Tell us about yourself and your background.
Many would reference me as an empath and certainly one who prefers solitude for its peace. I would mainly agree with others from this view as well. My background is one from a loving family with which I consider myself eternally blessed to have both a mother and father who cared to focus on the eternal things with us over the material. I have a younger brother who served in the Marines and the premise for why we do the work we do. My life path took me through an uphill challenge and that inner value kept me anchored to make the best decisions at those stages of my life, decisions that I felt were right.
During this time, I completed schooling with a Bachelors and MBA. Along with co-founding and founding two companies to reach the Inc 5000 in 10 years, with one multiple years.
In addition, I have authored a book and co-authored a few others. Some of the designations from these authorships include USA Today and Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author. As well as a book award finalist for my solo-authored book. Born in Massachusetts and later raised in Huntsville AL life has certainly taught me that intangible things are those that tend to last and should be cherished.
How did you get started in business?
When my brother returned home from war, I had not seen him in 4 years and missed him dearly. With a laptop and bWhen my brother returned home from war, I had not seen him in 4 years and missed him dearly. With a laptop and borrowed vanity desk from my mom we started the previous company that got me into this business. We utilized the time for us not seeing each other and were driven by seeking to help others. The time spent in “office hours” were some of my fondest memories as my brother and I are very close.
What is it that you do?
We are a program management and acquisition company that works as a systems integrator to help others fulfill their missions from procurement, supply chain, and logistics to emerging technologies.
What is your mission?
To help our Warfighters to return home safely.
What are you most proud of achieving in your career?
In career terms, I have been most proud of the connections made and those who have benefited to positively impact In career terms, I have been most proud of the connections made and those who have benefited to positively impact their lives despite the hardships I faced in reaching my current state. It would come later on those words of gratitude from others on their encounters with me that helped them and to know the uphill battle fought and times wanting to stop that someone else succeeded because of it has been deeply meaningful. In terms of a tangible accolade making the Inc 5000 during the pandemic years and completing my book to pass on to our son is one that stands out.
What interesting projects are you currently working on?
I am working on emerging technologies and producing new products to help others. It continues to bring me joy knowing that our tangible efforts will support intangible impact for more people.
Tell us about your leadership philosophy?
To live anchored in the wisdom of the heart. In my opinion, I feel those who encapsulate empathy, compassion, accountability, logic, and emotion to elevate those around them to become better are the ones who stand out.
What is your favorite leadership quote?
My favorite quote is from John Bunyan, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
How has the business leadership landscape changed?
From my personal experience, I believe that there is a focus on the importance of being anchored in wisdom of heart From my personal experience, I believe that there is a focus on the importance of being anchored in the wisdom of heart to encapsulate empathy and compassion to positively impact others to achieve more. For those who do embrace this way of living, they are in some ways seeing quantifiable results from more engaged team members, revenue growth, and customer satisfaction. In my opinion, I feel as though the ecosystem of impact extends beyond their own leadership, the walls in which they operate but also to the suppliers and support partners that encounter them. Every encounter with another allows for this impact to be made.
Why is empathy an overlooked skill in business management and how can it be harnessed?
In my opinion and experience, there is a tendency to view it as a weakness. Some view it as a path towards attack or to take advantage of. I have certainly had my own encounters with the former. There are strong bonds formed from its embrace and due to the longer path to building, over time the vulnerability one places themselves in to show this to others may impact others to embrace its gift. There is accountability in empathy and compassionate exchange reveals the kindness in it for difficult conversations or situations. I believe that active listening is a great place to start. Hearing and seeking to understand another position without being judgemental can be impactful. It may challenge one’s bias that may have been expressed or suppressed. For example, things can be written or said that truly have another meaning to reveal the truth in actions, but if a performed bias is anchored in, one may be listening to correct or simply support that bias.
Can you explain the concept of servant leadership?
To me, this means to live and lead in service to others so that you bring the best out in them despite their own perceptions of themselves, you, and what others may think. It is what I view as one being anchored in the wisdom of the heart to utilize the actions necessary for that specific person, group, or situation to collectively impact others for the better. A service to others for something greater than one’s own desired goal.
What are some examples of thoughtful communication in a leadership role?
Take time in communicating others by addressing their feelings for both great or poor performance, can be meaningful. My personal stance on this is very performance as being a continual growth factor that can be enhanced daily over it being poor but rather incremental elevations. Thoughtful communication takes ownership of situations and understand when to take a conversation privatTaking time to communicate with others by addressing their feelings for both great or poor performance, can be meaningful. My personal stance on this is seeing every performance as being a continual growth factor that can be enhanced daily, over it being poor but rather incremental elevations. Thoughtful communication takes ownership of situations and understanding when to take a conversation private for improvements specifically. As well as when to elevate others publicly. It tends to forego the “I want” for more of an inclusive style. I don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all all as much as it is what one recognizes positively impacts their teams moving in compassionate exchange.
How does being an empathetic/compassionate leader influence company culture?
Embracing empathy and compassion from being anchored in wisdom of the heart inEmbracing empathy and compassion from being anchored in wisdom of the heart in my experience tends to plant seeds that create an environment that is collaborative and allows for growth to flourish that is sustainable.
What are your goals for the next 5 years?
In the next five years I would like to have my own foundation for giving back that I spend dedicated time towards. I In the next five years, I would like to have my own foundation for giving back that I spend dedicated time towards. I was recently introduced to another partner who has one and I was moved by how they operate it to help others. To leave a legacy in this manner in addition to what I am doing now would be deeply meaningful. It is where I find my greatest joy in helping others and doing it well resourced is on my bucket list to do.
Where can readers find out more about you?
