Just when I thought I’d reached a career milestone I couldn’t have dreamed of—presenting a strategy close to my heart to the CEO—I got another email.
The CEO’s office wanted me back. But this time, it wasn’t to talk strategy. They wanted me to deliver an inspirational message about our values. Not in a meeting room. Not behind closed doors. But on our biggest company stage. With the CEO. In front of the entire company.
If you’d told me this would happen even a year ago, I would’ve laughed. I never thought a kid like me would ever be seen—really seen—by the entire staff of a Fortune 500 company.
I said yes. Of course I did.
But as I prepared, something kept tugging at me: Why am I so surprised?
Especially since it came just weeks after I posted “From the cite, to the city, to the CEO“.
And that’s when it hit me:
We outgrow our own expectations, but forget to update them.
We push. We achieve. We break through.
And still, deep down, we hold onto an outdated version of ourselves—the one who doubts, questions, and wonders, Do I really belong at this table?
Or in this case, on this stage?
So I made a choice.
Not to shrink.
Not to overanalyze.
But to own it.
Standing there, beside the CEO, in front of thousands of colleagues, I felt something shift. Not just pride or excitement. But a quiet, powerful truth:
This is not an accident. This is exactly where I’m meant to be.
And maybe next time a door like this opens, I won’t be surprised at all.
To anyone out there holding onto an old story about who you are—
Update your expectations.
You’ve already come further than you think.
And trust me, from here?
The only way is up.
The Black Negotiator 