What is your proudest accomplishment as a leader? 

I’m a news anchor turned novelist and media consultant. I’ve had the adventure of a lifetime as a television journalist, and now I’m taking everything I learned and pouring it into public speaking and presentation coaching, story branding, and show development at Bronzite Media. I also direct coaching and strategy for performance and impact for tv news professionals at Talent Dynamics. I’ve published five young adult novels, and started a non profit, YA by the Bay, which hosts an annual Story Warrior festival dedicated to turning readers into leaders. We bring in best selling and award winning authors to inspire thousands of students, who get to attend for free, that they can “be the author of your own life” and live their best story.

What is the one piece of advice you’d give to other aspiring women leaders?

You are a moving mosaic. Beautiful and dynamic and juggling so many elements that have to move in tandem with each other. Take all the things you dream of doing and find the common denominator, because I promise you, there is one, and this will be your North Star so you don’t feel fractured and frayed trying to do it all. For example for me across all my various jobs, I believe in the power of STORY. Especially as a mother. What is the story you want to live? What is the story people will tell about you? What is the story you tell your children, about what is possible? Our stories are the core of our communities. It’s how we connect, how we share, how we create empathy and forge connection. Know your story. It’s your currency. It’s your energy. Finish this sentence: “My success story is one about —” and you’ll find your why. We cannot be all things at once, but we can be all things, in time, in layers, with strategy, with patience, and with resilience and endless optimism. Your story is the spark, what ignites you even in the face of the toughest challenges.

What inspires you most about your work or your industry?

I was a news anchor for two decades, helming live coverage of everything from blizzards to deadly tornadoes to the Boston Marathon bombing. When we relocated to Tampa, I got back in the biz as a consumer reporter helping people save time, stress and money on Fox13 for years. At the core, I care about the community, telling the stories that help us be better. I reached a point where I wanted to work in an environment that truly values experience and diversity, integrity and creativity. For me, that means coaching others to know their worth, find their competitive edge, and make an impact. This platform meshes with my career as an author, entrepreneur and mother. I want my son to know that you can take the risk of starting your own business, that it’s always worth it to make the necessary changes to surround yourself with those who truly appreciate what individuals bring to the table and push each other to higher levels.

Who is a woman from history (or your own life) who has inspired you, and why?

When I was a young reader I stumbled on Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Her ability to weave truth, resilience, and hope into every sentence inspires my own journey as an author, communicator, coach, and nonprofit founder. She showed the world that stories have power—that they can heal, unite, and ignite change. That’s exactly what I strive to do through my work.

As an author, I aim to craft narratives that make young readers feel seen, just as Maya Angelou’s words have done for so many. As a communicator and coach, I help others find their voices, because I believe—like she did—that words have the power to transform lives. And through YA by the Bay, I bring together young adult authors, readers, and educators to foster creativity, literacy, and empowerment, echoing her commitment to lifting others.

Maya Angelou didn’t just tell stories—she created impact. She used her voice to break barriers, uplift communities, and inspire generations. I hope to carry forward that legacy by helping others share their own stories, embrace their unique voices, and believe in the power of words to change the world.

In one word, how would you describe the legacy you want to leave as a leader?

Ignition.

Share a favorite quote that motivates you.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

“If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.” Albert Einstein