From food stamps to boardrooms in New York
A Full Circle Moment
Next week, I’ll be in New York City for a work trip with one of the world’s leading global media companies in healthcare. My husband and daughter are coming with me so they can explore the city while I join executives to plan for 2026.
Talk about full circle.
Eight years ago, I was a 19-year-old college student on food stamps, trying to finish my degree with a newborn. I had dreams and drive, but my life looked nothing like the plan I’d created for myself.
Back then, I was studying Health Science, dancing on the Pom squad, and serving as Miss Southwestern Oklahoma State University. From the outside, it looked like I had everything together. Then one day, I found a pregnancy test in the bathroom I shared with two roommates and took it alone while they were gone. Twenty seconds later, two pink lines appeared.
Positive.
I dropped to my knees and asked God, “Why? Why now?”
I had always dreamed of being a mother, but not yet. Still, with the love and support of my family, I fell in love with the little life growing inside me. When I learned I was having a girl, everything changed. I promised her I would give her the best life I could.
We stayed up late finishing research papers, working long hours, and studying between feedings and naps. Three weeks after she was born, I went back to work part-time while finishing school full-time. My classes were online, and she came with me to work. I filed paperwork, ran courthouse errands, and took client calls with her asleep on my chest in a carrier.
It wasn’t easy, but I never wanted pity. I was proud—proud to be her mom, proud to work, proud to show her that nothing could stop me. She didn’t slow me down. She fueled me.
Now, as I pack for this trip, I keep thinking about that 19-year-old version of myself, crying on the bathroom floor and wondering what her future would hold. I wish I could tell her, “You’re going to make it. One day, you’ll build a business you love, work with clients you admire, and raise a little girl who’s just as ambitious and full of life as you are.”
Resilience isn’t about being unshakable. It’s about moving forward even when you don’t know how things will work out. It’s trusting that the hardest seasons are often the ones preparing you for something greater.
And after everything I’ve learned, I don’t know about you, but I’m just getting started.
The Leadership Takeaway
In business, resilience is what separates people who react from people who rise.
Every project, client, and season of growth brings uncertainty. Resilient leaders don’t ignore the challenges; they stay grounded through them. They know how to pivot with purpose, lead with steadiness, and inspire others to keep going when things get hard.
Action Step: Building Your Resilience Muscle
Take a moment this week to think about a challenge you’re facing at work or in your business. Ask yourself three questions:
What part of this situation is within my control?
Who or what could help me stay grounded right now?
What would “moving forward anyway” look like today?
Resilience grows one decision at a time. Every time you choose progress over perfection, you strengthen the muscle that will carry you through your next challenge.
Lead with Heart,
Beth Ann
