All you really need to know about me is this: in high school, I was crowned Prom Queen at our National Honor Society’s senior prom—not the typical one, but the prom we hosted for residents of our town’s elder care facility. My Prom King was a resident named Herb.

Herb was warm and thoughtful. We laughed about his grandkids, danced together, and at the end of the night, I kissed him on the cheek goodnight. It was a small moment, but a meaningful one. Herb kept his crown on his nightstand until his last day, and decades later, I still carry that memory with me.

That night with Herb taught me something I’ve never forgotten: we are all part of each other’s story. Connection, joy, and dignity matter far more than any accolade.

Of course, I’ve also built a career full of credentials. I’m an attorney and certified HR senior leader, have advised a Member of Congress and a Fortune 500 CEO, and have built programs that earned national recognition.