When Stacey Smith asked me to speak at a women’s leadership event, I said yes—because I was curious.
Curious about the theme, the audience, and what she had in mind.
I’ve shared my journey before—how I earned an MBA without finishing high school or college, built a venture-backed tech company after being ignored by big tech, and ran for public office without political connections.
At the event, I spoke about the 4 habits of resourceful leaders:
👉 Believe in yourself
👉 Show up
👉 Bet on yourself
👉 Advocate for yourself & others
But what made this event truly unforgettable wasn’t the talk.
It was Stacey’s decision to use the gathering to support Richcroft—an organization that’s transformed my sister Leslie’s life.
Leslie is developmentally disabled. And for the first time in her life, she has a full, joyful, independent life—because of the extraordinary people at Richcroft.
That’s the kind of event Stacey creates: one that blends purpose, leadership, and community impact.
She’s built an incredible career producing high-level corporate events. But this time, she used her platform to give back—and it made all the difference.
💛 To everyone who attended—thank you for showing up. I met so many remarkable women.
💛 To Stacey—your heart and vision are unmatched.
💛 To Richcroft—thank you for giving my sister a life filled with dignity and joy.
📸 Special thanks to Pam Long for capturing the night beautifully.
🙌 And to Barbara Moyer for sharing the powerful work Richcroft is doing.
👉 If you’re looking for an event planner who leads with purpose, call Stacey Smith.
👉 If you want to support an organization doing life-changing work, check out Richcroft Inc.
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The Power of Showing Up
At 23, I was making $7/hour with no benefits. I didn’t even know what benefits were. I answered an ad
