Kerry Washington is best known as an award winning actor, director, producer and tv star, in her iconic role as Olivia Pope on her hit show, Scandal. Now, Washington is facing some hard truths of her own, as she was hit with a bombshell in 2018. As her book opens, Washington receives a startling text from her mom as she is on her way home. The text reads: “We need to talk.” She then starts to detail the many disturbing scenarios in her mind as to why her mom is insisting on talking, but the “we” insinuating at her father being included in the conversation as well. For Washington, she writes how that is unsual behavior from her mom, and knew something serious must be going on.

It was on that day that a deep dark secret is revealed to Washington that her father whom she has known to have raised her all of her life, is not her biological father. That significant detail is just a synopsis to other subjects pertaining to the unraveling stories of Washington’s life in her New York Times #1 best seller, Memoir: Thicker than Water.

Like most celebrities in the public eye, it takes alot of strength to have your most public lives on display in front of the world. But, for Washington, this has been something up until now that she has been so discreet and great at staying low-key about. However, in this new book, she goes all out discussing her trauma, addictions, abortion and so much more.

It was a pleasure to do a spotlight on Washington’s accolades, and to see her blossom into the impactful woman she is today. She is currently on a 8-city worldwide tour to promote her new book, and I had the opportunity to be in the room as I listened to Tyler Perry moderate the event at Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia.

There were several gems to takeaway. One of the main ones that stood out to me was, whatever you do in your career to become successful, and stay successful is to “find your people,” Washington says. She acknowleged to the audience that Tyler Perry fills the gap when she speaks of finding your people. That is a significant factor in today’s society… when the world can be faced with so many challenges. But, with the right people by your side, the sky is the limit.