What is your current role? How would you describe the work that you do?
The owner and founder of Success Junkie, an achievement lifestyle brand with tools and resources for upward mobility. As an individual, apart from owner and founder, I am a business matchmaker, bridging the gaps between problems and solutions between founders and investors. I work as a global brand strategist increasing awareness, visibility and profit/impact margins for social impact professionals. Helping someone launch their first book, make a career pivot, winning pitch competitions, or acquiring bigger deals. I take brands to the bank as a business broker, opening doors and closing deals.
What was your Chicago Scholars experience like?
So, in the beginning, it went by another name. I was selected as the representative for my high school. Only one person could be a Scholar per high school. Chicago Scholars gave me a $1,000 check for school supplies. There was weekly programming with Nuveen and a lot of winter and fall networking opportunities. We had a lot of fun. My regret is that I didn’t have an understanding that CS could still be a vehicle of success in college. We lost touch. Many years went by, I graduated college, had a kid. If CS was still with me in college, I believe I would have made different choices as a first generation student and ward of the state. There were a lot of things I had to figure out on own. I was pregnant my sophomore year of college. Always believed CS would’ve given me what I needed to endure more confidently, and that was definitely a missed opportunity. Reconnected maybe 10 years out of college, and it was a full circle moment to serve backwards. So grateful. Didn’t even know we had an Alumni Leadership Association (ALA). I want to be one of the people that bridges the gap for once a scholar, forever a scholar. That’s what DJT championed. So many great things came out of reappearing. Indebted to CS in many ways.
How did Chicago Scholars support you to be the person you are today?
Best way to say it is, having access to diverse people that actually care, just knowing that there were people, and are people, for instance. If I knew I had access to CS after De Paul, I would’ve had better job choices. Knowing CS exists helps because it is a resource. Once I came back, I had access to people I wouldn’t have had access to as a college grad. The relationships I built have opened doors and placed me on higher platforms. I’m not fully aware of all the other resources available to me as an alum, but the relationships have been invaluable.
What advice would you have given yourself just after being accepted into the program?
I still have my original letter of acceptance into CS. Still have activity photos. Stay in touch, see how you can be a resource even as a student. This org is gonna change your life. If I had been in closer proximity to the resources and community of CS, I would be further ahead.
What advice do you have for current Scholars?
Stay close. See how you can serve, add value, be clear on your needs, and make new friends. You’ll never know all Scholars, but you never know where you can add value. You pour into someone else’s cup, let them return the favor. Relationships can be a resource. Because of CS, you may work for an org that needs to be a partner of CS, so teach them to be committed to a certain give. That puts you in position to have CS and your org grow. Build social capital and make early and frequent deposits so it won’t be hard to make withdrawals later.
What does being from Chicago mean to you now?
I have this saying, people love you more when you’re from Chicago than when you’re in Chicago. The power that comes from being a Chicagoan. The power I get from other cities is mind blowing. I have a partnership where I mentor entrepreneurs from over 92 countries. I’m from Englewood. I grew up seeing people dying on the basketball court, prostitution, gang violence, alcohol use. Now I’ve grown to being one of the top people called to be an advisor to international advisors, and I don’t have words. Its still surreal. Chicago is the international city it is. I know it’s called a second city, but we’re second to none. It’s unexplainable. I know that when I go to other places, the way they look at me, knock down doors to help me. I know standing at 5′ 1″, I have big energy. It is unmatched.
What do you wish people knew about Chicago Scholars, as well as the city of Chicago?
CS houses some of the best and brightest that could have been easily overlooked if there were no CS. For Chicago, it is so magnificent, you will never fully experience the essence of what it has to offer — the people, culture, food, weather. It takes a lifetime to fully enjoy. I love Chicago.
