White Party
Recently, I had the honor of speaking at an Influence Circle Dinner in Tysons Corner, Northern Virginia—an experience that reminded me of one powerful truth: Showing up is everything. Erika Baez-Grimes invited me to this incredible event, and, to be honest, there were plenty of reasons not to go—an hour-plus drive after a long workday, rush hour traffic, and rain. But I said yes. Why? Because showing up is a choice. And sometimes, that one simple decision can lead to incredible opportunities and experiences you never imagined. At the dinner, I met some truly inspiring individuals—including Dr. Geith Kallas, who later invited me to my first-ever White Party (another event I almost talked myself out of…who has a perfect white outfit just waiting for an invitation?!). But once again, I said yes—and let me tell you, it was AMAZING. Imagine: flamenco dancers, a mermaid in the pool, water bubble dancing, a stunning opera performance, and delicious Syrian food. But the real magic? Dr. Kallas’s story. He shared his journey of coming to America—navigating the risks, the challenges, and the incredible opportunities that arose simply because he chose to show up. His story was filled with gratitude, not just for what he has, but for everything he’s worked for. It was the kind of reminder that the American Dream is built on hard work, resilience, and the courage to take that first step, even when it’s uncomfortable. 🌟 Key Takeaway: Opportunity is always knocking, you just have to open the door. Showing up—even when it feels inconvenient or uncomfortable—unlocks doors to new connections, lessons, and opportunities that can transform your life. So here’s to showing up. To saying yes when it counts. Because you never know what might be waiting on the other side of that decision. hashtag#ShowingUp hashtag#Leadership hashtag#Networking hashtag#AmericanDream hashtag#Opportunities hashtag#Gratitude hashtag#PersonalGrowth hashtag#LeadershipLessons hashtag#RiskTaking
Richcroft Silent Auction
You know the drill. You walk into a silent auction saying, “I’m just here to support the cause.” Next thing you know, you’re the proud owner of a basket of artisanal mustards or—worse—a giant painting of a dog that looks nothing like your furry friend. As someone who prides herself on resourcefulness, I’m officially offering my services as your unofficial Silent Auction Strategist.Because really, shouldn’t we have ground rules? Here’s my personal checklist before placing that first bid:✅ Will this add actual value to my life (or can I share it with a friend)?✅ Will I be devastated if I don’t win it?✅ Will I wake up tomorrow and say, “Wait…did I just spend $300 on a baby snowsuit?” (True story.)✅ Am I okay treating this like a straight-up donation—even if the item gathers dust? 🔥 Pro Tips from the Field:Team up! I once split a celebrity chef dinner. Best move. Keep your eyes on sleeper items—the ones no one’s noticing Monitor your bids like it’s the stock market in the final 5 minutes And whatever you do: DO NOT BRING YOUR KIDS.My daughter figured out the bidding app at age 7 and walked away with some serious swag. My son recently conspired with a close friend to trick me into buying two dog portraits (they signed my name to the bid sheet). He even told another bidder, “This looks just like my childhood dog” to ward her off. The audacity. So yes—it’s for a good cause. But also, it’s a jungle out there.Stay sharp. Stay resourceful. And maybe leave the kids at home. 🐾 If you’d like this lovely piece of art, please consider a donation to the worthy organization that originally offered it at their silent auction – Richcroft Inc. Or just DM and it’s yours! What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever won at a silent auction? hashtag#SilentAuctionSurvival hashtag#ResourcefulnessInAction hashtag#NonprofitLife hashtag#HumorAtWork hashtag#BiddingWars hashtag#LinkedInHumor
International Women’s Month
As we close out International Women’s Month, I want to reflect on a few pivotal moments in my career that made me realize being a woman often required more from me than my qualifications alone. At twenty-one, I was told my skirt should be shorter while being considered for a promotion. At twenty-eight, at a different company, I applied for a promotion only to be told I wasn’t eligible because I didn’t have a college degree—despite the fact that the male hiring manager didn’t have one either. At thirty-five, while raising venture capital for my company, an investor I considered both a mentor and a friend arrived at my home with champagne and asked me to sleep with him. I was told by a female CEO that another venture investor – who invested in my company – replaces female CEO’s. We were both replaced. Women-led companies still receive about 2% of venture capital, the same as in 2000. ‼️ At thirty-seven, I invited a well-known venture capitalist to invest in my cyber