Global Gurus Top 30 - 2025

There are moments in life that I call “fork in the road moments.” These are the moments where were presented with a sort of choice, a moment where the road that we’ve been walking on diverges, and we make a choice about whether or not to go right or left. Like you, I’ve probably had hundreds of “fork in the road moments.” Some “fork in the road moments” I remember. Most of which I probably don’t.

One “fork in the road moment” I absolutely remember, took place 13 years ago, during my first role as a management consultant. To make a long story short, I’d been asked to fill-in for a sick colleague, and, despite learning what I could, without much time to prepare or access to my unwell peer, I showed up without the understanding I would’ve liked. You can guess what happened next: It didn’t go well with the client, and I was called into the office of one of the managing directors.

That day, in the managing director’s office, was a “fork in the road moment for me”: She would not revoke my client privileges, and I exhaled. Then, she paused and seemingly reaching into my heart and looking at the dreams held there, she said, “…but I don’t believe you’ll ever be a motivational speaker.”

More than anything I wanted to be a motivational speaker. That “fork in the road moment” was: Will I believe on someone else’s assessment of me (the MD), or will I believe in the dreams that I have in my heart, and what I believe is possible? I was young and unproven; long on big dreams and short on experience. Fortunately, what I had was a belief in myself. So, I chose the latter. I chose to believe in my own big dreams and what I was possible.

I chose to believe in a vision I had for my future, despite any evidence at the present moment, that I would become what I dreamed. Now, years later, I am beyond honored that @Global Gurus has named me in the Top 30 Leadership Speakers from around the globe for the 3rd year in a row (#20 this year), alongside speakers I deeply admire and respect.
This designation means so much more than making a list. When faced with that “fork in the road moment”, so many years ago, it means that I chose to believe in myself, rather than in what someone else believed I could become. My greatest wish for you reading this today, is that you’ll never believe another person’s assessment of you that doesn’t align with your internal wisdom.

I know that every dream that’s placed in our hearts, each thing we envision being or becoming in our lives, is possible. If it wasn’t, that kernel of possibility wouldn’t have been given to use in the first place.

Even if there is no evidence of what you are capable of, never doubt your vision for the future. Bet on yourself. Always!