These aren’t distractions from my purpose but essential elements that fuel my ability to serve others.
Lessons From My Journey
Looking back on my path from shy Chicago girl to confident coach, I’ve learned that our greatest challenges often prepare us for our greatest contributions. The sensitivity that once made me feel out of place became the foundation for my emotional intelligence as a leader. The resilience built through personal struggles became wisdom I could share with others facing their own challenges.
Most importantly, I’ve learned that purpose isn’t something you discover in a single moment of clarity. It emerges gradually through the intersection of your values, natural strengths, life experiences, and the needs you see in the world around you.
Looking Forward
I know with absolute clarity that my purpose is to walk beside other women on their journeys, supporting their transformation just as others supported mine. Through coaching, teaching, and sharing my story, I hope to illuminate possibilities for women who may be struggling to see their own potential.
I’ve learned that when people tell you something is impossible, it’s only impossible until someone shows you otherwise. My story—with all its challenges and triumphs—is proof that with persistence, courage, and the willingness to evolve, we can transform our greatest vulnerabilities into our most powerful gifts.
This is the first in a series of blogs where I’ll be sharing wisdom gathered through my personal and professional journey to help aspiring leaders. In the next post, I’ll explore how we can move “Beyond Balance” to create lives that truly honor all our passions. I
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