The first time someone asked me why I cared about the work I was doing, I was too scared to say my answer out loud.
I was fresh out of college, working in tourism marketing, and very much figuring “it” out—and by “it,” I mean my job, my goals, and my life (I was in my early twenties, after all!).
But during that conversation, I had a lightbulb moment: when visitors came to Phoenix, their dollars funded local businesses, public schools, and community services–and eased the tax burden on Arizonans, making life a little better. That’s what I cared about. I realized I wasn’t driven by the tasks on my daily checklists; I was driven by what the work made possible for people.
Being honored this year as one of Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 has given me a chance to pause and reflect on how I got here. Across my career—and especially in my work leading client services at Javelina—my core belief hasn’t changed. My mission is building systems that support and uplift people, rather than creating barriers to thriving.
Here are four lessons I’ve learned along the way about life, leadership, and staying sane in amongst the chaos.
1. Systems Should Lift Us Up (Not Trip Us Up)
Growing up with six of us kids under one roof—and eight siblings total—systems weren’t optional in our house; they were survival! If it wasn’t on the family calendar, it didn’t exist; everyone memorized the carpool schedule, and even the little ones had chores on the chore chart. Systems kept our chaotic household running with a little less friction.
But as a teenager, I saw what happens when systems fail. When my younger sister became critically ill at 12, my family faced years of surgeries, hospital stays, and crushing costs. My self-employed parents were caught in the gap—earning too much for financial assistance, but far too little to afford care out-of-pocket.
The Lesson: Systems aren’t just administrative tools; they affect real lives. Good systems should lift people up, not trap them behind impossible barriers.
2. Structure Builds Trust (and Flexibility Creates Magic)
In my line of work, people want to know you’ve got them. When we take clients through something messy—like a complete brand overhaul or a naming process—we tell them up front: “This is the sticky part. You might feel uncomfortable, and that’s completely normal. Stick with us.”
Structure builds trust. But rigidity? Rigidity stifles creativity—and worse, it fails when the real world crashes in.
Over the years, I’ve seen external shifts derail the “perfect” plan overnight. We’ve had clients lose critical funding almost instantly due to federal executive orders. COVID completely halted in-person programming for our youth development partners. And when the Texas state legislature banned abortion, an abortion fund client had to fundamentally reimagine their entire operational model and mission work.
In every single instance, the original strategy was solid, but blindly sticking to it wasn’t an option. We had to hold the plan loosely, pivot quickly, and build new paths grounded in what our partners actually needed in that moment.
The Lesson: Have a plan, but hold it loosely. Structure provides comfort, but flexibility and collaboration are where the true magic happens.
3. Redefining Success (and Calling B.S. on the Rest)
Before becoming a mom, I defined success by what I accomplished at work and how many miles I hiked in a week. Then came maternity leave, where “success” meant making it to 5:00 pm with a fed, mostly clean baby.
My old definition of success made zero sense in this new season. Holding myself to my pre-baby standard only made me feel like I was constantly failing—until I realized I needed to call B.S. on society’s arbitrary rules for what a “successful” woman or leader is supposed to look like.
Today, I define success as presence. Am I fully engaged in the meeting in front of me? Am I present with my son during bedtime? Am I truly listening to a friend over coffee? If the answer is yes, that’s a successful day.
The Lesson: Stop accepting someone else’s definition of success. Get clear on your values, call B.S. on the rest, and give yourself permission to change the definition when your life changes.
4. Over-functioning is a trap (and Therapy Is a Gift)
My mom loves telling people that at three years old, I could pack my baby brother’s diaper bag and match everyone’s jackets at preschool. Being responsible felt like my superpower!
Until it wasn’t.
Several years ago, I hit a wall. I found myself saying, “I have everything I’ve ever wanted, and I’m the most miserable I’ve ever been.” I was overextended, resentful, and constantly terrified that if I let go of even a single piece, everything would shatter.
Through books, podcasts, incredible friends, mentorship, and therapy (shoutout to Dr. Dan!), I had a massive realization: nobody was actually asking me to carry it all. I was taking it on myself. I had to learn the art of discerning what was actually mine to hold.
The Lesson: Not all problems are yours to solve. When you stop carrying things that aren’t yours, you create space for yourself to breathe—and you give others the room to step into their own power.
Looking back to that early-twentysomething version of myself, I realize my core purpose hasn’t shifted. I didn’t care about checklists or empty processes then, and I don’t now. My personal mission has always been building systems that support and uplift people, rather than creating barriers to thriving. It’s why leading client services at Javelina feels so natural—our agency’s work is rooted in creating a kinder and more equitable world. My personal “why” fuels that larger purpose every single day.
Whether we’re shepherding a client through a rebranding process at Javelina, managing family calendars at home, or navigating unexpected crises, the ultimate goal remains the same: creating structures that help real human beings thrive.
