Lisa Gardner is joined by D Magazine’s power couple, Marissa and Michael Horne, to discuss leadership, love, and purpose. The conversation delves into their remarkable journey as a married couple, their professional achievements, and their approach to leadership across different sectors.

Marissa, with a background in tech and financial services, and Michael, the President and CEO of Parkland Health Foundation, share intimate insights into their relationship, family dynamics, and how they support each other's individual and collective goals. They discuss their innovative approach to family management, including weekly family meetings and assigned roles, and explore the importance of inclusive leadership, generational shifts in the workplace, and maintaining authenticity in professional environments.

Also in this episode:

• Supportive Partnership: Marissa and Michael emphasize the importance of being each other's biggest supporters, with Michael often dreaming bigger for Marissa and encouraging her to step out of her comfort zone.

• Intentional Family Management: They implement weekly family meetings and assign specific roles (like Director of Operations and Director of Health and Nutrition) to effectively manage family logistics and personal development.

• Inclusive Leadership: Both stress the importance of creating workplace environments where everyone, regardless of level, feels empowered to share their perspectives and contribute to decision-making.

• Generational Workplace Shifts: They discuss how younger generations are pushing organizations to be more transparent, collaborative, and purpose-driven, requiring leaders to adapt their management styles.

• Faith and Purpose: Michael and Marissa ground their work and personal life in their faith, believing they have a higher purpose to serve others and create positive change in their community.

• Continuous Learning and Growth: They approach both personal and professional challenges by breaking down complex tasks, staying flexible, and continuously learning from each other and their experiences.

• Balancing Individual Strengths: The couple leverages their different professional backgrounds and skills (Marissa in tech and Michael in social services) to support each other's individual goals while maintaining a strong, unified partnership.

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Lisa Gardner is a corporate real estate thought leader and co-founder of OMS Strategic Advisors, LLC, focusing on real estate, strategy, and workforce development. With over 25 years of experience, she drives profitability by optimizing human capital, leading diversity initiatives, and crafting corporate strategies. She has managed national accounts for Fortune 500 companies like Wal-Mart and AT&T, and revitalized multicultural marketing for JCPenney. Lisa serves on the Executive Board of SMU's Cox School of Business and contributes to DCEO Magazine. She is active in her community at Gateway Church and lives in Plano, Texas, with her husband and two children.

Lisa Gardner is joined by Jimmie James, former ExxonMobil executive and author of "Playing from the Rough." James shares his remarkable journey from poverty in East Texas to becoming a senior executive, using golf as a metaphor for life's challenges.

He discusses his book's inspiration, which includes honoring his mother, preserving his family's story, and promoting understanding across different backgrounds.

James explores how golf became a lens for examining race, class, and human connection, detailing his post-retirement project of playing the top 100 golf courses in the United States. He candidly shares professional lessons about leadership, integrity, and treating people with compassion, emphasizing the importance of bringing one's whole self to work.

Also in this episode:

• Perseverance Matters Most: Success isn't about having special talents, but about never quitting and consistently working hard, even when facing significant challenges.

• Dream Bigger Than You Think Possible: James advises that people should dream as big as they can, and they'll still likely be dreaming too small. The only real limitation is one's own imagination.

• Golf as a Unifying Force: The sport can break down social barriers, allowing people from different backgrounds to connect and understand each other beyond stereotypes.

• Principles Over Preferences: Be firm on core principles like integrity, but remain flexible about preferences and specific methods of achieving goals.

• Bring Your Whole Self to Work: Employees are most productive when they can be authentic and don't have to expend energy "code-switching" or hiding parts of themselves.

• Faith as a Guiding Force: Faith means believing in something greater than yourself and understanding that you're equipped to overcome any challenge you face.

• Challenges Don't Define You: Your circumstances don't determine your potential. What matters is how you handle and respond to those challenges, turning rough patches into opportunities for growth.

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Lisa Gardner is a corporate real estate thought leader and co-founder of OMS Strategic Advisors, LLC, focusing on real estate, strategy, and workforce development. With over 25 years of experience, she drives profitability by optimizing human capital, leading diversity initiatives, and crafting corporate strategies. She has managed national accounts for Fortune 500 companies like Wal-Mart and AT&T, and revitalized multicultural marketing for JCPenney. Lisa serves on the Executive Board of SMU's Cox School of Business and contributes to DCEO Magazine. She is active in her community at Gateway Church and lives in Plano, Texas, with her husband and two children.

Lisa Gardner is joined by Gino Johnson, CEO of Champions for Veterans, to discuss his inspiring mission to help veterans secure the benefits they deserve.

After witnessing his father's 17-year struggle to receive proper VA compensation, Gino created an organization dedicated to educating and empowering veterans through their benefits process.

