The Uncompromise Podcast: Transformative Leadership Advice From Change Agents

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, an...

Lisa Gardner chats with Jimmy Hart, Founder of Hart Global Industries, about a powerful framework called R.A.I. (Respect, Affirmation and Inclusion).  

Jimmy shares how his early experiences growing up during desegregation and mentorship from African American leaders shaped his passion for fostering respect, affirmation and inclusion in the communities he serves. He discusses how the R.A.I. framework can be implemented in schools t...

Lisa Gardner chats with Shonn Evans Brown, Chief Compliance Officer Of Heidelberg Materials North America, about the benefits of balance between adaptability and authenticity in professional settings. 

Shonn emphasizes the importance of building genuine relationships, fostering trust, and engaging in meaningful conversations to bridge differences. She also highlights the challenges of being "othered" in professional spaces and advo...

Lisa Gardner chats with Shellye Archambeau, author of "Unapologetically Ambitious," who shares the key traits she looks for in leaders, including intellectual curiosity, trasformative leadership, a desire to learn, and the ability to genuinely care.  

Shellye discusses navigating change by creating trust and empowerment, allowing teams to innovate. She recounts risks she took, from leading an initiative at IBM despite lacking exper...

Lisa Gardner chats with former Dallas mayor and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to discuss his unique perspective on defining great leadership and transformative leadership.  

Ambassador Kirk emphasizes the importance of respect, empowerment, and surrounding oneself with diverse, talented teams. Ambassador Ron Kirk also reflects on his own career journey, highlighting the mentors who opened doors and the importance of paying it ...

Lisa Gardner chats with Rosilyn Houston, Santander US CHRO, Senior Executive Vice President, about human-centric leadership, preparedness, human connection, and embracing growth opportunities shaped her career.  

Rosilyn discusses leading through the challenges of COVID-19 and an organizational divestment, relying on her faith to guide her team with compassion. She also addresses gender disparity in corporate leadership, advocating...

Lisa Gardner chats with Leah Williams of digitalundivided to explore why many people show resistance to change, even though they have the ability to make it happen.  

Leah discusses her unconventional career path, emphasizing how curiosity, perseverance, and key relationships shaped her journey. She highlights systemic barriers for women of color in entrepreneurship and introduces the Capital Access Network (CAPEX network), a colla...

Lisa Gardner chats with  Paul R. Genender, a Chambers USA ranked trial attorney, on leadership, ethics, and integrity in his personal and professional life. 

Paul shares how his parents' values shaped his leadership style, emphasizing honesty, directness, and the importance of challenging conversations. He discusses balancing high expectations with unconditional love as a father and how this informs his leadership approach. Paul re...

Lisa Gardner chats with John Tarnoff, a former DreamWorks Executive and current  reinvention career coach about how to maintain integrity while building a strong network and ageism in the workplace. 

John recounts personal experiences and offers valuable advice on how to navigate the workforce, emphasizing the significance of knowing your unique value and leveraging it in your professional journey. John discusses the power of netwo...

Lisa Gardner chats with Hugh Allen, the newly appointed Head of U.S. Commercial Real Estate at TD Bank about business ethics, and how to balance it against the need for profit.  

Hugh shares his journey from a commercial real estate lender to a leader of leaders, highlighting the evolution of his leadership style. He also dives into the importance of personal values in leadership, the impact of corporate culture, and the complexiti...

Lisa Gardner is joined by Michael Ford, Senior Vice President of Global Real Estate and Security at AT&T to discuss transformative leadership, business analysis, corporate real estate, innovation and dedication to operational excellence.  Michael shares insights from his transformative role at Microsoft, overseeing global workplace services, security, and risk mitigation for over 200,000 employees. He delves into his early inf...

Lisa Gardner chats with Anton Vincent, President of Mars Wrigley North America about his journey from junior professional to senior leader, emphasizing the importance of overcoming imposter syndrome and how you can lead with authenticity and intentionality in communication.    Anton also discusses strategies for emerging leaders to overcome imposter syndrome and emphasizes recognizing one's unique value. Plus, Anton explores the ev...

Lisa Gardner is joined by Darren L. James, President and Equity Partner at KAI Enterprises, to delve into his visionary approach to community development through inclusive design in architecture.  From his strategic vision for KAI Enterprises' national growth to his pivotal role in transforming spaces like Fair Park in Dallas, Darren shares candid insights into overcoming challenges and building trust within under-invested communi...

Lisa Gardner is joined by Brooke Armstrong, President of Advisory Services for Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas at CBRE to discuss her creative strategies for expanding market share, fostering diverse thought leadership, and empowering her team to innovate and collaborate with a phrase she’s taken on: “Have Strong Opinions Loosely Held”.  Reflecting on her upbringing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Brooke credits her parents, particularly her fa...

Lisa Gardner is joined by Kimberly and Ansley Carlisle, a mother-daughter duo, to discuss law, venture capital, leadership, faith and how to work around intimidation when you don’t think your voice is welcome in a boardroom meeting.  From Kimberly's distinguished career as Chief Legal Officer for major international airports to Ansley's dynamic role in venture capital at Mark Cuban Companies, the duo brings a wealth of wisdom and ...

Lisa Garnder is joined by Christine Perez, the award-winning editor of DCEO magazine to discuss her journey through the evolving landscape of business journalism, her unwavering commitment to excellence, the inspirational stories that have shaped her career, and balancing the journalism code of ethics with personal gain or sensationalism.  Together, they chat business journalism, exploring the significance of confidence and passio...

Lisa Gardner is joined by Vicki Blanton, Assistant Vice President and Senior Legal Counsel for AT&T to discuss transformative leadership through mentorship, availability, and empathy.   Vicki shares her journey, from founding the Village Giving Circle at the Texas Women's Foundation to serving on the SMU Dedman School of Law executive board. Celebrated for her community and justice work, Vicki stresses her dedication to divers...

Lisa Gardner is joined by Ronald C. Parker, a former NFL player and current trailblazer in securities, transformative leadership, and diversity advocacy. As former president and CEO of The National Association of Securities Professionals and The Executive Leadership Council, Ron shares his remarkable journey from the NFL, to the corporate world, and then to nonprofit leadership.  Their conversation delves into the critical interse...

Lisa Gardner is joined by Terrence and Tim Maiden. Terrence, chairman of the Maiden Foundation, and Tim, a titan in banking and education sectors, discuss their vision for ebing change agents, creating lasting change in underserved communities, addressing systemic inequities, and fostering inclusivity.   Terrence and Tim delve into their shared history, from collegiate football triumphs to individual accolades and collective impac...