From Hopeless to Purpose and Power

Today after the 2024 US Presidential election, I found myself deeply questioning my worth, values, and ultimate life calling.

If you resonate with any of these doubts, I hope this leaves you feeling a bit more motivated and hopeful.

Since high school, I’ve dreamt of becoming a successful tech founder. The driving force behind my desire has been rooted in my mission to disrupt the entrenched systems of social and economic power in this country. I’ve long felt that a disproportionate amount of influence lies in the hands of the wealthy and well-connected—often white men—who shape the lives and freedom of everyone else. I’ve believed that the skills and circumstances I was born into endowed me with the duty to challenge this imbalance, using technology’s scale and potential as my vehicle.

But today, I questioned that purpose. I doubted our country’s willingness and readiness for change. I felt myself wavering in the value I bring to society, wondering if my efforts might be futile in a country that may never embrace me or the change I envision. I asked myself: What’s the point? Why fight for something larger than myself if the world might not be ready for it in my lifetime?

I wasn’t alone. Family members, friends, colleagues and countless people on my “FYP” (For You Page) shared a sense of hopelessness and devastating awakening.

Overwhelmed with discouragement, I talked with loved ones and journaled to process these existential questions. Two powerful realizations came to light. 💡

1. Embrace Our Anger: It’s okay to feel devastated and discouraged—give yourself the space to feel those things fully. BUT— I recognized another powerful emotion within myself: anger. Speaking from experience, anger, when channeled toward a meaningful purpose, is one hell of a powerful motivator. I co-founded my last company, Edlyft, fueled by the frustration of seeing so few people who looked like me accessing the opportunities that a tech career provides—financial security, social mobility, and flexibility. That anger turned into positive impact, touching tens of thousands.

   
   Black women are often criticized for our anger, pressured to silence it. But I challenge that notion. For those of us heartbroken by this outcome (regardless of background), I encourage us to lean into that anger and let it fuel us. The next four years may be difficult, even painful, but I look forward to the powerful change that can emerge when we channel this energy toward building the world we want to see.

2. Fight for Future Generations: My partner reminded me: “If our ancestors hadn’t fought through oppression, we would be facing a much different battle today.” That snapped me back to reality. If we don’t fight now, the struggle for future generations will only be harder. Progress is slow, but worth it—for the pursuit of a better tomorrow.

   Yes, I feel disheartened, yet not surprised. I don’t have all of the answers on how to assert my worth as a Black woman in a society where millions chose a convicted felon over a qualified leader. But I’m aware that I’m here today because of countless battles fought before this moment.

I trust that tomorrow—or the next day, or the next— I will wake up even more motivated and driven. This election made it glaringly clear that these entrenched systems of power demand dismantling. What I once viewed as a pessimistic hypothesis about our country has been exposed as fact. We must assert our worth, remind each other of it often, and continue the fight, even in moments of extreme doubt.