I persevered through many years of education, including community college. At 42, I often felt like an imposter while attending classes with classmates half my age at UC Berkeley. It was during this time that I learned the importance of taking step-by-step actions. These efforts helped boost my confidence and quieted the imposter syndrome voice inside me. In the end, I graduated with honors and had the pleasure of delivering our department's commencement speech. Standing at that podium in front of thousands of attendees, with my now-grown children in the audience, I spoke about the importance of believing in oneself, perseverance, and the power of community. Nine years later, after completing a master's degree in counseling and obtaining multiple coaching certifications, I discovered my true calling while coaching, teaching, leading teams and developing leadership programs at Stanford University. Collaborating with brilliant leaders—especially women—I witnessed how challenging it can be to navigate workplace complexities and the systemic obstacles we face. I also learned that these challenges were even greater for my friends and colleagues who identify as women of color.

We women are powerful, and the systems and processes we face are challenging and dynamic. With empathy and support, we can recharge, persevere, and restructure our approach to the changes we seek.