I understand the weight of leadership because I've carried it in boardrooms, battlefields, and sanctuaries. As a Marine Corps veteran and Citadel graduate, I learned early that true leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about navigating uncertainty with courage and integrity. Over the past two decades, I have experienced incredible success. I've started and sold two businesses, served as VP of a fintech SaaS company, and coached leaders across multiple industries. I've had the privilege of working with the South Carolina Baptist Convention and North American Mission Board, training leaders and church planters who are making lasting impact in their communities.

My most ambitious leadership challenge came when I planted a church that grew from seven people in a living room to over 500 members in less than 7 years. While planting that church, I developed a scalable discipleship model that's now being replicated nationwide, I oversaw multiple building purchases, and launched community programs including a daycare that served dozens of families. These victories taught me the exhilaration of visionary leadership and the power of building something meaningful from nothing.

But success alone doesn't qualify me to be a leadership coach—failure is often necessary for growth too. I've made costly mistakes that still shape how I lead today. I once moved too quickly on a major church decision and watched 100+ church members leave in two weeks, a painful reminder that speed without wisdom can destroy what took years to build. I've walked away from secure positions to chase entrepreneurial dreams that failed spectacularly, learning hard lessons about risk assessment and timing. Most significantly, at the height of my ministry success, my personal life unraveled. After 12 years and 3 kids, my marriage fell apart and ended in divorce. I stepped away from pastoral leadership—a humbling experience that taught me the critical importance of leading myself before attempting to lead others.

These failures weren't just setbacks; they were (among other things) master classes in shaping my character, heart, and leadership motivations. God used these experiences to shape me in ways that I desperately needed, but was unaware or unwilling to do on my own. These experiences also gave me something textbooks can't teach: genuine empathy for leaders who are struggling, and practical wisdom for navigating the intersection of professional success and the personal pursuit of joy in the Lord. Today, I coach leaders not from a place of perfection, but from the trenches of real experience—both the victories that build confidence and the defeats that build character.