I wholeheartedly believe in the power of coaching to help each of us become the very best version of ourselves and I’m excited to explore a coaching relationship with you.

I’m a native of Brooklyn, New York City and grew up in rough circumstances that I was motivated to transcend. Education and athletics created the escape velocity that got me out of the poverty cycle. I earned a BS in Product Design Engineering from Stanford University and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University. My early life experiences profoundly shaped how I see the world and instilled a deep empathy and understanding of the human condition. I view life from a very clear perspective of those who do not have and see community engagement and giving of ourself to others as essential to societal function; this informs how I make decisions and relate to other people.

I’m an engineer by training and have spent the last 30 years working in a variety of roles focused on developing and manufacturing innovative medical devices and novel drugs to address debilitating conditions. I’ve had a long, winding and fascinating career that includes a couple of unexpected but rewarding pivots that helped me to venture beyond my comfort zone, grow my knowledge and skills and make some incredible relationships along the way.

After starting out in aerospace, I worked in several roles in medical device design and manufacturing and drug development. My first big pivot came when I tried project management about eight years into working and found that my true super-power was seeing the big picture and influential communication with technical experts. Later in my career I became a project management expert adept at building teams implementing practices and designing operational systems from scratch. The second big pivot came much later when I was invited to become the head of HR for a rapidly growing biotechnology company which broadened my experience to include executive leadership, employee staffing, compensation, benefits and employment law. My time as a Senior VP of People & Culture deepened my conviction about the criticality of healthy cultures, building inclusive, diverse and welcoming work environments that maximize engagement and motivate sustained high performance.

At each step in my career journey, I was almost always the only Black person in the room. I learned early on in life that we do not live in a meritocracy and committing myself to excellence was a prerequisite to be taken seriously. From my very first job to my last I often felt like I didn’t belong. I showed up with bold energy, a high-achievement mindset and a natural ability to rapidly relate to a wide range of people. My self-imposed excellence created anxiety and intimidation in others which was frustrating and perplexing. Playing by the rules resulted in unintended consequences. I worked in several spaces where the bar was in a different place for women, people of color and others from underrepresented groups. During my time as an HR executive I put a lot of energy into advocating for employees and improving how they are seen and treated.

I reached a point in my professional life where my focus shifted from climbing the ladder and competing for titles and money to giving back to those who are trying to find their way by telling my story and sharing my experiences to inform, encourage and inspire. Coaching is a natural and resonant compliment to my life purpose.