What has been a defining moment in your leadership journey, and how did it shape you?
Just one? If you had asked me five years ago if I’d leave a career I loved to become an equity partner in an industry (commercial roofing) where I had everything to learn, I probably would have laughed. After spending more than 20 years in the nonprofit sector, it wasn’t exactly the career move anyone saw coming—including me. But when I look back, taking that leap wasn’t out of character at all. I’ve always been willing to bet on myself. That started long before my career. As a high school senior, I was denied admission to my first-choice college because my SAT scores weren’t high enough. (Let’s just say standardized tests have never been my strength!) Instead of accepting the decision, I wrote a letter directly to the Dean explaining why they were making a mistake. A few weeks later, I received my acceptance letter! That experience taught me one of the most important leadership lessons I’ve ever learned: don’t let someone else’s measurement of success define your potential. Know your strengths, lean into them, and surround yourself with people whose strengths complement your own. Every meaningful leadership decision I’ve made since—from changing industries to taking risks that didn’t always make sense on paper—has been rooted in that belief.
How did your Leadership Denver and/or your LEX experience shift your perspective on leadership and prepare you for the new responsibilities and opportunities that come with stepping into bigger leadership roles?
#AlwaysBeLearning. Leadership Denver and LEX taught me that feeling like you don’t belong is often a sign that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Like many participants, I experienced impostor syndrome. I looked around the room and realized everyone else was more accomplished, more experienced, or somehow more qualified than I was – they were and that’s ok! What I learned was that the goal isn’t to eliminate those feelings—it’s to lean into them. Eventually, discomfort becomes confidence. And once you’re comfortable, it’s probably time to stretch yourself again. Lean into not having the answers, lean into challenge, lean into learning – that’s leadership.
What’s a lesson you’ve learned as a leader that you wish more people talked about openly?
I wish we celebrated fit as much as we celebrate promotion. For years, I assumed my path was going to lead me to a nonprofit CEO role. But after serving as the number two leader in several organizations, I realized something…I genuinely love it there. I love helping shape strategy, coaching leaders, solving problems, and being a trusted advisor. I don’t need to be the one making every final decision to feel fulfilled. I think leadership is often portrayed as climbing higher. I’ve found that my leadership is best when I am creating the greatest value, which has nothing to do with my title. Every opportunity in my career has started with a relationship, and it’s less about having all the answers and more about bringing the right people together to solve meaningful problems. Celebrate the person, not the title.
How do you see civic and business leadership evolving in Denver, and what gives you hope about the future?
Mentorship. One of the reasons I've spent my career in Denver is because this city genuinely believes in collaboration. Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to have incredible mentors who opened doors for me, challenged my thinking, and encouraged me to take risks. I've also had the privilege of mentoring others, and I've found that those relationships have been just as meaningful and rewarding. To me, that's what makes Denver special. We invest in one another. The connections we build across nonprofits, businesses, government, education, and our neighborhoods create a community where people genuinely want to help each other succeed. I've learned that when you've built trusted relationships over time, solving problems becomes a team sport. You know who to call, not because they're in your contact list, but because you've invested in the relationship long before you needed something. That's how ideas move faster, partnerships are formed, and meaningful change happens. What gives me hope is that many of today's leaders seem to understand that success isn't measured just by financial results. It's measured by how we invest in people. The future belongs to leaders who understand that relationships are what get things done.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Bet on yourself. There will always be reasons to wait until you feel more prepared, more experienced, or more qualified. I’ve learned that confidence usually comes after the leap—not before it. Keep learning. Stay curious. Say yes to opportunities that stretch you, even when they feel uncomfortable. Looking back, the biggest opportunities in my life didn’t come because I had everything figured out. They came because I had the courage to keep saying yes to growth…and I had a network that lifted me up and believed in me. Jury is still out on if I continue to follow this advice!
