I didn’t set out to disrupt business. I set out to write poems. To tell stories. To stir hearts and spark minds. But somewhere along that journey, I realized poetry wasn’t just for the stage — it belonged in the boardroom. And that realization?
That was the disruption.
See, the business world loves boxes. Job titles. Org charts. Deliverables. But boxes don’t make room for breath. For rhythm. For revelation. And if you want to lead with impact in today’s world, you’ve got to think beyond the box. You’ve got to be willing to flip it, fold it, break it — or better yet, write a new script altogether.
As someone who built a 7-figure business with nothing but a mic, a mission, and a mouth full of metaphors, I’ve learned a few lessons about leading differently — lessons I now share with executives, entrepreneurs, and innovators who are tired of following templates and ready to shape their own.
Here’s one: disruptors don’t wait for permission. They don’t wait for perfect conditions or unanimous buy-in. They act from conviction. They lead from imagination. They trust their gut when the data hasn’t caught up yet.
Another lesson? Your weird is your weapon. That thing you’ve been told is “too much” — too emotional, too unconventional, too poetic — is probably the exact thing that makes you unforgettable. In a world drowning in sameness, the boldest move you can make is to show up as your full self.
I’ve performed for presidents and pitched to powerhouse brands not by conforming, but by confronting the norm with truth and creativity. That’s the heartbeat of disruption — it’s not about chaos, it’s about courage. It’s about seeing a system and asking, “What if this could be better?” Then daring to answer it with your voice, your vision, your way.
So here’s what I offer to every leader stuck in a box: Break your business wide open. Inject it with artistry. Lead with language that moves, not just manages. Create cultures that make room for emotion, for inclusion, for the uncomfortable brilliance of innovation.
Because when you think like a disruptor, you’re not just chasing change — you become the change.
And when you do that, you don’t just write a new business plan…
You write a new legacy.
