my journey

A Spark Ignites

I’ve always been drawn to adventure. My uncle was an airline pilot and, when I interviewed him for a high school project, I saw a future I hadn’t considered before. I thought: I could get paid to fly? When he took me up in a small plane, I knew that was what I wanted to do.

My parents were cautious. They worried about the instability of the aviation industry and the risks involved.

Trying the “Safe” Route

I followed my parents’ plan and enrolled in a traditional university. I spent more than a year doing what seemed responsible, but I was miserable.

Eventually I redirected my course. With persistence and a lot of convincing, I transferred to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a school known for turning aviation dreams into careers. That decision taught me the importance of taking the controls and charting your own course.

Learning to Navigate

At flight school I stood out. Every move I made was visible—on the radio, in class and in the hangar. Expectations were low and scrutiny was high in an environment where female aviators were rare.

To move forward, I had to exceed expectations—again and again. I had to learn how to navigate not just systems and skillsets, but people and power dynamics.

After graduation, I moved into the corporate world to tackle a pile of student loans, and my pilot career was pushed to the side. The challenges changed—but the core lessons remained: the ability to adapt, lead and keep going in the face of resistance was essential to my success.

Over time, colleagues and friends began coming to me—not just for advice, but for clarity, for perspective, for support during big life transitions. I realized that helping others navigate change was just as fulfilling to me as flying.

On Course and In Command

I returned to school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Psychology. I also became a certified coach and master-certified coach through the Martha Beck Institute (now Wayfinder) and trained coaches in that program.

During that time I built Damn Thirsty Coaching into a global business, working with clients across industries and countries. The name comes from a Hafiz poem and reflects the moment when we feel so damn thirsty for things to be different. For more than twenty years I’ve helped leaders make strategic decisions, professionals step into greater responsibility and individuals navigate life transitions.

Along the way I married, moved from Seattle to San Diego and expanded my work through retreats, workshops and leadership programs.

The Comeback

At 49 I decided to return to the flying I loved but had set aside for nearly two decades.
Just weeks before flight training began, I was diagnosed with stage-three colon cancer. I wasn’t even sure I would pass a flight physical.

After surgery and recovery, I got back to work. While much of the world slowed during the pandemic, I continued training, earned the required ratings and, at 52, began my first job as a commercial pilot. The experience reinforced a key principle of leadership: pressure is a privilege, and champions adjust.

The Work I Do Today

I bring together my two worlds: high-performance environments and leadership development.

As a commercial pilot and performance coach, I understand what it means to perform under scrutiny, navigate complex systems and make decisions that carry real consequences.