Let me tell you something I wish more speakers understood earlier. The things you have survived are not side notes in your story. They are the story. Your lived experience is not baggage. It is your credibility. It is your depth. It is the reason people lean in when you speak. I do not walk onto a stage pretending life has been neat and tidy. I walk on knowing I have been through the fire, and that changes the way people listen. People Do Not Want Perfect, They Want Real Audi

Because no degree teaches what life has already shown you. When people ask me about my background, I could list my awards, my businesses, or my years of professional experience, but the truth is, none of those things define who I am or what I bring to the stage. What truly qualifies me to speak about resilience, leadership, and hope is my lived experience . It’s the battles I’ve fought, the losses I’ve survived, and the lessons I’ve learned when life brought me to my knees. N