Learning the 90%: A Founder’s Story of Purpose, Belonging, and Impact

Much of who we are is shaped by what others never see. I call this the 90% the experiences, environments, and stories beneath the surface that influence how we show up in the world.

I grew up in the projects, a term often used to describe low-income housing, but for me it was simply home. Those early years taught me resilience, awareness, and the importance of being seen beyond assumptions. Long before I had language for it, I was learning how unseen experiences shape behavior, opportunity, and belonging.

I was also a collegiate football player, and that experience profoundly shaped my mindset. Football taught me discipline, accountability, teamwork, and perseverance lessons that extended far beyond the field. It instilled in me a relentless drive to push through adversity, to lead with purpose, and to believe that collective effort can create meaningful change. That competitive and service-oriented mindset continues to fuel my work today.

After nearly 30 years in the financial industry, I was often asked why I would leave the corporate world to enter the nonprofit space. The answer was rooted not in a career change, but in two pivotal moments in my life that revealed the quiet, life-changing impact nonprofits had on me when I needed support most. Those moments reshaped how I understood leadership, responsibility, and purpose.

I hold degrees in Business Administration and Education and am a certified Equity Trainer. But more than titles or credentials, my work is grounded in the belief that connection changes outcomes. Founding POAC Succeed was a natural extension of that belief creating spaces where people are not reduced to labels, behaviors, or surface level narratives.

Today, I partner with schools, educators, students, and organizations to foster environments where people feel seen, heard, valued, and supported. Through conversation, reflection, and learning what lies beneath the surface, my work focuses on strengthening emotional awareness, belonging, and community wellbeing.

I don’t believe change happens through programs alone. It happens when people commit to understanding one another, challenge assumptions, and choose connection over judgment. My journey from the projects, to the football field, to the work I lead today is a reminder that when we learn the 90%, we unlock the mindset, courage, and collaboration required to create lasting impact.