Embracing the Paradox: A Journey Beyond Boundaries

Growing up in Brooklyn, my mother tried to expose my brothers and me to everything around us: to harness the cornucopia of experiences in New York City. As a result, my life has been a testament to the idea that you can pursue anything, but not everything. Since leaving Brooklyn to attend Choate Rosemary Hall as a member of Prep for Prep 9’s Contingent XV, a program created to place high-performing students of color into some of the country’s top independent schools,  I have been on a journey that has taught me the profound difference between proving and challenging myself. This distinction has been the guiding principle across all the various chapters of my life: from volunteering as a firefighter during my college years to navigating the rigors of Special Operations in the United States Army; from attending law school to contributing to Deloitte consulting, then diving into the startup world as a company’s first legal hire while continuing to serve as a Judge Advocate in the United States Army Reserve, and finally(?), to pursuing an MBA. 

"You can do anything, but you can’t do everything."

Each chapter of my life was chosen not to prove my capabilities to others, but to challenge the very limits of what I thought was possible for myself. As an undergrad at Kenyon College, I volunteered as a firefighter, an experience that taught me about selflessness, teamwork, and the art of staying calm under pressure. It was there, working alongside both students and career firefighters from across the state of Ohio, that I learned the most valuable lessons aren't found in textbooks, but by working with others from different backgrounds and getting hands-on experience.

After college, I joined the Army: another calculated leap into the unknown which became a testament to my belief in the idea of challenging over proving. The grueling physical and mental demands were not hurdles to prove my worth but challenges to overcome, pushing me beyond perceived limitations. That experience ingrained in me a discipline and resilience that law school and the corporate world via Deloitte would later demand in different forms.

Becoming Saatva’s first legal hire led to pursuing an MBA because the experience made me understand both the multifaceted nature of leadership and that my actions as a leader don’t occur in a vacuum. It also taught me the importance of continuous learning. Each step I take is a deliberate challenge to myself to grow, adapt, and contribute to a team in meaningful ways.

All in all, my journey has taught me it’s not about proving myself to the world or following a predefined path but about embracing the uncertainty that comes with challenging oneself. It's about making the tough decisions to leave behind what's comfortable to pursue what's calling you, even if it means stepping into the unknown.  The realization that "you can do anything, but you can’t do everything" became the cornerstone of my personal and professional growth. It taught me to value the process over the accolades, to seek growth over validation (because you won’t always get it and that shouldn’t stop you), and to understand that the true measure of success lies in the impact and experiences that I can create and not in the titles that come with it. 

I encourage everyone, no matter what step you’re at or where you are in your journey, to embrace the fact that the essence of life is not found in proving yourself to others but in challenging yourself to explore the depths of your potential. Your path may diverge from the expected, and that's okay.

- Jarrod Sowell, Chief Reputation Officer and General Counsel, Saatva