I’m only a decade out of high school, but I like to say that I’ve already mastered the art of the pivot.

I come from a family that always stood up for others. My father was a community advocate, school board member, and two-time gubernatorial candidate. He wanted to be a voice for those who didn’t have a voice.

In 2017, I was planning for high school graduation and the start of college at Iowa State University. And then one semester before graduation, I became pregnant. It was this huge inflection point.

My future was suddenly uncertain. So I began sitting in on iJag sessions held at my high school. iJag stands for Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates. It connects business and education to support career paths, college and job applications, interviews, and other professional skills. During iJag, I heard Principal employees talk about their work and company culture.

It was a pivotal point for me. iJag taught me things no class did. I realized it wasn’t the right time to go to school, that I had to figure out a way to be financially stable for my son.

Then, a few months after my son was born, I had to pivot again when my father died unexpectedly.

That iJag program offered stability during this time, though, because it led to a full-time specialty benefits internship at Principal, which eventually led to a full-time job. I’ve been with Principal for six years now and have had a series of positions in my department that have enabled me to grow. Now I’m a data implementation specialist.

When I started at Principal, I intentionally sought connections to job shadow, have strategic conversations, and network. I learned you have to assemble the skills and experience that makes you stand out, and I wanted to take advantage of opportunities that came my way.

Now, I’m thinking intentionally about my next pivot: earning a degree in order to eventually work in human resources and recruiting. My leaders understand my career goals, and know I want to advance. They’re encouraging and offer opportunities. Flexibility is one of the most important pieces of the Principal culture.

Life gets busy, and Principal ensures you have the tools to be successful at home and at work. There have been moments when I’ve felt behind, when I’ve really had to sit back and say, “It’s not your time yet.” Timing is everything, and I want to plan so I can give my all to work, my son, and school—to be successful at all three.

My dad always said, “You have a big name to live up to.” I try to remember that he was a big voice for others, and I want to keep his legacy going and that drives me to want to be a leader. As a young Black woman, Principal has given me a platform to share my story and be a leader, and I know not every company does that.