When I was in Law School, I struggled to see myself ever practicing law. I had the good fortune to have a professor who told me to, "not let the well trodden path of others determine my journey." I took that advice to heart and years later my path has certainly been non-traditional. After graduating, I moved to Brooklyn, New York and worked plenty of odd jobs, a barista, a clerk at a vintage clothing store, a bicycle mechanic, and through sheer luck, or fate, about a year after landing in New York, I packed up everything I had, with about $50 in my bank account and moved to Detroit, Michigan. In Detroit, with no money, connections, or job I got the first opportunity I could as a waiter and started to figure out what on earth I was doing with my life. Detroit at that time was going through its bankruptcy and the narrative around "re-birth" of the city and opportunity was permeating everything. I enthusiastically jumped in to the entrepreneurial scene in the city and founded a convenience store/neighborhood grocery store called Parker Street Market. It was there I was able to establish myself in the city and had the opportunity to welcome the likes of Bill Clinton and Richard Branson into the store. But my journey wasn't over. The truth was I struggled as an entrepreneur. Every day was an incredible challenge. After running the store for nearly 4 years, I decided to close it and find a new opportunity. I will forever be grateful to those in my circle that could "read between the lines" of my resume and give me an opportunity to come to an advertising agency called, GTB. It was there that I learned about brand, strategy, storytelling, and what it takes to be an impactful contributor in a large company. After learning so much from so many, I decided to take on a new opportunity and join Ford Motor Company. Now, as an Associate Director for Strategy and Business Development, I have the opportunity to work on the bleeding edge of an American Icon disrupting itself and working on the necessary competencies to ensure the company thrives well into the future. In the spring of 2023 I completed my MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. I'll forever be grateful for those around me that have looked out for me, and I'll always follow my own path as I figure out where exactly I'm going.