The best career advice I’ve ever received was not about career but about how to have an interesting life and become a person of substance. My father taught me that what we do outside of paid work was not only relevant, but integral to the human journey.

The first thing I do every morning is greet my rescue dogs and have coffee.

The book that has had the biggest impact on me is Linda Ellerbee's And So It Goes because it is direct, honest, and brilliantly written. Linda’s wisdom helped shape me into the person I am today.

A major challenge I’ve faced was being in my late thirties and starting over in Austin. Plan A was in the garbage can and there was no Plan B yet. I worked for an hourly wage and worked on myself. I committed to walking for an hour every day. That was time to process what I was learning. It was daily time to appreciate the world around me. What felt like a climbdown brought me closer to the woman I hoped to be.

Spending time with girls has taught me to remember who I was before the world got its hands on me. To be guided by what interests me, not what people think about me.

If I could give my twelve-year-old self one piece of advice it would be: Think about the kind of person you want to be and use that for guidance more than worrying about being what others consider to be normal. Also, maybe rethink the Princess Diana haircut.

My management style is welcome all ideas and don’t make people drive to an office when there is a flood warning in effect.

The best way to handle a setback is to get clear on what part is yours and what is not. This is not an easy thing to do. It took effort for me to step away from playing the victim, to step away from self righteous indignation. Don’t be mean to yourself about it. Learn from it.

My motto is: “Get your hair wet.” You can choose to be the goofy, fun-loving kid within you and jump into the water, or you can stand on the edge watching everyone enjoy themselves. Get in and get your hair wet.

The one thing I would like to say to every woman in the world is plan A doesn’t always work out. Our self-worth is not on the line even if several plans don’t work out. Who we are has meaning outside of what we do to earn a paycheck (though getting paid on an even par with men is of paramount importance). You have a story to tell. Go ahead and tell it. Then, take the time to listen to the experiences of others, especially those who challenge your way of seeing things.