“When and how your hair turns gray is influenced mostly by the genes you inherit from your parents. Though stress may play a role in the process, it would be more helpful to look to past generations rather than your current stress levels, according to Robert H. Shmerling, MD, from Harvard Health Publishing.
I’m not sure I agree.
My dad had a head of solid black hair—until radiation treatment for liver cancer took it all. My mom had a striking white streak running through the middle of her forehead for years, a little reminiscent of the Bride of Frankenstein. (I’m not saying we called her that, but….)
Then there’s President Obama. He entered office in 2009 with dark black hair. By the time he left in 2017, the gray had firmly taken hold. If anyone earns gray hair, it’s the president of the United States.
I first noticed my own gray at my son’s sixth-grade orchestra performance. A picture from that day is still on my fridge—him in his white shirt and black bowtie, cello in hand, grinning. And me, at 46, grinning too, but with gray creeping in on both sides of my part. At that moment, I thought, I don’t want to look old.
If you’ve followed The Unexpected CEO, you’ll notice today’s photo looks different. The picture I once used—and still love—was taken when I was featured in various publications as a non-traditional graduate from the University of Virginia. In 2017, I earned a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree with the highest distinction, and UVA thought my journey was worth sharing. (See one of those articles here.)
Fast-forward to 2023, when I stepped into the role of President and CEO of ScribeConcepts, I didn’t think twice about my hair: I am who I am. About a year in, I realized I’d let it grow longer than before, and I hadn’t had it colored. People told me they liked it, and how it looked good, so I kept it going. It wasn’t until the gray overtook the dark that I compared my situation to Obama’s above. I often joked that he had eight years to turn gray; I had two.
So what does this have to do with The Unexpected CEO?
Besides explaining how my picture jumped from 2017 to 2025 with considerable difference (ha!), I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on how my life has changed in the past two years.
Aging—like leadership—is about ownership. It’s about standing up for who you are without apology. And I’m doing this at ScribeConcepts.
My husband built a strong organization on an idea, which takes strength. He owned his idea and, along with mentors, staff, and clients, built a well-respected publishing business. When I became its sole owner, I realized I didn’t have the same strengths Chris did, so I needed to rely on my own to help the business flourish.
Throughout my career in HR and now as a CEO, I’ve learned that power isn’t about how you look. It’s about how you show up; it’s what you bring to the table. In my case, it’s about how you embrace people, lift them up, and build them to be successful. It’s about trusting your team—because that’s why you hired them. It’s about leading by example with authenticity, gratitude, kindness, and good intent.
Today, I’m proud to be ScribeConcepts's owner, president, CEO, and whatever other role I am called to fill. However, I also know that I cannot be everything to everyone. After two years of deep involvement in the industry and this company, we’re on the brink of exciting changes. I’m embracing who I am, without embellishment, including the gray hair. And soon, we’ll be welcoming even more expertise into our industry to help us grow further.
Here’s to growth, change, and leading with authenticity.