Doing it Right: The Stories that Make Us

“I kinda fell into construction.” So says Nikki Morgan, Executive Vice President at TDIndustries. Looking back 23 years she remembered the interview that landed her first job at TD as an executive assistant. It didn’t take long for her to be recognized for outstanding talents and leadership capabilities that led to her current role. Nikki’s story is an example of successfully forging a path in the...

Is your company already a zombie company? As the saying goes, “what got you here won’t get you there.” Terry Jones is the authority in turning DISRUPTION into INNOVATON. He did that for himself, coming from a degree in history to working in marketing and IT at American Airlines to founding Travelocity and Kayak— all from “just doing it and doing it right!” Six months into becoming a travel agent,...

Mentoring Made It Happen Clint Carlos hit the jackpot with mentors. Giving credit to their wise counsel Clint helped start 7 companies while studying Entrepreneurship at Brigham Young University. Already a serial entrepreneur, Clint started his first company in 8 th grade. He and his football buddies filled and sold sandbags to telecom and construction companies. What he learned about hiring and m...

Want your message to have a massive impact? The secret lies in understanding the greatest piece of equipment on the planet – your brain. When we coach, teach, and lead how the brain learns best, change is easier, life is better, and we equip people to reach their full potential. Sherry Yellin is a brain-based learning expert. 20 years ago, Sherry became fascinated with how the brain learns . At th...

Mark Johnson is not only the CEO of JP & Associates— a rapidly growing full-service real estate brokerage firm— he’s a HELLUVA Spartan athlete who never settles for safe. His book, One Helluva Move, is intended to help us get a grip on ways to heighten our effectiveness, hit new highs, and shatter old records. Who better than Mark to embrace these truths! He served our country in Desert Storm,...

How does one become a celebrated fashion designer? What skills will get your noticed? How do you know the trends? What does it take to survive the Covid crisis or other economic downturns? These are some of the questions we asked Levi Palmer of palmer//harding iconic clothing collections. (Levi is offering YOU a 20% discount off your first order - sale or full price! To receive your code, email va...

Cardiologist Dr. Fahmi Farah comes from a culture where women are not typically encouraged to be leaders. Yet, that’s the story here. Dr. Farah’s strong will to become a doctor began when she witnessed first-hand a lineage of heart disease that prematurely took the lives of many family members. Fahmi comes from a lineage of strong women including her grandmother and her mother. Her mother was one...

Discovering his love for photography at an early age, Dewitt Jones is one of America’s top photographers. Twenty years with National Geographic photographing stories around the globe has earned him the reputation as a world-class photojournalist. As a motion picture director, he had two documentary films nominated for Academy Awards before he was thirty. Dewitt has spent the last 20 years speaking...

Is it possible to create intelligence that is digital based? Do you fear Artificial Intelligence? When did it begin? How will humans interact with AI ethically and innovatively? How far has it evolved toward the human experience? Will we have our own AI “buddy”some day? What are Smart Cities? Matthew James Bailey is a global pioneer of Innovation and IoT – the Internet of Things. As he consults wi...

Comedian Tom Dreesen was a scrappy little boy with a shoe-shine box in South Chicago trying to make money for his 7 brothers and sisters. Tom later earned the right to front Frank Sinatra’s shows for 14 years. “It was like being in rarified air,” he recounts. What was it like to fly in his private jet all over the world? And stay in his home six times a year? You’ll find out as Tom describes the F...

Ollie Chandhok, President and Publisher of Dallas Business Journal says his multicultural family values have equipped him to lead the Business Journal during the Covid-19 debacle. A Canadian citizen whose father was from India and mother was from the Philippines, Ollie discusses how he has relied on his CAN-DO attitude to navigate the staff through these ambiguous times. “No one has all the answer...

What can we do when technology is moving faster than we are? Get over it! It always will! According to Kevin Cummings, Editor of NTX Inno , the startup community is accelerating at breakneck speed to develop unique products and services to enhance our faster, better, cheaper world . Young entrepreneurs are materializing to capitalize on the marketplace demands—and Kevin covers the scene every day....