company. Instead of discussing business, he spent the entire dinner—while introducing me to an angel investor—groping me under the table. Women aren’t asking for special treatment. We’re asking for our accomplishments to be recognized, for our voices to be heard, and for us to have the opportunity to reach our full potential. At forty-eight, just after being sworn into public office, I went into the private ensuite bathroom attached to my office and found a magnet on the mirror that said, “SHE who must be obeyed.” At forty-nine, the head of the governor’s transition team told me, “You’re aggressive,” and following a long pause where he seemed to reconsider his candor after seeing the expression on my face, added, “But in a good way.” I enjoy working with men. And women. And honestly, I’m not angry. I just want us to acknowledge the reality women have faced, and understand that we still have a long way to go. I know many women who have had amazing career support. We’re making progress but this recent news on 404’ing women and underrepresented groups is a setback. Nicole Malachowski, former Commander of the 333rd Fighter Squadron, summed it up perfectly when she responded to being erased from the Department of Defense: “We mark ‘firsts’ to ensure we never go back, and to ensure we keep the door open for the ‘second,’ ‘third,’ and ‘fourth,’ etc.” Let’s keep pushing forward. For all the women who follow. hashtag#internationalwomensmonth #hashtag#womeninleadership hashtag#womeninbusiness
Just Move Forward
Sometimes we don’t need a New Year’s resolution, we need to just move forward. On this day three years ago, I was launching a new chapter in my career. Which didn’t work out. I loved public service and wanted to serve again. Two days before I announced my run for office, my teen son was taken to the emergency room with a sports injury in Massachusetts. The day before I announced, my teen daughter was placed in precautionary quarantine for Covid exposure, in Massachusetts. A week after I announced, my son was placed in quarantine with Covid. Two weeks after I announced, my daughter contracted Covid and I had to drive eleven hours (remember when you couldn’t get on a plane) in a massive snowstorm to get her. The waning days of the pandemic were blowing up my campaign – from seven hours away. But it was a family emergency that took me out of the game entirely. I was crushed, but I had to walk away. It was a full year before things started to get back to normal. Just as I was catching my breath, my mother died, which wouldn’t have been a big deal because we had been estranged most of my life… But my special needs sister, Leslie, came to live with me. And she needed a level of care beyond what I could’ve imagined. I know many of you have seen your own challenges over the last few years. Just know I see you. As you’ve shared your mishaps and detours, I have felt your pain. Instead of a New Year’s resolution, I’m going to encourage you to Find Your Forward! Dust yourself off, take a deep breath, and try again! hashtag#FindYourForward hashtag#OneStepAtATime hashtag#Resilience
I Can’t Work for a Woman
“I can’t work for a woman.” I’m not sure he meant for it to come out, although he had been dropping hints for awhile, but those were the words said (yelled) to me by a company founder. This founder wanted me to raise the money necessary to build the company. He also needed and wanted to get a paycheck. It had been three+ years of no funding, and they were looking at shutting down. I was the only one willing to take the risk necessary to make it happen. This happened months into working with this company, with no payment or salary. It was a start-up and signing on had been a huge risk. You’ve all heard me say how important it is to show up. Sometimes you have to know when to walk away. I calmly pushed my chair back from the conference room table, picked up my things, and walked out the door. Know your value. Know what you bring. Trust yourself to make the right decision. It didn’t take long for the call to come in, asking me to return. And I did…with some ground rules. It’s about showing up, and knowing when to walk away…but also about following through. The company was a huge success. I can’t say working with the founder was ever easy …but I can tell you that standing my ground, and the support of the other co-founder, made it possible to walk back into the office. Today, I am starting a new venture. I look forward to sharing the details soon! hashtag#leadership hashtag#resilience hashtag#showup hashtag#failure
Location Matters