Hear a deeply personal story of family, service, and commitment as Gino discusses the challenges veterans face transitioning to civilian life, the critical importance of understanding their unique skills, and how his organization is changing lives one veteran at a time. From navigating VA claims to addressing mental health challenges, this episode offers a compelling look at supporting those who have sacrificed for our country.

Also in this episode:

• Personal Motivation: Gino was inspired to start Champions for Veterans after witnessing his father's 17-year struggle to receive proper VA benefits, missing out on over $600,000 in potential support.

• Veterans' Transition Challenges: Many veterans struggle to translate their military skills to corporate environments, facing communication and leadership style differences.

• VA Benefits Impact: Proper VA benefits can be life-changing, potentially providing medical coverage, financial support, and educational opportunities for veterans and their families.

• Servant Leadership: Gino emphasizes cultivating leadership by giving team members opportunities to grow, providing training, and offering constructive feedback.

• Holistic Support: The organization focuses on more than just financial benefits, addressing mental health challenges like PTSD and supporting veterans' overall well-being.

• Technology Solution: Champions for Veterans developed the VA Claim Builder app to help veterans more easily navigate the benefits application process.

• Mission-Driven Approach: The organization aims to help 100,000 veterans this year, with a long-term goal of simplifying and improving the veterans' benefits system.

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Connect With Gino Johnson

Email at gino@championsforveterans.com.

If you're a Veteran or know a Veteran, download our comprehensive guide to determining your eligibility for VA Disability Benefits here (https://www.championsforveterans.com/comprehensiveguide) and join our new platform, VA Claim Builder, to get started building your claim. https://vaclaimbuilder.com

About Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner is a corporate real estate thought leader and co-founder of OMS Strategic Advisors, LLC, focusing on real estate, strategy, and workforce development. With over 25 years of experience, she drives profitability by optimizing human capital, leading diversity initiatives, and crafting covrporate strategies. She has managed national accounts for Fortune 500 companies like Wal-Mart and AT&T, and revitalized multicultural marketing for JCPenney. Lisa serves on the Executive Board of SMU's Cox School of Business and contributes to DCEO Magazine. She is active in her community at Gateway Church and lives in Plano, Texas, with her husband and two children.

A Son's Courageous Quest to Restore Dignity for Our Veterans | feat. Gino Johnson

The Uncompromise Podcast: Transformative Leadership Advice From Business Executives & Coporate Trailblazers

Lisa Gardner chats with Nina Vaca, the CEO of Pinnacle Group to discuss her personal journey and the key principles that have guided her success, including the importance of a growth mindset, courage, and transparency.

Nina draws powerful parallels between her experiences as a triathlete and the leadership lessons she has applied in building her company. She emphasizes the value of practicing virtues like resilience, humility, and risk-taking, and how she has instilled these qualities in her organization. Nina also speaks passionately about the significance of diversity and inclusion, explaining how Pinnacle has made this a core part of their culture. She provides concrete advice for companies looking to foster true inclusivity, highlighting the need for intentionality, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Also in this episode:

• Courage is essential for leadership - Nina defines courage as the strength and ability to do the uncomfortable. She has cultivated courage through surrounding herself with a supportive network and drawing on her experiences as a triathlete.

• Practicing virtues builds resilience - Activities like triathlons allow Nina to practice virtues like resilience, humility, and risk-taking. She then applies these lessons to her business, helping her and her team navigate challenges.

• Responding vs. reacting is crucial - Nina emphasizes the importance of thoughtful responses over knee-jerk reactions. She has instilled this mindset in her organization and personal life, encouraging a pause to consider the best course of action.

• Seek "higher ground" in communication - Rather than searching for common ground, Nina advocates finding "higher ground" where you can seek to understand others without judgment, even if you don't agree with them.

• Diversity is a core value, not just a box to check - At Pinnacle, diversity is embedded into the culture from the top down. Nina ensures there is intentionality, accountability, and continuous improvement around building a diverse and inclusive workforce.

• Leaders must transform themselves first - As Pinnacle has grown, Nina has had to continuously evolve as a leader. She has invested heavily in her own professional development to ensure she can guide the company effectively.

• Developing people, not just companies - Nina's ultimate goal is to be remembered as someone who built people up, not just built successful businesses. She sees her role as creating the conditions for others to thrive.

• Transparency and vulnerability are strengths - Nina is willing to share her personal stories and struggles, believing that this openness can inspire and teach others. She sees transparency as essential for effective leadership.

• Leveraging a "growth mindset" - Throughout her career, Nina has maintained a growth mindset, constantly seeking to learn, adapt, and improve. This mindset has been a key driver of her success and that of her organization.