As I begin my 10th year of working in Washington, DC, I find myself reflecting on a decade that has been anything but ordinary.

Over these years, I have worked with three CEOs, each as different as different can be! Yet each gave me the freedom to chart my own path and, more importantly, gave me what I have come to value most in my career: autonomy.

Of course, it has not all been a bed of roses! I have had a front-row seat to Washington’s political and geopolitical dynamics, lived through COVID while in DC, and witnessed many other changes and challenges along the way. I have, however, grown to love working and living in the Washington, DC area, a region so rich in cultural diversity and political perspectives. It has certainly been an eventful decade!

My work has taken me around the world. I am not even sure I can name all the countries I have visited over the past decade! Some include Japan, India, Ghana, Norway, Nigeria, the UK, and many more. I even had the extraordinary opportunity to be invited to the White House for a presidential dinner. What an experience for my husband and me!

Interestingly, in all these 10 years, I never asked for or even seriously considered a promotion. I know I could probably have pursued one, but titles were never what motivated me. I love what I do, and I continue to find fulfillment in doing it.

My travels and workload have often been demanding, and I knew that additional titles and responsibilities could mean even less time with my family. That was a trade-off I was not willing to make, especially given how much I have struggled to balance career and family throughout my professional life. I also turned down other seemingly lucrative opportunities because I understood that the price of those opportunities, in terms of personal and family sacrifices, would have been too high.

Over this period, my children have grown up. My 17-year-old was just seven when we moved to DC, and my older son was only beginning his college journey. I couldn’t have done any of this without the faithful support of my husband. He has been an incredible partner throughout this journey, and I truly believe he is God-sent! I am deeply grateful for him.

But perhaps the most significant part of this decade has very little to do with my professional accomplishments.

I believe, with everything within me, that God brought me to Washington, DC for a greater purpose: to spend more time with Him and to share His love with others. Looking back, this has been my greatest achievement over these 10 years.

I have traveled the world, had wonderful professional experiences, enjoyed the freedom to do meaningful work, and watched my children grow. But above all, I have grown in my relationship with God and found greater purpose in my journey.

As I mark this milestone, I have learned that career success does not always mean more titles or climbing higher on the corporate ladder. Sometimes, it means having the freedom to do what you love, being present for the people who matter most, and staying true to the purpose God has placed on your life.

I would not trade these 10 years for the world!