Stroke of Success: Roderick Jefferson’s Journey from Corporate Powerhouse to Life Changing Resilience
- Tosca DiMatteo
- Oct 28
- 3 min read
It's easy to get caught up in career success, chasing titles, deals, and accolades without noticing the toll it takes on our minds and bodies. For Roderick Jefferson, a globally recognized sales enablement leader and keynote speaker, success came with immense pressure, pressures he carried silently until a very near-fatal stroke in 2021 forced him to stop and reconsider everything.
I had the privilege of an open and heartfelt conversation with Roderick about his incredible journey; a story not just about survival but about rewriting what success truly means. From building a trailblazing career at industry giants like Oracle, Salesforce, and PayPal, to confronting the loneliness of "being the only one" in leadership rooms, to embracing faith, family, and joy after his stroke, Roderick invites us to think differently about how we lead and live.
His new book, Stroke of Success, dives deeper into his personal story and the profound lessons he’s learned along the way. For anyone feeling overwhelmed by the relentless pace of work, or questioning their own definition of achievement, this episode and book offer clarity, compassion, and courage.
Taking the Wheel: Owning Your Career Path
Roderick’s journey didn’t follow the expected trajectory. Early in his career, he made the bold choice to turn down a traditional promotion because it didn’t feel right. Instead, he proposed a new role that allowed him to teach others how to sell in a way that felt authentic and impactful. This decision to drive his own path shaped the next 30 years of his career, where he rose through sales and enablement leadership roles across major tech companies. It’s a powerful reminder to question the “silver platters” of opportunity and to create a career aligned with your strengths and values.
Breaking Barriers While Carrying a Heavy Burden
Roderick was often the only Black executive in many boardrooms. He speaks candidly about the weight of representing possibility for others and the responsibility to open doors for the next generation. His success was not only personal but a gateway for others in underrepresented communities. The strength he found in mentors and sponsors fueled his rise, but also deepened his commitment to lifting others as he climbed.
A Stroke That Reset Everything
On the surface, Roderick’s life seemed like the definition of achievement, but underneath, the stress was breaking him down. In October 2021, while traveling for work during the height of the pandemic, he suffered a stroke. The physical and emotional journey that followed was harrowing. He temporarily lost speech, battled the limits of his own body, and faced mortality head-on. But from this darkest period emerged a new mission: to prioritize faith, family, friends, and fun—things that often fell by the wayside in the rush for professional success.
Roderick’s message is clear: success without balance is no success at all. He urges us not to wait for a crisis to reevaluate what we value. Instead, he encourages ongoing self-care, mindfulness, and courageous leadership that makes space for real lives behind the titles.
What You Can Learn From Roderick’s Story
The value of owning your career choices and shaping a path that fits YOUR true self.
How to acknowledge and carry the responsibility that comes with breaking new ground.
The importance of listening to your body and mind before it’s too late, and the grace it takes to rebuild your life with a new vision of success.
If you or someone you know is caught up in the hustle and maybe ignoring important signals from your health or heart, I encourage you to listen to this episode of The Unlock Lab and dive into Stroke of Success, Roderick Jefferson’s compelling new book, which is out now. It’s a story of survival, transformation, and ultimately thriving with purpose. Roderick Jefferson’s story is more than a memoir, it’s a blueprint for anyone ready to face adversity head-on, redefine what success means, and live with greater balance and joy.
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