Highlights from My First 10 In the Cut Leadership Conversations
Not surprisingly, I’ve learned new things as I’ve spoken with my In the Cut guests. I’ve learned about them in new dimensions and how and why leadership found them. I’ve learned what pumps them up during difficult leadership challenges and what they will be celebrating next year. Here are a few of my favorites.
“My name means ‘the one who brings shelter’, and my Dad always knew that I’d live my name.”
From Dr. Nwando Anyaoku, physician executive, board director, keynote and TEDx speaker who shared her origin story when asked what her first known leadership moment was… Nwando means covering. It means shelter. She provides shelter as the eldest child, as the big sister, as the doctor, as the leader. The recurring theme is that’s who she is. All that tied together all the different aspects of her. So, she declared that is my calling and it was given to her on my birthday. Here’s the rest of her leadership story.
From Lisha Bell, an angel investor, fund co-founder, podcast host and Head of PayPal’s Economic Opportunity Fund about her leadership superpower… she builds communities wherever she goes. She does that because she’s a communal person and because we work better when we are in relationships with people. It’s easier to create meaningful alliances when we know who they are, where they are from, how they think and what they care about. Hear more of Lisha’s voice here.
“Leadership is much more about taking care versus taking charge.”
From Venu Gupta, CEO, Founder, Democracy Enthusiast and Coach who when asked how her identity informs her leadership style shared… At her best, she puts a premium on people’s spirit which allows her to see how the ecosystem of a group is doing. To assess the system and figure out which parts need care and which parts need motivation. Then she can ensure that they’re all moving in the same direction and people feel protected. There’s a virtuous cycle when people know that what they think matters to how an outcome is determined or designed. And when people see that the result of participation connects them to the outcome, often they are more motivated to figure out how to work together. Continue learning about Venu here.
From my 1st guest Greg Webb, a semi-retired beverage industry executive, entrepreneur and advisory board member… reflecting on his time as an entrepreneur, Greg shared that it was an Anheuser Busch distributorship, and fortunately, a very easy business to establish. Even though it was kind of turnkey, it was still a big challenge because he thought he knew more than he actually did about how to deal with, manage and motivate people. He quickly learned the importance of listening to people and responding to what they were saying as opposed to assuming that he knew what the answer was. It was a very good learning experience for the young man who came from the inner city of St. Louis and was now in the real world. Read more about Greg here.
“I’m comfortable saying what needs to be said, when it needs to be said and how it needs to be said.”
From Tsitsi Hampton, product development director and senior merchandise manager… when asked how her identity informs her leadership style, she shared that culturally, the concept of respect, whether your elders, which is huge, or someone simply because they are a human being, was ingrained in her as a young age. It’s how she lives and what she taught my children. The manners of “please and thank you” are two of the simplest phrases to say that mean so much, yet we often don’t take the time to say. Read Tsitsi’s story here.
From Sena Kwawu, c-suite executive, operator and board member when asked about when he came to know that he loves solving big problems shared… that there was a stage in his career when hewas “made” to take a role. He was a finance guy planning to become the next CFO and was asked to do something with Lean Six Sigma in the investment arm of an insurance company. His mandate was to go find something broken that management was unaware of and fix it. He had all the resources he needed yet fought the opportunity like crazy. It was where he learned that there is always a problem embedded in a business that their experiences and processes don’t show. But if you follow the data correctly, you will unlock a cost, revenue or value opportunity. Now he always looks for the things that are hidden in the data. Read about Sena here.
“What I offer is the belief in change.”
From Ada Williams Prince, philanthropy strategist and programmatic executive when asked how she knew she was one who could ultimately close the gap between what is and what is right when working in inequitable systems shared… she didn’t know! She looked around and there was nobody there with her. She grew in that space out of underestimation. She grew in that space because people always underestimated her. So, when she looks back at the career she’s had, and the positions that she’s held as a leader, she wonders, “how did I do that?” But then she nearly simultaneously thinks, “wait a minute, I did that because I believed enough in myself from being underestimated.” It wasn’t like she needed to prove that to anyone. It was more about knowing she has more inside to give. Read about that “more inside of her stuff” here.
From Dr. Thane Kreiner, board member, advisor, co-founder and author… when asked what surprises him about leadership, he shared that it’s not a surprise anymore but over the years it’s become a gradual awareness that leadership isn’t about leaders, but the people you are leading. It’s not about you. There are far too many people today who hold leadership in an ego driven framework. Read Thane’s full conversation here.
“A seat at the table comes with responsibility that I am happy to step into.”
From Archita Fritz, strategist, innovator, speaker, podcaster and board member who shared how her identity informs her leadership style… being an only in various professional settings. University, yes. In her internship she was the first woman engineer. The only person of color in a manufacturing plant in Michigan. She became familiar with the only, only, only journey and has a heightened awareness of inclusivity because of this only superpower. A lot of her identity in leadership is recognizing how she uses her seat at the table as an only as a superpower to thrive in those positions versus being a footnote. She helps teams grow, build, hire and innovate and constantly challenges. She doesn’t just sit comfortably and nod her head. A seat at the table comes with responsibility that I am happy to step into. And there’s more here.
From Delida Costin, CEO, TEDx and keynote speaker, former general counsel and CHRO… when asked what quote or song fuels her during leadership challenges, she shared that she started a playlist a few years ago that has its seeds in the music that her grandparents listened to, especially on Sundays. The first songs she put on that list were from people like Mahalia Jackson, Paul Robeson and Leontyne Price. Her playlist has now evolved, not surprisingly, to all kinds of religious and spiritual music and now includes traditional and modern gospel, chants, and global music. It also includes instrumentals like Duke Ellington and his volume of sacred music. All of it has some connection to faith or belief. Read about Delida here.
Let me know who you’d like to hear from below!