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in both business and life is that location matters. When I was 21, I landed my first job that wasn’t as a waitress, cashier, or in retail. I became a call center rep for a company I had never heard of growing up: T. Rowe Price. On my first day at 100 East Pratt Street, sitting in the call center answering phones, I knew I had found my calling – business. I felt at home, even as I was starting at the bottom. It was just a few miles away from where I grew up on a street in a redlined neighborhood in Baltimore City. It was a different world. People in my community didn’t talk about working at a financial services firm. My childhood mentor, at nine years old, taught me how to shoplift a swimsuit (though I didn’t follow through) and how to sneak into the public pool after hours. By fifteen, she was on welfare. Yet here I was, in an office with people in suits, discussing the stock market. It wasn’t just a job – it was a window into what was possible. Although I didn’t climb the corporate ladder there, it gave me a glimpse of a world I hadn’t known existed. That’s why I wanted my current cohort of Maryland Business Opportunity Center (MBOC) entrepreneurs to experience something similar – a beautiful office space that reflects the success they can achieve. They’re underrepresented in the business community, but part of climbing the ladder is feeling like you belong. A big thank you to COPT Defense Properties for making this vision a reality! And a special thanks to Lawrence Twele CEcD for making the connect. Not only did COPT provide an incredible space, but they also did so free of charge. It took some time to work out the details – special thanks to Omoré at MBOC for helping with that process – but the support from COPT, including CEO Stephen Budorick who was quick to say yes, and VP Krysta Herring who handled the details, was truly outstanding. COPT is a great example of community leadership. They understand the power of building an ecosystem and giving back. Let’s continue to support and invest in anyone who has the courage to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Thank you, COPT, for being a partner in real change!
MBOC Annual Showcase and Pitch Competition
ummm…I think…you know… I had the honor of giving the keynote at the Maryland Business Opportunity Center (MBOC) Annual Showcase and Pitch Competition, where six amazing companies were selected to showcase their business ideas. If I’m being honest, every single one of the entrepreneurs in this cohort (~12) could’ve delivered a great presentation. But here’s the thing: no one’s immune to nerves. I shared with the entrepreneurs: “Everyone gets nervous. And that’s okay.” It’s true! Even the most experienced speakers have moments where they wish they’d said something differently…or remembered something afterwards they wanted to say. Just ask anyone who’s stepped onto a stage! One of the presenters had a technical glitch with his slideshow. The video wouldn’t play—but he handled it like a pro. 💪 It happens! And the filler words…let’s talk about those little transitions we all use… After hearing a prominent person on TV yesterday say “I think” 20x in 5 minutes, I was reminded of the importance of self-awareness. ✨ So, here’s a pro tip: Record yourself, then watch it. You’ll catch the habits you didn’t even know you had! 💡 For me, it’s “you know”…at least that’s what my podcast manager (and son) had to say…Ouch! But we’re all growing, right? Here’s what I’ve learned over the years about presenting on stage, even when you’re feeling nervous: 🔹 Acknowledge the nerves: They’re normal! Even seasoned speakers feel them. Stepping out of your comfort zone means you’re strong! 🔹 Focus on your message: Shift your focus to the fact that you know this content. No one knows it better than you. 🔹 Practice makes perfect: The more you practice, the less it feels like memorizing…and the less you have to rely on notes. 🔹 Don’t fear the glitches: Whether it’s a technical issue or a forgotten line, roll with it. The audience appreciates how you handle the bumps. 🔹 Slow down: Consciously slow down your pace…and take pauses to let your message sink in. 🔹 Visualize success: Before you step on stage, take a moment to picture yourself succeeding—it’s a powerful mindset shift! 🔹 Learn from every experience: Reflect after each presentation—what went well, and what could be better? We’re all learning, improving, and growing! I wrapped up my speech by celebrating the incredible people I’ve had the privilege of working with. Check them out—these entrepreneurs are the real deal! And a shout-out to the amazing MBOC staff: Virginia Dinzey-Taveras, MBA | Niani McDonald | Jada Riley | Jasmine Simms
Mother
