First, you learn. Then you learn some more. Then you keep on learning.

My philosophy of ongoing education is more than just a mantra: It’s the secret to success in any endeavor. It has helped me as an attorney in private practice, as a former member of the city council of Houston as the city’s first Black controller and chief financial officer, as a public speaker, and as a mentor to early career, diverse attorneys.

While serving in government in an elected capacity, I always considered myself a lawyer on loan. The city of Houston has term limits so it was easy to recognize that an exit strategy would need to be executed. Learning all I could from a multi-layered organization, while serving my community, gave me the proverbial best of both worlds. The foray back to a full-time private practice was inevitable, yet eagerly anticipated.

Throughout my career, I have challenged myself to take on responsibilities for which I was not a recognized expert. To be clear, I am not recommending that anyone—myself included—jump into new territory completely unprepared. But my own career experiences have demonstrated the value of...

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