Trisha Cunningham, President & CEO of N. Tx. Food Bank, reminds us that “hunger isn’t hidden anymore.” 40% of those in crises hunger are first timers receiving food. Texas has the 2nd highest number of people with food insecurity in the US – behind CA. Car lines are up to 2 miles long waiting to receive the more than 60,000 kits of food each week. A woman intent to be #1 in the car line, waite...

Dr. Michael Brainard founded Brainard Strategy to help leaders more positively affect their employees’ experience at work. He figured that if he could influence change within one leader, that would have a positive ripple effect; thus, other people’s lives would be better, more productive, and more engaged. Now a consummate knowledge seeker, Michael learned discipline and work ethic through excelli...

Dr. K. Shelette Stewart has over 20 years of leadership experience in teaching, strategic business planning, marketing, and business development with prominent academic institutions and Fortune 500 companies including Harvard Business School, The Coca-Cola Company and BellSouth Corporation/AT&T. She is a Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Program Specialist and holds a Doctorate in Business Adminis...

In summer 2004 Shake Anderson entered the hospital wondering if he would die. A year later he beat the odds and entered rehab. That’s when Shake started making soul music that hit the top charts. Audiences are moved when this man starts playing his piano or guitar and singing from the depth of his toes. He’s more than an entertainer. He brings emotion that penetrates an audience and evokes the sam...

William Arruda never thought of himself as an Entrepreneur. Yet he built a successful personal branding business and has been credited with turning the concept of personal branding into a global industry. Being the Personal Branding guru that he is today began as he innately paid attention to what was around him. As a highly curious guy, William is attuned to little things in life that are interes...

Lucy Billingsley has made a name for herself through real estate, developing and managing commercial developments. A pioneer back in the late 70's, she gave Dallas a unique perspective in the industry by co-founding Billingsley Company with her husband and adding art to the building business. Among her most recognized real estate development diamonds are the Austin Ranch, Cypress Waters and the Ar...

Early in her career running large organizations, Marie McCoy Zimenoff learned that “if anything could go wrong, it will go wrong.” Marie is the CEO of Career Thought Leaders, a global think tank for coaches, counselors, resume writers, and other professionals looking to stay up to date on trends, expand their practice, and guide clients to success. During Marie’s college years, she became acquaint...

Dr. 'Chip' Fagadau has an eye for excellence and a commitment to providing stellar patient service! In fact, his mantra is to “treat every person as if they are in your family.” As a prominent member of the Ophthalmology Community since 1983, Dr. Fagadau mentors his peers about the importance of soft skills in providing stellar customer service. It starts at the front desk and continues throughout...

Steve Gallegos (affectionately known as Stevie G) has achieved the impossible. At age 17, Stevie G joined the US Marines to escape his parents abuse. Being called “good for nothing” all his life caused him to consider options. His damaged ego deliberated suicide, but instead he chose joining the Marines. Stevie was at his lowest state of self-worth! Going through the stringent discipline in the Ma...

What happens when two corporate high-achievers feel called onto a faith-based path? They shape for the better how Christians see their role in the workplace! After years of serving in leadership roles, Diane Paddison and Donna Skell took upon themselves to create a support network that enables and empowers people to live their faith and find their purpose. Diane is a former executive in companies...

A lifetime honoring the uniform and values of truth taught Major General Craig Whelden firsthand about leadership. During his 30 years serving in senior and executive positions in the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corp, and in the corporate world, he brings to life his leadership lessons now told in a compelling and personal way. On U.S. soil, Craig managed and lived through many National Security em...

Willie Baronet- Stan Richards Professor in Creative Advertising at SMU, Founder WE ARE ALL HOMELESS Project Artist and Professor Willie Baronet has purchased close to 2,000 homeless signs since 1993. He uses this collection to create exhibits that raise awareness about homelessness. Willie’s passion for the homeless began over 20 years ago out of his own awkwardness and guilt he felt when ignoring...

Carey Stinson played Barney the Dinosaur for 22 years! Can you imagine being an adult doing a 360-degree jump wearing Barney the Dinosaur’s 50-pound suit? That’s what Carey Stinson did for 22 years as the beloved Barney the Purple Dinosaur. At 23 years old, Carey was dubious of playing the role that had to include dancing—a talent he didn’t have. Wait ‘til you hear how he learned his craft and won...