Lisa Borders’ success didn’t come from following a straight line. It came from finding her own way.

“I’m an accountant who nearly failed math in high school,” she says. “I’ve always believed that sometimes you just have to find your own way to win. And that’s okay. It turns out spreadsheets made a lot more sense to me than algebra ever did.”

Lisa’s path has been one of resilience, persistence and purpose, shaped by both challenges and triumphs. She says the journey to adopting her son Ryder was among her most significant experiences.

“It tested every ounce of patience, faith, and strength I thought I had, but it also revealed a quiet, relentless determination I didn’t know I had,” she says. “That experience deepened my capacity for love, taught me to trust the process, and showed me that the most meaningful things often come from the most challenging paths. It shaped how I show up every day at home, at work, and in life with more empathy, gratitude, and a willingness to embrace the ordinary and the unexpected.”

Working in a predominantly male industry, Lisa says she’s learned to lead with fairness and authenticity.

“I’ve grown into my role through a lot of trial and error, learning to trust my own direction along the way,” she says. “I hope my leadership leaves a mark of fairness, that everyone, in every position, feels valued and recognized for the role they play in our shared success. If I can show that confidence and growth come from persistence, authenticity, and a willingness to learn, then I hope others feel inspired to trust their own path, even when it looks a little different.”

She adds that her growth hasn’t come from a single challenge, but from many smaller ones that taught her patience and confidence.

“Growing into who I am today took patience and a lot of learning from my mistakes,” she says. “I had to learn to trust my instincts, to speak up, and to give myself grace when things didn’t go as planned. The confidence I have now was earned through experience, through trial and error, persistence, and the guidance of people who believed in me along the way.”

When asked how she hopes to be remembered, Lisa answers with humility and heart.

“I hope they say I made people feel seen and heard, that I was approachable, fair, and genuinely cared about their perspective,” she says. “Success, to me, isn’t just about titles or achievements, it’s about how you make others feel and the respect you show for the work everyone contributes. If I’ve done that, I’ll consider my career a success.”

Her motivation, she says, comes from family — the foundation that fuels everything she does.

“My dad believed in me first and supported me even when it meant allowing me to fail,” she says. “My husband has been my anchor, encouraging me no matter how big or abstract my dreams might be. And my kids remind me every day why the work matters. Our daughter, now 16, inspires me with her growing independence, and Ryder, our 7-year-old miracle, is proof that the hardest roads can lead to the most beautiful destinations. They are the reason I give my best every day because they are the most meaningful chapter of my story.”