I learned early that my worth had to be earned. Work harder. Achieve more. Prove it. So I did, over and over again.

After earning a B.A. in International Studies from UC San Diego, I joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Morocco, largely isolated from other Americans. I turned to reflective writing to process it all, to stay grounded, to discover myself as my own best friend. That practice saved me more times than I was conscious of.

Then came Tesla, LinkedIn, Fortune 500 organizations, and an Executive MBA completed while working full time. On paper, I was succeeding. I was also disappearing, again. I kept writing. In 2017, I published my first book of poetry, I Write Letters in My Thoughts, and performed across the Bay Area. Writing was the place I could still hear myself think.

After more than twenty years across Peace Corps, nonprofits, Big Tech, and Fortune 500 environments, I bet on myself. I trained as a certified professional coach through the Hudson Institute of Coaching, earning my ACC credential through the International Coaching Federation. I coach others while continuing my own work in therapy. You are how you coach.

Today I write here, host the Dear Mango Podcast, and partner with high-achieving professionals through the Study Yourself® Practice, helping people recognize their patterns and strengthen self-trust. You do not have to erase what you have built to become who you are.