1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

Leadership is not a one stop shop of treating everyone the same. Within Leadership, we need to make sure we listen, understand and be able to provide feedback to each individual differently. Once more everyone is different in all aspects of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and lifestyle. We as leaders need to make sure we continue to utilize the 6 C's for each individual, which are: 1. Have them be Creative, 2. Have them be Challenged, 3. Bring Curiosity by asking them questions, 4. Collaborate with each individual, 5. Communicate heavily and educate and finally 6. Bring Consistency as you continue to develop the relationship.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

Its having great mentors and leaders that I've experienced. A great story people have asked me was how I received the opportunity to work at Nike. During my time at Nike, I was young, hungry and aggressive, but as I built relationships with other leaders, I realized that each great leader that I had as a mentor - they had a strength that I needed to develop myself. So I asked myself - what do I want to be known for? What's my legacy....what can I learn from my mentors/leaders? Once more - what makes the leaders that I admire so approachable? These characteristics I wanted to emulate and become a better leader - to listen, understand and have a growth mindset.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Consistency and a creature of habit. I wake up every morning and start my day meditating for 15 mins. What I'm grateful for and envisioning greatness each day. Then I go for a run and get my daily exercise. From there; I spend time in the morning with my kids (Take them to school) and then head to work and build out my box of duties that I need to take care; that will not conflict with the meetings that I already have in place. This structure, keeps me consistent daily.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

That we can do hard things daily. When others think we are natural leaders or great at something, its not because we naturally great at them....but its what we've experienced, failed and learned from. What I've learned is that we are great learners to do hard things daily and become better at those hard things.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

The book is called "Getting to Neutral by Trevor Moawad". A book that helps you be solution driven, but have a neutral mind set. This book impacted me, as I've always been an optimistic person, but sometimes being optimistic can mislead or hurt your mental state, and this book has trained me to think neutral. Being able to look at situations, conflicts or problem solve, by asking many questions and not having my emotions get the best of me.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

The one advice I'd like to give to my young leaders is....To LISTEN! Listen and understand everything you hear and if you don't understand ask questions. Remember - as a leader whats most important will be the team/people. As the team/people are motivated to work with you, the business thrives and as the business thrives, the results of return will be shown. People make all the difference.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

Being vulnerable is known as a weakness, but to me its a strength. Showcasing that you as a leader is empathetic but vulnerable, showcases to your team that you dont have all the answers, but its as the team unites, the results and answers can be solved together.