Last week, I had one of those rare, stop-you-in-your-tracks moments.
I returned to Youngstown State University—my alma mater—to join Daymond John for his Thomas Colloquium speaking engagement and VIP signings.
Walking into Williamson College of Business that day was overwhelming in the best way. The same building where I once worked as a student employee was now the place where I got to stand alongside Daymond… someone I’ve worked with for seven years, someone who has trusted me with his brand, his team, and his marketing.
This time, though, it wasn’t just about the work I’ve done with Daymond—it was about reflecting on how those halls set me on the path to building CNV Creative, where I now get to lead a team I’m incredibly proud of and pour my heart into helping fellow founders.
Nick was right there with me, like he has been from the beginning. We met at YSU, and he’s been my biggest supporter ever since. To walk back into the same building where we first crossed paths, this time as husband and wife, parents, and business partners, was emotional in a way I can’t quite put into words. It felt like a full-circle moment that belonged to both of us.
Seeing Daymond John Live for the First Time
Even though I’ve worked with Daymond for seven years and have been in countless meetings and events with him, this was actually the first time I had seen him take the stage live. And wow—he absolutely commands a room. He’s sharp and funny, but also raw and honest in a way that cuts through the noise. One moment he has the crowd laughing, and the next he’s delivering something so poignant it makes you stop and reflect.
It’s no wonder Real Leaders Magazine has named him one of the Top 50 Speakers in the World multiple times—he doesn’t just give a talk, he creates an experience that sticks with you long after you’ve left the room.
What made it even more surreal was that, in the middle of those talks, he paused to call me out. He told the audience about the role I’ve played on his team, and spoke about the trust and consistency that have defined our years working together. Sitting there with Nick by my side—my husband, my business partner, the one who’s cheered me on from the very beginning—made the moment hit even harder. Hearing those words from Daymond, in front of a live audience for the first time, while Nick got to witness it too—it was humbling, affirming, and unforgettable.
A Chapter in a Bestseller I Never Planned to Be Part Of
It also reminded me just how much our story together has grown over the years. What started as me supporting him virtually has taken me places I never expected—including being featured with a full chapter in his New York Times bestselling book Powershift. That remains one of the greatest honors of my career—not just because of the visibility, but because it proved that the work, the grit, and the persistence I poured in truly mattered.
During my first days in The Williamson College of Business, I was a psychology major trying to find my footing. I didn’t grow up around entrepreneurs—my dad was a hardworking blue-collar man and my mom a nurse. The thought of owning a business not only felt foreign, it NEVER crossed my mind. I don’t think I even knew what entrepreneurship was.
The People Who Saw Something in Me Before I Did
But working in Williamson opened my eyes to a new world. I started as a student worker, then became an administrative assistant at SCORE, and later moved to the Small Business Development Center. Each step pulled me deeper into the world of small business and entrepreneurship.
That was where I met people who forever shaped my path. It was in one of Dr. Patrick Bateman’s classes that I built my very first website, and in the process, discovered how discipline and creativity could work hand in hand. He was the type of professor who refused to lower the bar, yet had a way of making you believe you could rise to it—that the potential he saw in you was real and worth chasing. Later, as an employee in the SBDC at YSU, I had the privilege of working alongside him as a colleague. Seeing him in that role only deepened my respect for him—he poured the same energy into mentoring peers as he did into teaching students.
And I can’t help but give a shout-out to Kathy and Linda for hiring Nick and I at the same time back then. Talk about full-circle moments—those decisions shaped both our careers and, eventually, the life we’ve built together.
Then there was Patricia Veisz, the Director of the SBDC, who taught me not only the language of entrepreneurship but also professionalism, compassion, and empathy. She led with a balance of strength and heart that made people want to rise to the occasion. And beyond them, there were countless other professors, employers, colleagues, and mentors—too many to name. Each one left their mark, shaping the way I lead and live today.
What We Built From Those College Hallways
What started as me figuring it out one step at a time has turned into the place where I get to pour my heart into helping fellow founders. Every day, I get to lead a team that believes in the same thing I do—that business should give you back your life, not take it away. We get to help entrepreneurs breathe again, find their footing, and finally see their vision come to life.
And the best part is, I get to do it alongside Nick. He’s been with me since those college days at YSU, and now we get to build something together that not only serves our clients but also shapes the kind of life we want for our family.
That family includes our seven-year-old son, Primo—this bright, full-of-life little boy who I absolutely live for. His arrival was the true catalyst for my entrepreneurial journey. When he was born, I realized I couldn’t go back to a traditional 9-to-5 life. I wanted to be present for him, for us, and that conviction pushed me to create something different. CNV Creative was born from that moment, and even now, every impact we make—for our clients, their teams, their families—feels like a continuation of the choice I made for mine.
The Seeds You Plant When No One’s Watching
Standing there that day, between Daymond on stage, Nick at my side, and the echoes of all those years that led me here—it was more than an event. It was emotional. It was humbling. And it was proof that the seeds planted years ago have grown into something bigger than I could have imagined.
Because now, Nick and I don’t just get to build a life together—we get to lead CNV Creative side by side. We get to run a business that impacts not only our team but also the clients we serve. Every campaign, every strategy, every win we create ripples outward into the lives of the founders we work with, their families, their employees, and their communities. That’s not something we take lightly. It’s a privilege, and it’s a responsibility we’re deeply grateful for.
That day at YSU reminded me of how far I’ve come, but it also reminded me of what’s possible when you surround yourself with the right people—mentors, partners, teammates—who push you, believe in you, and grow with you.
For me, it’s never just been about entrepreneurship—it’s about people. The people who gave me a chance, the people I get to lead, the people we serve, and the little boy who made me brave enough to begin.
Coming back to where it all started, with Nick beside me and Daymond on stage, reminded me that life really does have a way of coming full circle. What felt impossible years ago became a reality I get to live every day—and it’s the same for anyone willing to keep planting seeds, even when the outcome isn’t clear.
Because those small steps, those ordinary moments, are what grow into extraordinary journeys. And if my story proves anything, it’s that yours can too.
