The lesson I missed in business school? The real rules of leadership.

Early in my career, I believed success meant working twice as hard to outwit, outplay, and outlast the competition—playing what I called "Survivor, Corporate Edition." It worked. I rose quickly to mid-level leadership roles. But beneath the surface, I was battling persistent burnout, and when the corporate ladder stopped moving, I found myself stuck for nearly a decade.

It wasn’t about how hard I worked or how much I delivered. The game was rigged.

After almost 20 years of trying to mold myself to fit corporate culture, I discovered a fundamental truth: I wasn’t meant to fit in. I was born to disrupt the system and build something new—a future where leadership is more inclusive, equitable, and just.