Inspiring the Next Generation: A Proud Mom Moment

As a leader, my goal is to inspire and mentor my teams to grow into leaders themselves, achieving success on their own terms. My approach to parenting is much the same—I want my children to become strong, ambitious leaders who can accomplish anything they set their minds to. I’ve also instilled in them the importance of using their talents and resources to serve their communities and help others. Like many parents, it often takes time to know if we’ve succeeded in our efforts, or to see the full impact of our parenting.

This brings me to my daughter, Parker. She’s a student commercial pilot training in Clearwater, FL. Since moving to Florida, she’s had to evacuate twice—once for Hurricane Helene, and now for Hurricane Milton. After Helene, Parker returned to Florida and, despite trying to resume her training, she chose to help with relief efforts along the coastline, just a mile from her home. As she was getting back into her routine, she was forced to evacuate once again due to Hurricane Milton.

While the state of Florida braces for the massive storm approaching the Tampa area, Parker took the necessary steps to evacuate and return to our home in Charlotte, NC. However, her focus wasn’t just on her own safety. Western NC was hit hard by Helene, with unprecedented flooding and destruction in communities unprepared for such devastation. Parker, along with several other pilots, has been flying recovery and relief missions into these areas. One of her tasks involves bringing back the bodies of those who lost their lives during the storm—a sobering and emotional responsibility.

On her first day, she spent nearly 12 hours on this emotionally and physically exhausting mission. While she asked for space and time to process her experiences, she immediately prepared herself to return the next day. Parker understands the importance of overcoming her own hesitations to serve those in need. Like any inspirational leader, she put the needs of others first and focused on the mission at hand.

When she returns to Florida, we don’t know what she’ll find. Will her home and car still be there? Will she be able to continue her pilot training? Are her friends and our family in Clearwater safe? What I do know is that she will prove her strength and resilience once again, and I couldn’t be prouder. I’m confident she’ll be okay.

As we prepare for the impact of Hurricane Milton, I hope you’re taking precautions for yourself and your loved ones. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you in the path of the storm.

I’ll leave you with this question:?How are you inspiring the next generation of leaders?