10 Things You Should Know About Me

When I meet someone new, one of my favorite questions to ask is:

“What’s something I should know about you?”

It’s a simple question, but it bypasses small talk and goes straight to the heart of who someone is. It invites honesty. It invites connection. And it often reveals the values and experiences that truly shape a person.

In that same spirit, I want to answer my own question for you. These aren’t just facts—they’re reflections of my journey, the lessons I’ve learned, and the mindset I carry into every area of my life.

1. Cleanliness and Order

I thrive in environments that are clean, organized, and intentional. When my space is in order, my mind is, too. Structure isn’t just about neatness—it’s about creating room for efficiency, creativity, and calm. This preference extends beyond my physical space; I often prefer a “cleaned out” social media feed as well—but that’s a conversation for another time.

2. I’m Mixed Race—White and Black

My mixed heritage—White and Black—deeply informs who I am. Whether seen or unseen, it influences the way I create, the dialogue I have with myself, the resilience I’ve built both on and off the mat, and the way I engage with people whose experiences are vastly different from my own.

3. Carrying Lessons From the Highest Level

In 2014, I became a back-to-back World Champion and a Grand World Champion, living my childhood dream as a featured athlete and training alongside the best. Today, I use that same standard as a reference point in my work as a coach and mentor, while keeping those experiences in perspective—valuing them without clinging to them, knowing they are not the everyday reality for most.

4. I Love the Unapologetic and Unconventional

I’m drawn to the things that challenge the system and rewrite the rules. I appreciate the unconventional—not for shock value, but for its ability to inspire fresh thinking. For me, being different must be intentional, with thought, taste, and purpose behind it.

5. I’ve Dealt with Performance Anxiety

Pressure has, at times, made me overthink or stumble—not because I doubted myself, but because I cared deeply about doing a good job. Over the years, experience became my cure. Repetition in high-pressure situations built my confidence, and it’s the same advice I give to anyone struggling with performance anxiety: do the reps. Confidence comes from showing up, again and again.

6. I Moved Out at 16

Leaving home as a teenager taught me independence early. It gave me the ability to adapt to new places, build relationships in unfamiliar spaces, and navigate life away from the safety net of family.

7. Empathetic

I can often read someone’s energy within a few interactions. While that ability has been a strength, I’m learning not to make judgments too quickly. People often present a version of themselves that isn’t the full reality, and I’ve learned to remain open until I’ve seen more than just the surface.

8. Confidence Over Expectation

I no longer expect respect from everyone; leading with that expectation can invite the opposite. Instead, I carry myself with confidence, grace, and composure. I welcome collaboration when approached as an equal and stand firm in my values when I’m not.

9. I Lead with Kindness

My ambition is anchored in kindness. At my core, I’m guided by a genuine desire to help others succeed and feel valued. While my intentions are always rooted in care, I understand that my delivery can be refined, and I actively work on improving it. Each interaction is an opportunity to grow, ensuring that the way I communicate reflects both my message and the heart behind it.

10. I’ve Grown Up Online

I’ve had a cell phone since an early age and have been public on the internet since my pre-teen years. Much of my life has been documented, but I’ve grown into someone very different from who I was back then. My aesthetic, values, and outlook have evolved, and I’m committed to using my voice and platform to inspire, guide, and encourage others.

Closing Thought

If nothing else, I hope this gives you a fuller picture of who I am—both personally and professionally. These ten points are only snapshots, but together they form the foundation of how I approach life, work, and every connection I make.

Why There’s No “Right Way” to Create, Live, or Work

One Idea, a Thousand Angles

I’ve been thinking about something lately—something that’s hard to ignore once you see it.

Every idea has another angle.

And not just a slightly different take—sometimes a completely opposite belief. One that feels just as true, backed by its own logic, experience, and proof.

The Many Angles of Any Topic

This isn’t just about big philosophical debates. It applies to almost everything.

• The content you create.

• The way you live your life.

• How you interpret an idea or concept.

For every decision, there’s a different perspective that challenges it—and from the other person’s point of view, they might be completely right.

I’ve noticed this more and more while running my own brand. I’ll be confident about a certain way of doing things… and then instantly recall a book I read, a podcast I listened to, or advice I heard that framed the exact same thing in a totally different way.

One Person’s “Cringe” Is Another Person’s “Genius”

Here’s a simple example: content.

You can post a video and hear someone call it “cringe,” while another person says it’s smart, inspiring, or even brilliant.

Who’s right? Both. Neither. It depends on their lens—one shaped by taste, values, culture, and past experiences.

And here’s the thing: for every person who agrees with you, there’s a group who doesn’t. And another group who’s indifferent.

No One Right Way

Yes, there are best practices in business, marketing, and creative work. But there’s no universal blueprint—no “one size fits all” that works for everyone.

Once you truly accept that there will always be a perspective that supports you—and another that challenges you—you stop chasing the “right” way and start focusing on your way.

Do It Your Way

Because no matter what you put into the world, you’ll find:

• People who understand you completely.

• People who think you’re wrong.

• People too committed to their own perspective to see yours.

That’s the beauty of it. Every choice, every idea, every piece of work—it’s just one of many possible angles.

If there’s no way to please everyone, we might as well do what feels most true to us.

Male Coaches in Cheer

I’ve been in this sport long enough to win world titles, coach internationally, and see almost everything this industry can throw at you.

But nothing has tested me more than the unspoken challenges of being a man in a space built largely for — and run largely by — women. It’s a reality we don’t talk about enough. And it’s time we did.

Important: This is my personal perspective — not tied to any specific program or my current role.

I’ve been in cheer most of my life — first as an elite athlete, now at 29 as a coach and choreographer.

As a male athlete, my intensity, ambition, and drive to be the best were celebrated.

As a male coach — especially working with young women — those same traits can be received very differently.

From my experience, male coaches often face:

• Saying the same thing as a female coach, but having it received as more intense, direct, or aggressive — forcing constant adjustment in delivery.

• Being perceived through the lens of someone’s personal history with men — a bias female coaches rarely encounter.

• Feeling the ripple effects of other men’s mistakes in the industry.

You adapt. You soften. You reshape yourself — because you care about the athletes. But it’s exhausting.

Coaching overseas adds another layer. In Australia, the “work to live” mindset shifts priorities — cheer isn’t always number one. World-class athletes still emerge, but as a male coach, it means adjusting not just your delivery, but sometimes your definition of success.

I’m not speaking for all men, but I will say this: balanced, positive masculinity can strengthen team culture in ways that go beyond skill or strength.

I’ve had moments where I spoke with the best intentions, only to be in a parent meeting two days later. I’ve been tested to my face — where my response had to be grace, patience, and sometimes calculated silence.

So here’s my question:

How do male coaches set boundaries and stand firm without it being seen as a problem?

These experiences have made me wiser, but they’ve also revealed just how different the road is for male coaches.

My life so far — 29 years — has been one of blessings, contrast, and challenge. I’ve learned that perspective is everything, and no one owns the truth.

Conversations like this need to happen. Approached with respect, they can help the next coach who faces these same challenges feel less alone.

I’m done feeling guilty for my past/current emotions and approaches. Sharing my perspective will always invite pushback — and that’s fine. But I won’t stay silent out of fear of those who shout louder than they listen.

So I’ll keep showing up, leading, and speaking — because male coaches deserve a voice in the conversation about the sport we love.

If you’re a coach — male or female — how have you navigated these dynamics? I’d love to hear your story in the comments. Your perspective matters in this conversation.

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