I became a single mom of twins when my fiancé died unexpectedly. Grief rewired my ambition.

• After my fiancé's sudden death, I became a single mom of twins overnight. • Grief transformed my priorities, fueling growth in my career and personal life. • I've also found purpose in reimagining the future for myself and my children.

Most of my weekday mornings follow the same script. I pull into the drop-off line outside of my twins' elementary school, double-check their backpacks and take a sip of my coffee from my bright pink Yeti cup before it cools. But on a rainy November morning, sitting in the slow-moving line of cars, I found myself deep in thought.

Before the doors opened, my twins, 6, reached for my hand, so we could do our quick handshake, a ritual we created to help them walk into kindergarten with confidence and a way to let them know I will be back to get them. My