My Beliefs and Core Values

At the center of my life is faith in Jesus Christ, who gives meaning to both victories and valleys. My core values — accountability, integrity, growth, resilience, stewardship of influence, and living with momentum — have been forged over decades. They are my anchor and my compass, guiding how I lead, how I love, and how I show up in every sphere of life.

Childhood: The Seeds of Resilience

My niece “woot woo” reading and editing her work!

I grew up with both parents, a large set of cousins, and a strong foundation of Christian beliefs in my home — but not without challenges. Childhood was where the first seeds of resilience were planted. I remember moments of feeling unseen, even bullied at times, which left me wrestling with my identity.

Even in the pain, there were glimpses of God shaping me — through my grandfather, whose quiet faith spoke volumes, and through the growing awareness that I was created for something bigger than myself.

Adolescence: Searching for Identity

Adolescence was marked by questions: Who am I? Where do I fit? What do I believe? I often felt pulled between wanting to blend in and feeling called to something different.

These teenage years were not without wounds, but they were also where I first caught glimpses of leadership — moments where others looked to me, even if I didn’t feel ready or misinterpreted those looks. It was also a time of testing: navigating friendships, pressures, and the consequences of my own decisions.

The resilience from childhood deepened here, even when I didn’t recognize it as growth at the time.

Young Adulthood: Struggles and New Skills

In my twenties, I entered adulthood full of ambition but without the structures or disciplines to match. I struggled in many ways — financially, emotionally, and relationally. Losing a job was only one symptom of deeper instability. I lacked accountability, strong habits, and a clear sense of identity.

But even in the struggle, I was developing new skills. I experimented in nonprofit work, tried retail, considered accounting, and eventually stumbled into technology. A “chance” encounter at church opened the door to a full-time internship with the City of Wilmington, NC. That opportunity became the spark that revealed my natural gift for IT, process improvement, and leadership.

Looking back, those years were a laboratory. They didn’t feel glamorous, but they shaped my ability to adapt, learn, and eventually lead.

Thirties: Blossoming Into Purpose

My thirties became a decade of blossoming. With each role and responsibility, I began to lead with more confidence and clarity. I transitioned into corporate America, growing into a Senior Vice President role in Testing Quality & Governance. Alongside that, I leaned into nonprofit leadership, bridging gaps for marginalized communities through strategy, technology, and process development.

Personally, marriage, family, and close friendships became both mirror and anchor. Marriage has stretched me, teaching patience, humility, and the daily practice of choosing love. My community has reminded me of accountability and the truth that growth doesn’t happen in isolation.

This was the season where I discovered that leadership is not about doing everything — it’s about empowering others, delegating, and creating systems that outlast you.

As I Approach 40: A Call to Give Back

Now, at 36 and looking ahead to 40, I feel a deep conviction: it’s time to make an intentional effort to give back. Not just with titles or achievements, but with the lessons earned through struggle, resilience, and grace.

I want to invest in others the way mentors, family, and community invested in me — by teaching accountability, anchoring values, and living a life of momentum that challenges the status quo.

I believe I’ve been gifted with a perspective and a mindset, coupled with the ability to teach. Shaping rising leaders today through accountability, critical thinking, and hard questions is my contribution to God’s greater plan for me and for my place in the earth.

Ultimately, I believe we are designed for momentum.

Momentum is not about doing more — it’s about thinking differently. It begins inside of you, and it becomes visible when your behaviors start to reflect the internal shift already happening in your heart and mind.

Momentum requires intention and conviction. It doesn’t happen by accident; it’s built step by step, habit by habit. Momentum happens when you begin to move in purpose, on purpose — and that alignment creates speed that multiplies itself, sending ripples of impact into the world around you.

And here’s the most freeing part: when you acknowledge it, when you come into agreement with it, you begin to realize something powerful — you were designed for momentum.

Why Writing

Writing feels like home. My first memory of being fully seen was on a middle school stage, reading an essay about my grandfather. His quiet integrity, his way of loving people well, was my first glimpse that Jesus is real.

Photo of KD reading Good to Great by Jim Collins.

I also think of my grandmother, unashamed to ask a stranger in Ruby Tuesday, “Do you know Jesus?” At the time, I cringed in embarrassment. Now, I know I was watching the boldness of the Holy Spirit.

These moments taught me that stories matter — and that writing is how I honor them. For me, writing is not just expression; it is a record:

A record of faith.
A record of trials endured and promises kept.
A record of God’s character moving through ordinary people.
A record of creating with The Creator.

Where I Am Now

Today, I stand at the intersection of faith, strategy, and leadership. My career has given me a platform; my faith has given me purpose. I write to merge the two — to challenge, to inspire, and to equip others to live with momentum.

If my story, my perspectives, and my questions help even one person shift from striving without progress to living with purpose and movement, then I’ve fulfilled my call.

Keisha Desmarais

Rising Thought Leader & Tech Strategy Expert
The Edge: Sharpening Perspective at the Intersection of Tech and Leadership

Connect with me on LinkedIn: (13) Keisha Desmarais, PMP | LinkedIn

My Story