#382. mastering your nervous system, running for public office & refusing to self-abandon
TLD HER: 20 QUESTIONS
Age: 48—and I’ve finally stopped asking for permission to be exactly who I am.
Relationship Status: Married, for the second time.
Occupation: I am a storyteller and the founder of a Consulting firm. I’m here to help leaders dismantle Crumb Culture™ and return to their humanity.
Income: ha. Year 1 of entrepreneurship is slow, and I’d say I’m breaking even
Astrological Sign: Pisces Sun, Leo Moon, Virgo Rising
If you had an extra hour each day, what would you do with it?
Meditate in nature.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
It’s much easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission. It’s a philosophy that has defined my career and my life—taking the leap and dealing with the fallout is always better than waiting for someone else to green-light your vision.
What is the worst piece of advice you have ever received?
“Don’t let them see you sweat.” It’s a recipe for disconnection. Leading with a mask on only ensures that no one can actually follow the real you.
When have you felt most accepted?
In the quiet moments after I finally stopped trying to be the version of myself I thought the world required. There is a specific kind of acceptance that only comes when you lay your armor down and realize the people who love you aren’t going anywhere.
When have you felt most supported?
When I decided to step away from the systems that were breaking me and start my company. Feeling my family and my community catch me—not as a leader, candidate, mother, wife, or officer, but as a human—was the ultimate safety net.
Is there anything you are avoiding?
Sometimes I still avoid the stillness. As a high-achiever, doing feels like safety. Sitting with just myself, without a mission or a book to hide in, is the final frontier of my personal work.
Have you ever confronted a fear? How did it go?
Running for public office (twice) and speaking my truth about addiction and burnout. It was terrifying to be that public with my vulnerability, but it turned out to be my greatest fuel. It didn’t break me; it built the foundation for everything I do now.
What is one promise that you have kept to yourself?
To never again settle for “crumbs.” I promised myself I would center my well-being and my story, and I haven’t looked back since.
What is one promise that you have kept to someone else?
To my daughter: I promised to always hear her. In a world that often tries to silence or overlook the voices of women and girls, I make sure she knows her voice is the most important thing in the room.
How do you cope with stress?
I go where the noise stops. Usually, that’s deep in nature—preferably by the water or hiking up a mountain. I also lean into mindfulness and meditation, grounding myself in the breath when the world feels too fast.
What is a moment you are most proud of?
The day I decided to trust my own voice over others’ permissions, I left a safe job in the HealthTech space to start my own company and a life that finally feels like my own.
How do you celebrate yourself?
I celebrate myself all day long by acknowledging small wins, putting my hand on my heart, and saying, “Good job, me.” I am SO good at taking care of myself.
What is something that you feel like you have to earn?
For a long time, I felt I had to earn my seat at the table through over-functioning. I’m still unlearning the idea that my rest has to be “earned” by a day of high productivity.
What is something you feel like you are inherently worthy of?
Peace. I used to think peace was a reward for hard work, but I now know it’s a birthright. I am inherently worthy of a quiet nervous system.
When was the last time you changed your mind?
Yesterday was my birthday, and I had this idea of baking a fancy vegan cake that would be delicious and time-consuming, but instead I asked my husband to get vegan cookies and ice cream for my birthday celebration. So easy and aligned with my energy.
Is there anything you wish you could take back?
Nothing. Every moment, decision, breath, and thought got me here.
What does being true to yourself mean?
It means refusing to self-abandon. It’s the daily practice of staying centered in my own truth and saying no to anything that requires me to dim my light or be untrue to my soul.
When do you feel in control?
When I stop performing and start being. Control isn’t about dominating my environment; it’s about mastery over my own nervous system. When I am fully present, I am no longer reacting to the world—I am responding from my center.
When do you feel out of control?
When I let the pace of modern leadership pull me away from my center. When I forget to practice the mindfulness I preach, the world starts to feel like it’s “happening to me” rather than me moving through it.
Finish this sentence: It’s my life and…
I remember why I’m here.
BONUS: Tell me something good.
We are living in a time where people are finally waking up to the fact that “Crumb Culture™” isn’t enough. There is a massive shift toward lead-from-the-center humanity, and I get to have a front-row seat to that transformation