Charisse D. Stokes, President of Tidal IT Solutions, LLC, encouraged Troy University graduates to “fail forward” by learning from their setbacks and letting them strengthen their resolve for what’s next.
Stokes spoke to nearly 185 graduates at Troy University’s Montgomery Campus during the spring commencement ceremony Thursday night at the Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts.
“As I stand here before you, I don’t come as someone who is perfect or had no challenges along the way. I come as someone who is committed to growth, discipline and doing the work every single day,” Stokes said. “One of the most important lessons I learned is that you have to learn how to fail forward because at some point, unfortunately failure will show up.”
Stokes said failure showed up early for her when as a college student she lost her scholarship.
“That moment didn’t stop my journey. It actually sharpened it. It forced me to regroup, to refocus and to recommit at an even higher level,” she said. “What I learned was simple but powerful – failure is not the end; failure is feedback. It teaches you; it strengthens you and it prepares you for what’s next. So, when you face setbacks, and I’m sorry but you may, don’t pause, fail forward. Take the lesson, apply it and keep moving with purpose.”
Stokes also encouraged graduates to become comfortable with being uncomfortable because “real growth requires it.”
“At a pivotal point in my journey, I made the decision to start my own business. That decision required me to step into a whole new territory, take ownership and operate again at a much higher level,” she said. “It required discipline; It required consistency; It required true execution. This is what I learned about that, the life that you’re building will always require more from you than where you currently are. You have to stretch in order to grow. You have to rise to meet that next level. For you, that may be stepping into leadership, taking a new job, building something of your own or just taking on an opportunity that demands more of you, I’m here to tell you, lean into it because that is where real progress lives.”
Citing her own family as her inspiration, Stokes told graduates to be intentional about those they surround themselves with.
“Surround yourself with people that elevate you, people who challenge you and people who expect you to operate at your very best,” she said. “When it is your turn, be that person for someone else because when success only benefits you, it’s limited. Success that actually uplifts others, that impact can be absolutely amazing.”
Stokes encouraged graduates to make use of technology as a tool to amplify their impact.
“Today, technology is one of the greatest tools that you have, not as a replacement for your effort but as an amplifier of it,” she said. “The same discipline that helped you get through long nights of studying, that same work ethic, that same commitment to getting it done, those are the qualities that will determine how effectively you use the tools in front of you. Use technology to sharpen your thinking, to increase your efficiency, to solve problems and create better outcomes. But remember this, tools don’t create excellence, people do. So, if you bring discipline, focus and consistency to what you do, technology will actually multiply your impact.”
In closing, Stokes shared with graduates some guidelines she has employed in her own life.
“Show them what right looks like. Show them in how you show up, in how you work, in how you lead because in a world that is moving as fast as this one with so many distractions, people notice consistency. They notice standards. Don’t wait for someone else to define excellence for you, be the example,” she said. “Know your values. Be clear about what and who you represent because when you are grounded in that, no environment, no pressure, no distraction, no opportunity can take you off of your course.”
Finally, she pointed to the Golden Rule as an important guiding point for her life.
“Treat people the way you want to be treated. How you treat people will always matter. It matters in business, it matters in leadership, it matters in your career, and it matters in your life in general,” Stokes said. “Your reputation will be built, not just from what you accomplish, but how you carry yourself along the way. It’s about people’s experience with you that absolutely matters.”
Stokes has led the Montgomery-based information technology consulting firm since 2017, delivering innovative technology, strategic consulting and business development solutions to government and commercial clients.
In addition to her work in the private sector, Stokes serves as the founder and leader of The Alabama Collective, a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating minority tech talent and supporting entrepreneurs across Alabama.
