LaKeita Pursues the Life She Wanted
“I had built a promising career in education and loved every minute of it. But when my husband and I decided to start our family, I knew in my heart that I wanted to be fully present at home. So, I made a choice: I pressed pause on my professional journey to raise my children and give them a safe, loving home.
“For nearly a decade, my world revolved around my family. Those years were deeply meaningful and I would do it again in a heartbeat. But as my children grew older and more independent, I was ready to focus on me again.
“I had been the first in my family to graduate from college, I had run my own businesses from home, and I had so much knowledge and experience to offer. I thought it would be simple. With my degree, work history, and entrepreneurial experience, I expected opportunities to follow.
“Instead, I spent seven months building spreadsheets of job applications, paying professionals to rewrite my résumé, and reaching out to contacts, but the callbacks were few and far between. Even when interviews came, they led nowhere.
“The gap on my résumé seemed to overshadow everything else. I began to second guess myself. Had I made a mistake stepping away? Was I out of touch? What was I missing here?
“It began to wear me down. I felt like a failure.
“Then one day, I opened a community newsletter from Austin Coming Together and saw the name “Cara Collective.” I didn’t know what it was, but something nudged me to click.
“At first, I wasn’t convinced it was for me – especially after seeing a video of people singing in the Motivations circle. But the name kept appearing in my inbox. Eventually, I told myself, ‘If you’re going to let something like singing stop you from your goals, maybe you don’t want this as much as you say you do.’
“I came to Cara in March 2024. And that decision changed everything.
“The first week was intense. I felt out of place at first in the group assignments, unsure if I belonged. I even seriously considered quitting.
“But then I told myself: ‘How can I say I work well with all kinds of people and turn away a prime opportunity like this.’ So, I talked myself into staying. That was a turning point for me.
“I stayed. I led. I grew.
“At Cara, I rediscovered my resilience. I learned that leadership isn’t about waiting for the perfect environment; it’s about creating it. I learned that my ‘gaps’ didn’t define me—they strengthened me.
“By the end of our four-week training, my cohort voted to honor me with the Founders Award—something I never could have imagined in those first uncertain days.
“When it came time to job search again, I no longer felt alone. I had an entire team committed to my success and opening doors I couldn’t open on my own. It was empowering.
“That’s how I found my way to BMO.
“During my final interview, the market president told me she knew she wanted to hire me after seeing me in the Motivations circle – the very thing I was once running away from helped me secure my job.
“Today, I walk into my branch each morning knowing I belong. I meet with dozens of customers daily, helping them reach their financial goals and navigate their lives. The work feels natural because helping people is what I’ve always done.
“If you ask me what’s changed most since coming to Cara, I’ve become relentless about what I want to pursue in life. I no longer wait for opportunities. I create them. And I no longer question whether there’s a place for me. I know there is.”
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