It’s Giving Tuesday, and I’ll be honest, I have an agenda. My daughter Violet lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, and her struggle is real.

She’s amazing.

As a CEO, my days are full of highs and lows, but Violet experiences that same emotional and physical rollercoaster in minutes, not hours.

If you’re not familiar with CMT, it’s a progressive genetic disorder that causes muscle weakness and fatigue. Surprisingly, it affects 1 in 2,500 people...yet most have never heard of it.

For someone with CMT, things we take for granted can be huge daily challenges: climbing stairs, running, or even buttoning a shirt.

Now imagine being a fourth grader, where your world revolves around the playground, PE, and sports.

That’s not Violet’s world. She can’t do many of those things, but she never complains.

Instead, she shines.

Despite having two grandparents who were collegiate or professional athletes, Violet’s strength looks different. Spend ten minutes with her, and you’ll leave smiling. She’s positive, empathetic, and quietly resilient. She endures struggles no one ever sees or candidly hears about.

That emotional intelligence... that heart and grit...is the kind of leadership we need more of.

Someday, I know she’ll be an incredible leader. The kind of CEO you want to follow. But CMT is progressive, and we need to give her and others a fighting chance.

Please consider donating this Giving Tuesday to help find a cure for CMT.

Help Vanessa and me give Violet, and others like her, the chance to lead, thrive, and inspire!