Power Moves: Turning Small Moments into Major Career Wins
Sometimes the most profound moments in our lives come from unexpected places. For me, it was an overheard conversation at a friend's house during high school. While my friend dismissed her mom's mention of a student work program at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, my ears perked up. That single moment of curiosity led me to become an Explainer at one of the most prestigious institutions in the nation’s capital—and it was just the beginning of what would become an extraordinary journey in technology.
That first step opened doors I never imagined possible: from conducting research at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, to participating in Georgia Tech's S.U.R.E. Program, to diving into artificial intelligence at SAIC. After college, my path led me through roles at Accenture as an Associate Software Engineer, to becoming one of the few candidates selected without internal connections at both the Central Intelligence Agency (less than 3% of applicants) and Google (less than 5% of applicants), to my current role leading Federal Security and Compliance at Anthropic.
This incredible journey has pushed me beyond my comfort zone, enhanced my ability to think critically, fostered my sense of innovation and ingenuity, and made me into a better, more well-rounded person. Most importantly, my tech career has revealed to me something that I'm passionate about—helping others realize their full potential and achieve success.
Why This Blog Exists
Despite individual contributors making up 80% of the workforce, there's surprisingly little guidance focused on their development. While leadership development and executive coaching dominate the career development landscape, there's a crucial gap in resources for those navigating the path to get there.
Before stepping into management, executive roles, or other leadership positions, professionals must first master being highly effective, top-performing individual contributors. This journey comes with its own unique set of challenges:
Leading complex initiatives
Influencing stakeholders across different organizational levels
Delivering consistent, measurable impact
Becoming a recognized domain expert
I'm starting this blog to provide personal and professional development coaching for ambitious professionals who want to grow their skillset a higher level, regardless of their current position.
What You'll Find Here
(Starting January 6, 2025)
Monday & Wednesday: Career Coaching Insights
Twice weekly, I'll share in-depth coaching insights that:
Break down real challenges faced by ambitious, motivated professionals
Share actual experiences from past coaching sessions
Provide practical lessons learned and best practices
Offer strategic career advice from my experience at organizations like the CIA, Google, and Anthropic
Posts will include links to free templates, guides, checklists and other educational materials that will help you put concepts into practice immediately and effectively.
Tuesday: Power Play Newsletter
Every Tuesday, you'll receive the Tuesday Power Play newsletter. Each edition delivers a focused package:
A thought-provoking question
A game-changing insight
A clear action step
This combination helps you assess your personal and professional growth, turning insights into real-world progress.
My Commitment to You
I've been fortunate to have leaders who invested in my career and overall development. When I began leading teams, I discovered my passion for supporting people and helping them accomplish their goals through mentorship and guidance. I feel especially drawn to help those who:
Question their capabilities
Have settled for less than their potential
Are hesitant to take on bigger opportunities
Want to go further than they currently believe possible
My goal is to provide you with practical, actionable guidance that bridges the gap between individual contribution and leadership success.
Let's Connect
This blog is meant to be interactive. I want to hear from you:
How are these insights helping you?
What challenges are you facing?
What topics would you like to see covered?
What success stories do you want to share?
Your feedback will help shape this community and ensure we're covering the topics that matter most to you.
Stay tuned for our upcoming posts, where we'll dive deep into practical strategies and inspiring stories to help you achieve your full potential in your career.
Subscribe now to ensure you don't miss the Tuesday Power Play.