Act 3: Redefining Success

Through my own transition, I’ve come to understand that success is not a destination; it’s a process. It’s not about the title on your business card but the values you carry in your heart.

Let me share with you three key lessons I’ve learned:

1. Prioritize Wellbeing: The grind culture of corporate life often comes at the expense of our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. When I lost my job, I rediscovered the joy of simple things: taking a walk, journaling, spending time with loved ones. These moments aren’t distractions; they’re the essence of life.

2. Invest in Relationships: I asked one former executive, "What do you miss most about your C-suite days?" His answer surprised me: "Nothing… except the people." Titles come and go, but relationships—authentic connections—are what sustain us.

3. Embrace the Unknown: Losing a job or making a life pivot can feel like free-falling. But sometimes, letting go of what we know is the only way to grasp something new. This isn’t just about resilience; it’s about faith—faith in yourself and in the journey ahead.

Act 4: Your Turn to Reflect

So I ask you: What does success mean to you? Is it the accolades, the financial rewards, the promotions? Or is it something deeper?

Take a moment to think about the ladder you’re climbing. Is it leaning against the right wall? If the world stripped away your titles and achievements, what would remain?

Conclusion: The Road Ahead

Today, I stand before you as someone still on this journey. I’m working to return to the C-suite, but this time, I’m bringing with me a renewed sense of purpose and clarity. My focus isn’t just on leading organizations; it’s on leading a life that aligns with my values.

Through Outside the C-Suite, I’ve discovered that true success isn’t about reaching the top; it’s about finding fulfillment in the climb. And sometimes, the greatest victories come not in spite of our setbacks, but because of them.

I Am First Gen Success

Welcome to Life Outside the C-Suite

Title: Outside the C-Suite: A Journey of Transformation and Rediscovery

Let me begin by asking you a few questions: Have you ever lost something that you thought defined you? A job, a title, a role you worked tirelessly to attain? And when it was gone, did you find yourself asking, Who am I now? What comes next?

My name is Dr. Marie-Michelle Rosemond, but most people call me "Rosie." Today, I’m here not as a former Vice President, not as a professor, but as a human being who has navigated loss, rediscovery, and transformation.

Losing my job as a college university Vice President was not just a professional setback—it was a deeply personal reckoning. My identity, my sense of purpose, my dreams were all tied to that title. But that moment of loss became a doorway. A doorway to something I’d like to share with you today: a journey toward deeper meaning, fulfillment, and a new kind of success.

Act 1: Losing the Title, Finding Myself

When I lost my position, my first reaction was panic. I’d built my career brick by brick, and suddenly it felt like the foundation had crumbled beneath me. But as I began to sift through the rubble, I realized something important: I had spent years climbing the corporate ladder, yet I had rarely paused to ask, What is this ladder leaning against?

This wasn’t just about a job—it was about identity. For so many of us, our worth gets tied to what we do rather than who we are. But what happens when the accolades fade, when the title is gone? That’s when we’re forced to confront the essence of ourselves.

Act 2: The Birth of a New Perspective

In the aftermath of my job loss, I started a podcast, Outside the C-Suite. It began as a way to make sense of my own journey, but it quickly became something much bigger. I started sitting down with other former C-suite executives who had also stepped away from their high-pressure roles—some by choice, others by circumstance.

I asked them questions that dug deeper than resumes and achievements:

• What matters most to you now?

• How do you define success today?

• What have you learned about life, love, and legacy since leaving the boardroom?

What I discovered was both humbling and inspiring. These conversations revealed that life’s true riches often have little to do with corner offices or six-figure bonuses. Faith, family, friendships, health, and self-discovery—these were the themes that emerged time and again. And they weren’t just stories of loss; they were stories of triumph, of finding fulfillment in unexpected places.