## It Wasn't Supposed to Happen
Let me be clear: nothing about my background suggested I would end up leading global teams at Fortune 500 companies. I grew up in Newark, New Jersey, in circumstances that statistics would say should have limited my options.
But here's what I've learned after 25+ years in technology leadership: the most important factors in career success aren't the ones you start with. They're the ones you develop.
Lesson 1: Your Network Is Your Net Worth
Early in my career, I focused entirely on technical skills. I wanted to be the best at what I did. That mattered -but not as much as I thought.
What actually opened doors was relationships. Mentors who saw potential. Colleagues who made introductions. Leaders who took chances on me.
Every major opportunity in my career came through a relationship, not an application.
Lesson 2: Learn to Translate
The most valuable skill I developed wasn't technical. It was the ability to translate between technical and business language.
Engineers speak one language. Executives speak another. The people who can bridge that gap become indispensable.
This is why I emphasize communication skills when I work with students. The ability to explain complex ideas simply is worth more than almost any technical certification.
Lesson 3: Your Origin Is an Asset, Not a Liability
For years, I tried to minimize my Newark roots in professional settings. I thought it made me seem less polished, less qualified.
I had it completely backwards.
My background gave me perspective that people from more privileged circumstances lacked. I understood scarcity. I understood hustle. I understood what it meant to work with people from all different backgrounds.
These became competitive advantages, not disadvantages.
Lesson 4: Give Back Before You "Make It"
I didn't wait until I was successful to start giving back. I started mentoring when I was still figuring things out myself. I started teaching when I was still learning.
This wasn't just altruistic -it was strategic. Teaching others deepened my own understanding. Mentoring built my network. Giving back created opportunities.
Lesson 5: The System Isn't Fair, But That's Not the End of the Story
Let's be honest: the playing field isn't level. Systemic barriers are real. Discrimination exists.
Understanding this is important. Being paralyzed by it is not.
I've faced situations where I was underestimated because of where I came from or how I looked. I chose to let that fuel my drive rather than define my limits.
Why This Matters Now
I share these lessons because I work with young people who are exactly where I was decades ago -talented, ambitious, and wondering if the path forward is really open to them.
It is. But it requires intention, persistence, and the right guidance.
That's why I do the work I do today. Not because I've figured everything out, but because I know what it's like to navigate from where they are to where they want to be.
And I know it's possible.