My conversation with Errika Fearbry Jones on Beyond The Classroom was a profound journey into the mind of a true systems architect. She guided me through her 25-year career, not as a list of titles, but as a purposeful mission, explaining how her experiences in justice, public schools, and now higher education have given her a unique lens to diagnose what is broken in our systems. I was struck by how she sees her past as a direct blueprint for building a more effective and human-centered future for education.I was particularly moved by her candid, holistic approach to change. She detailed for me the critical need to operate at every level, from intimate family meetings to policy discussions at the mayor's table, arguing that trust on the ground is just as important as influence in the halls of power. Her personal advice to "watch who you walk with" landed with immense weight, framing our associations as a core component of our integrity and our ability to create real change.The entire conversation was elevated by her emotional and informed perspective, especially when she offered a revealing glimpse into elite institutional culture with her brilliant phrase, "the things you don't want to say at Harvard." It underscored her commitment to speaking hard truths anywhere. Errika left me with a powerful call to action: to transform education, we must build with community, lead with integrity, and have the courage to deliver what truly matters.