I’ve waited a full year to share the lessons I learned from the most influential person in my life…my mother. There was no funeral, no service. The children who could move away, did. She was alone in her last days. The obituary read simply: On Thursday, June 8, 2023, Diane Clifford Neuman, age 81 of Baltimore passed away. My mother did not inspire confidence, or kindness. But I learned so much from her. I learned that no matter where you start, you can choose the person you want to be, you can decide how hard you will work, and how kind you will be to others. When I was born, the nurse came to my mother and said, “Would you like to see your daughter?” “No thanks, I have the rest of my life to look at her,” she replied. I know this story from her. My mother taught me to be afraid, and that I was never enough. She was a serial criminal, lifting groceries from the local store to feed her family, and going into business with a corrupt politician who was caught by the FBI. Despite those early lessons, or maybe because of them, I decided in my twenties that character and integrity matter to me. That I can be bold and take initiative. Instead of looking for an easy payday, I learned to work hard. To deliver results. I didn’t get it all right, but I never stopped trying. When I built a company, and it was sold, she said, “I could have done what you did if I had the same opportunities.” This surprised me because we both dropped out of high school. She started a family, and I lived out of my car while I saved the money for a down payment on an apartment. The first time she publicly called me a liar was six months later when, still a teenager, I was attacked at gunpoint. She joined the police in not believing me. It would take me almost twenty years to prove I had been telling the truth. My mother threatened to sue CBS News if they shared my story on 48 Hours. I did it anyway. That story led to connecting the perpetrator to twenty-five more cases. Stand in your beliefs, and don’t let others define you. Politics was what she loved the most. So I thought she’d be proud of me when I was sworn into public office. “Mother, did you hear about my new job,” I said. It was an attempt to open the lines of communication. “Yes, I heard,” she responded, and walked away. She joined my opponent’s team and worked to see me lose my coveted seat as county executive. When a journalist was writing a profile piece on me, she was a prime source. He opened the interview with, “Your mother said you’re a liar.” It would take ten years, but I have proven that I was telling the truth about how I grew up. I look forward to sharing the journey with you. Invest in the people who care for you and don’t waste the years I have wasted wanting resolution, closure or forgiveness. Forgive yourself for wanting their love and then focus on loving yourself.
Artificial Intelligence
I truly believe there is tremendous value in the parts of our journey that we never talk about…the things we aren’t supposed to say out loud. I was at a conference in Nashville last week with some truly amazing people. After sharing my story with one of the keynotes, she told me about a woman who was abandoned on the streets of Montreal at twelve, and suffered unspeakable trauma. She’s now a highly-valued employee. So how did she go from homeless to helpful? College wasn’t available to her but her real-life experience taught her: > How to solve problems > How to be creative > How to get things done She chose to be a contributor instead of a casualty, and in doing this, changed her life. It can also change companies, and society. I moved 19 times between the ages of eighteen and thirty (when I bought my first house). There were times I had to choose between food, rent and gas. But I learned how to figure things out, to be resourceful. AI is all the rage these days, and yes, it’s a useful tool, but the future is about people who know how to solve problems.
Public Service
I get DM’s sometimes from people I’ve never met. Sometimes they change my life. I didn’t know Councilman Ric Gordon until he messaged me to say he had read about my background and wanted to endorse me to run for governor. I felt pretty special and appreciated it so much that I drove to Greenbelt to sit in his living room – with his wife, Carla, and adorable dog. I listened as he told me about the important projects in his community. I was impressed by the depth and caring, of the true commitment to public service. As a local councilman in Greenbelt, Ric changed lives. Last Sunday, we gathered the New Deal Café in Greenbelt, a spot where the locals hang out, to honor his life. It was the most Ric-like place of all places. If you’re looking for casual and friendly – and amazing fried chicken – this is it. The vibe was local. The room was packed. The speeches were personal. Ric’s wife, Carla, invited all to speak, and it seemed every person in the room had an anecdote to share. One person after the next stepped up to the mic to tell a story of how he changed their life. Stories about how he would just call people he wanted to know – or who he knew needed his support – and offer to help. I spoke of my gratitude for his support. But my message was this – honor his spirit by getting involved. Run for office. If you don’t want to run, volunteer for someone you think should be running. That is the legacy of public service. We can all make a difference.
