Veronica was named executive director of the Manatee Community Foundation in August 2023. Prior to that role she was a senior vice president and COO of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. And before that she worked in human resources in health care, including managing 1,300 employees at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton.

Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Veronica talked about some of her toughest leadership challenges under pressure — such as overseeing a nighttime hospital evacuation in a blackout. They talked about her best advice — namely, to fail forward and never wallow in what goes wrong. And they talked about how she immigrated with her family to the United States from Argentina when she was 19, initially a move she didn’t want to make.

3 Takeaways:

1. (11:50) Hurricane Irma evacuation experience
2. (16:35) Good leaders are inspirational, collaborative, and can cast and execute a vision
3. (20:00) Be who you are meant to be

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(00:25) Introducing Veronica Thames, Executive Director of Manatee Community Foundation

(04:20) Finding your footing in a new country

(07:20) Leadership experience at HCA

(10:45) Handling extreme pressure

(13:40) Joining the Manatee Community Foundation

(16:20) Leadership characteristics

(18:00) Leadership advice

(21:25) Setback that you learned from

(24:10) What is coming up for Manatee Community Foundation?

(26:45) Rapid fire questions

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

Dr. Larry R. Thompson became president of Ringling College of Art and Design in July 1999. As the head of this pre-eminent art and design college, he is transforming the way people think about art and design and why businesses must infuse creativity to thrive.

A lawyer and an educator, Thompson served as Special Assistant to the President of The Ohio State University, President/CEO of Flint Cultural Center in Michigan, and was the founding Executive Director/CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio prior to joining Ringling College.

He is the former president of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design and currently serves as a member of its executive committee, is chair of the President’s Council of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, and serves on boards of many local arts and civic organizations.

3 Takeaways:

1. (13:15) It’s not about the leader, it’s about the people around the leader
2. (17:15) Leaders need to be able to listen
3. (18:05) Don’t try to be the smartest person in the room, be part of something larger than yourself

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(00:25) 25 years as President of Ringling College of Art and Design

(01:40) How Larry got to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

(05:10) What was Ringling College like in 1999?

(07:30) Growing Ringling College

(11:20) Shattering the myth of the starving artist

(13:00) Navigating the pandemic

(16:00) What do you look for in leaders?

(17:55) Leadership advice

(19:10) Best and hardest parts of being a college president

(22:10) Infusing Ringling College into the community

(23:00) What is next for Ringling College?

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

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Robert Hensley has been president and CEO of Integrity Employee Leasing since 2021. The company handles back-office services for small and mid-sized businesses, from payroll processing and workers’ compensation coverage to timekeeping and employee benefits management. The Charlotte County company has clients with employees in 20 states. Prior to Integrity, Robert was a franchisee for First Watch in the Miami area; Taco Bell across Southwest Florida; and Dunkin’ Donuts in the Atlanta area.

Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Robert talk about his approach to leading others, what he looks for in a leader (trust and integrity are big ones) and how he has overcome mistakes and setbacks. They also talked about his get-after-it approach to work, starting when he was a teenager at Burger King through when he led major expansion initiatives as a franchisee for Taco Bell and Dunkin’ Donuts.

3 Takeaways:

1. (06:10) If you put your name on it, make sure it is right
2. (11:10) Producing producers is the greatest part of being a leader
3. (13:43) Let people do what they do without interference

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio

(00:25) Introducing Robert Hensley, President and CEO of Integrity Employee Leasing

(03:25) How did you get started in this?

(05:05) How did you have the work ethic as a teenager?

(07:00) Becoming a franchisee

(09:10) Learning experiences

(11:00) Best parts of being a leader

(12:38) Hardest part of being a leader

(13:28) Leadership advice

(14:48) Mentors

(17:50) What is coming up for Integrity Employee Leasing?

(19:40) Rapid fire questions

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.