never look back, no regrets. ‒“The righteous man walks in his integrity: his children and children’s children are blessed” (Proverbs 20:7). Papa’s integrity was unmatched, and his life was a testament to its rewards. Despite humble beginnings in rural Louisiana, with each promotion he broke barriers of poverty and racism, achieving high-level positions and paving the way for African Americans in his field. He epitomized service to this country and Colorado communities, generously supporting his family and extending help as far as Tanzania. His legacy of investing in education and generational wealth, especially for his eight granddaughters, remains a guiding light for me. As I navigate life and leadership without him, I lean into integrity, combat self-doubt, and hear his voice reassuring me that I AM MORE THAN ENOUGH . Cole: How do you ensure that others benefit from the life-changing knowledge you gained from your mentors? Cook: I ensure that others benefit from the life-changing knowledge of my mentors by actively mentoring others myself. At Big Brothers Big Sisters Colorado, we embrace and have trademarked MentorLife™, a commitment to both being mentored and mentoring others. I believe in paying forward the transformative impact of mentorship that shaped my journey. Cole: What advice do you wish someone had given you earlier in your career? Cook: Two pieces of advice that I wish I had back them and resonate deeply with me now: ‒“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” ‒“Accept people where they are but place them where they belong. You are the CEO of your life — hire, fire, and promote accordingly.” (Todd Hayes) Discovering these principles later in my career, particularly the idea of being the CEO of my own
Photo: McBoat Photography
life, was a significant revelation. This perspective, accompanied by a photo I found online of Maya Angelou in conversations with her younger self, underscores what I would have wanted to hear for my personal and professional journey earlier on, but am trying to embrace today. Cole: What inspired you to pursue a career in the nonprofit field, and how did you get started? Cook: After over 20 successful years in sales and witnessing profound injustices like the Rodney King incident and the AIDS epidemic’s impact on marginalized communities, my passion for advocacy and community service intensified. Leading “GirlTalk,” a support organization for Black women living in Japan whose community service was to mentor children of Black men and Japanese women, raised in Japan by their Japanese mothers often ostracized with little to no connection to the other side of their heritage, further fueled my commitment to championing 19 The Acumen
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