Growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, raised by a grandmother with only a sixth-grade education, Anouk lacked corporate role models but possessed something more valuable—a willingness to ask questions and learn from others. When she spotted a successful family in her hometown, she simply decided to follow their son's educational path. This pragmatic approach to navigating unfamiliar territory became a pattern that served her well throughout her career. The turning point came during college when Anouk changed her major from business administration to accounting—not out of passion, but strategy—to secure an interview with oil company Amoco. What was meant to be just practice became a surprise internship offer, launching her corporate career. Through her ascent at various companies, she developed a leadership philosophy centered on authentic connection and putting people first, which distinguished her in an environment where minority women rarely reached such heights. Despite her success, Anouk eventually felt called to a different path. In 2023, she retired from IBM to pursue entrepreneurship focused on her purpose of serving others. Now she offers leadership training through her ”Thrive Method,” speaks on motivation and empowerment, runs a nonprofit helping students transition to professional life, and has authored books including ”You're Working Too Hard.” Throughout her journey, Anouk has maintained balance through daily prayer, fitness training, and continuous learning—recently adding real estate investment and life insurance to her knowledge base. As she navigates the challenges of entrepreneurship after corporate success, she remains guided by faith and purpose, believing her impact has only begun. What could you achieve if you focused less on knowing all the answers and more on building the right relationships? Subscribe now to hear more stories of transformation and purpose from leaders who've forged unconventional paths to success. If you're searching for your own purpose or trying to understand how your past experiences might be shaping your future calling, this episode will inspire you to look at your pain through a new lens and consider how it might be guiding you toward your most meaningful work. 👋 Follow me for more podcasting tips and exclusive offers: 🔥 Instagram: / drbrianearnold 🚀 Facebook: / brianearnold 📺 YouTube: / @brianearnold1 💼 LinkedIn: / brianearnold 🐦 X: https://x.com/DrBearnold 📱 TikTok: / brianearnold1 📚 Books: www.brianearnold.com/books #personaldevelopmentmustwatchvideo #inspirationalstory #purposefulliving