Standing on Strong Shoulders

AscendHER may have been founded by one woman, but it was shaped by the influence of many.

Throughout my life, God has intentionally placed phenomenal women along my path. My mother, my Granny, my teachers, and the women of my faith community gave me my earliest examples of strength, faith, perseverance, service, and love.

As I entered the workforce and progressed through the military, engineering, government, business, and education, that pattern continued.

Ms. Ruley. Ms. Fisher. MSgt Moore. Ms. Vivian. Ms. Karen. Kim. Allison. Ms. DuCom. Ms. Sumpter. Dr. Judith.

Each woman planted a different seed.

Some taught me discipline, integrity, and the value of hard work. Some showed me how to lead, serve, navigate professional spaces, and remain grounded under pressure. Others demonstrated what it means to break barriers, build meaningful relationships, create opportunities, and establish a legacy that reaches far beyond one person.

I did not always understand the significance of those encounters while I was living them. At times, I believed I was simply moving through different jobs and seasons of life. Looking back, I can see that I was being prepared in different rooms by different women for the woman—and the founder—I am becoming.

Their lessons now live within AscendHER.

They can be found in the standards I set, the way I serve, the relationships I build, the excellence I pursue, and my desire to create opportunities for the women who will come after me.

I am especially inspired by women who built lasting careers and businesses while opening doors for others. Their examples remind me that success is not measured only by what we build for ourselves, but also by what becomes possible for someone else because we were willing to lead.

AscendHER represents the convergence of my faith, engineering education, military service, professional experience, technical curiosity, creativity, motherhood, and the wisdom poured into me by the women God placed along my journey.

I stand on their shoulders with gratitude.

Now, I am strengthening my own shoulders so that another woman may one day stand on mine.

A Legacy Still Ascending

My responsibility is not to recreate another woman’s journey. It is to carry the lessons I received into the work God has given me to do.

Through AscendHER, I am building with excellence, precision, service, faith, and purpose. I am honoring the women who helped me rise by continuing to rise and by creating space for others to rise with me.

AscendHER is not beginning with me. It is blooming through me.