From the Cité to the City to the CEO

Twenty years ago, I remember standing in the Financial District in London, thinking: How did a kid from the French banlieue end up working here? It felt like a major life achievement—something I’d once believed impossible. People had told me for so long that I couldn’t do what I wanted, I started to believe them. So when I finally got my break, I assumed it would be my only break. Why would I think that, though? I’d just proven that I could achieve something nobody expected me to.

Ten years after that first big step, I was accepted into the number-one MBA program in the world. This unique opportunity allowed me to earn an MBA from not just one, but two top schools. Suddenly, I found myself on the campus of Columbia University in New York City—just like in the movies! Another breakthrough, yet I still didn’t quite grasp what might lie ahead.

Five years later, one of my dream companies reached out for a new role. I interviewed, got the position, and found myself on another massive campus in the U.S. Cruising around on a company bike and bumping into celebrities felt surreal. Teenage me could never have imagined any of it.

Just last week, I experienced yet another milestone: I had the opportunity to present the strategy for a project dear to my heart to our company’s CEO. And only a couple of months before that, I interviewed our CEO one-on-one. Both moments were intense; I prepared harder than ever, and thankfully, both went exceptionally well. Another breakthrough.

At the time of each breakthrough, I felt overjoyed. But, like many people, that joy wore off after a few weeks, becoming my new normal. That’s just how humans adapt. We adjust quickly to new achievements, even if we sometimes remind ourselves to be grateful.

What surprises me most is that despite these two decades of escalating breakthroughs, I still don’t fully believe in my own potential. Crazy, right? My motto is “The only way is up,” and I try to inspire others to exceed their own expectations. So why can’t I envision a future where my potential is truly unlimited?

• Am I too fulfilled as I am? Perhaps. I’m delighted with my personal and professional life. But that wasn’t always the case 20, or even 10, years ago, so I can’t blame complacency alone.

• Am I scared? I’ve been scared before—moving from Paris to London, enrolling at an Ivy League school as the child of a single, working-class mother, leaving consulting for a startup and then a Fortune 500 company. But I’m not afraid now, so that doesn’t hold me back anymore.

• Impostor syndrome, maybe? Sometimes, after I reach a goal, I wonder if I really deserved it. But that feeling doesn’t last. I work hard and know how common impostor syndrome is among people of color. I don’t let it dominate my thoughts.

• Is it lack of representation? There’s more representation now than there was 20 years ago, so it’s less of a barrier. I know nothing is out of reach.

I could keep asking myself why, and I could point fingers at others or at circumstances. But at the end of the day, I’m the one accountable. I decide what I aim for. If I keep moving forward—fueled by my personal mission and a responsibility to positively impact others—there’s no limit to what I can do.

Have you ever dreamt of something, finally achieved it, and then thought, What was all the fuss about? If so, know that it’s natural to normalize your breakthroughs. But it’s also crucial to remember how far you’ve come—and that the only way is up. Keep dreaming, keep pushing, and never forget that your potential is far greater than you might believe.