As the only African-American student in my class I can certainly identify the national shortage for STEM professionals of color in the workplace. For four years I have received training and guidance from the best luminaries in the arts. I quickly developed an understanding of how and why many minority students do not pursue and excel in STEM/STEAM professions. Simply put, the opportunities do not exist. If, in my case, I was the only black student in my class within the last two decades (not the fifties) I wondered if this was a unique situation or a national crisis. As a stylist in my downtime I had the fortune to meet many Hollywood elite celebrities and the storeowners of the places they often frequented in search of gowns to attend their A-List functions. It was during one visit where I had the opportunity to meet the owner of the boutique who developed the infamous white sequined glove that Michael Jackson made his signature trademark which has glossed the covers of many magazine covers and cd's. Yes, engineers are the designers behind the scenes who produce the products we have all come to know and love. Everything we consume, from electric vehicles to cell phones are created from the thoughts, ideas, and concepts of STEM professionals. And yes, by all accounts the United States is in desperate need of new, innovative ideas. So much so that former U.S. President Barak Obama questioned this little-known phenomenon. He asked, "Where are the innovators?" and called for increased attention to developing STEM talent to meet the urgent needs of the U.S. economy. Scholars from all over the world responded to his call for more engineers to enter the workforce. For a moment I pondered, had the entire world overlooked the beauty and fiercely competitive spirit of STEM professionals? If a U.S. President serving in the highest office of the land has noticed this shortfall then surely the rest of the world has also noticed. In my experience this represents a grave opportunity to improve the quality of life for society, in general, by creating a bridge for people of color to openly contribute to the innovative ecosystem that undergirds thriving economies. In my lifetime I have witnessed the first African-American generation of thought leaders who have paved the way for many others. Of them I have witnessed the first African-American thought leaders and change-agents make a phenomenal impact. In office I have lived to see our first African American U.S. President Barack Obama, and first African-America female Vice-President Kamal Harris supported by the first U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Katanji Brown-Jackson. More recently, Maryland Governor West Moore and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser have assumed the ranks of prominent leadership positions in a way that has fueled the demand to recruit minority professionals for leadership positions. For the last eight years I have focused my research on addressing this little known dilemma. By interviewing minority executives across the country I now have a clear understanding of why President Obama highlighted the demand for STEM professionals. I am not sure whether being the only African-American in my class shaped my perspective or laid the groundwork for me to aspire to new horizons in education. By focusing on the world in which we live I have grown to new heights. I now understand why my early experiences mandated attention to challenging topics such as global warming, climate control, and water scarcity. As a POC it is my responsibility to share the results of my dissertation which may someday impact future leaders.