A Journey of Collaboration and Support

I've wore several hats, including project manager, contracts manager, keynote speaker, mentor, author, and product owner throughout the course of my career. My teams and I have even won a couple of awards along the way, including the National Association of Counties (NACo) Helping Hands Award.

Notwithstanding my favorite role has been that of Product Owner, Enrichment Programs with Families Moving Forward NC (FMF). This position allows me to manage the full lifecycle of adult enrichment workshops, from planning to execution, in coordination with a myriad of stakeholders across various community organizations.

Jasmine Caraway, FMF Enrichment Programs Manager, asked me to visit the shelter to market an upcoming workshop called Empowerment Unleashed and facilitate a Q&A session on August 23, 2024.

Never one to miss an opportunity to involve others, I brought along a team that included Ahmad K. Paige from Ernst and Young, along with my colleagues Alexis Smith and Kevin Dixon from Blue Cross NC . While I identify as a registered independent, I felt it was most appropriate for Alexis to take the lead given the current political climate, with Vice President Kamala Harris being chosen as the Democratic nominee for POTUS. Alexis unfortunately, got stuck in traffic on her way to FMF, leaving me to start the presentation. It wasn't a big deal, as she arrived safely shortly after I began. She seamlessly joined in with Kevin, Ahmad, and myself, strategically interjecting at various points, especially when I led with, "I believe the children are the future." She joyfully sang, "Teach them well and let them lead the way," and added so much more.

My point in sharing this is to highlight that women can indeed lead us. In fact, they've been doing so for eons, often being the neck that steers where men are the head. They do an exceptional job of leading and deserve the opportunity to do so, with us simply stepping aside. This is why I choose to stand behind Alexis in this pictures. I salute her for all she has accomplished and appreciate her for trusting and putting up with me and my shenanigans.