Full Transcript for Navigating Change with People-First Leadership w/ Irasa Downing

remember who connected us years ago? 00:01:45.935 --> 00:01:48.415 Lisa Nichols: You may not. 00:01:48.415 --> 00:01:50.970 Irasa Downing: Maybe Kathy Lambert? 00:01:50.970 --> 00:01:51.370 Lisa Nichols: No. 00:01:51.370 --> 00:01:53.210 Lisa Nichols: It was not Kathy, but it could have been. 00:01:53.210 --> 00:01:56.010 Lisa Nichols: It was Lynn Shaw. 00:01:56.010 --> 00:01:57.770 Lisa Nichols: Lynn. 00:01:57.770 --> 00:01:58.250 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:01:58.250 --> 00:01:59.690 Irasa Downing: I do remember. 00:01:59.690 --> 00:02:00.490 Irasa Downing: Oh my god. 00:02:00.490 --> 00:02:01.210 Irasa Downing: That's been... 00:02:01.210 --> 00:02:01.450 Irasa Downing: Yeah. 00:02:01.450 --> 00:02:02.650 Irasa Downing: That's been a long time ago. 00:02:02.650 --> 00:02:04.135 Lisa Nichols: Which I adore. 00:02:04.135 --> 00:02:05.175 Lisa Nichols: I adore her. 00:02:05.175 --> 00:02:09.095 Lisa Nichols: We've been friends for a really long time, even way back when she was 00:02:09.095 --> 00:02:13.095 Lisa Nichols: at Enterprise, and, she's, of course, now at Brinkman. 00:02:13.095 --> 00:02:14.855 Lisa Nichols: But, yeah, she connected us. 00:02:14.855 --> 00:02:18.855 Lisa Nichols: And when you and I were talking, you joined the Rooted sisters for 00:02:18.935 --> 00:02:20.730 Lisa Nichols: just a short period of time. 00:02:20.730 --> 00:02:21.610 Lisa Nichols: I mean, you... 00:02:21.610 --> 00:02:24.570 Lisa Nichols: I think you're still on the roster, but you're so busy. 00:02:24.570 --> 00:02:27.530 Lisa Nichols: It was hard for you to get to everything. 00:02:27.530 --> 00:02:28.650 Lisa Nichols: I'm just so excited. 00:02:28.650 --> 00:02:29.450 Lisa Nichols: I'm so excited. 00:02:29.450 --> 00:02:30.810 Lisa Nichols: And when you and I... 00:02:30.810 --> 00:02:34.490 Lisa Nichols: I told you, I laughingly said, I don't know, a few months ago, we 00:02:34.490 --> 00:02:38.490 Lisa Nichols: had lunch at Cafe Napoli, and I said I came away 00:02:38.725 --> 00:02:41.525 Lisa Nichols: from there feeling like that I'd been in a coaching session. 00:02:41.525 --> 00:02:43.285 Lisa Nichols: I mean, you're just so remarkable. 00:02:43.285 --> 00:02:46.885 Lisa Nichols: So I cannot wait for our listeners to learn from you today. 00:02:46.885 --> 00:02:48.085 Lisa Nichols: But let me ask you this. 00:02:48.085 --> 00:02:52.085 Lisa Nichols: You know, when you look back over your life and career Mhmm. 00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:56.840 Lisa Nichols: Iressa, what what are some of the things that really shaped you 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:57.720 Lisa Nichols: as a leader? 00:02:57.720 --> 00:02:59.320 Lisa Nichols: I mean, was it you're growing up? 00:02:59.320 --> 00:03:01.240 Lisa Nichols: I think you grew up in Winfield. 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:02.040 Irasa Downing: I did. 00:03:02.040 --> 00:03:03.015 Irasa Downing: I did. 00:03:03.015 --> 00:03:04.935 Irasa Downing: Very rural, 00:03:04.935 --> 00:03:08.935 Irasa Downing: environment that was totally a

culture shock for me when 00:03:08.935 --> 00:03:10.855 Irasa Downing: I moved out there. 00:03:10.855 --> 00:03:12.695 Irasa Downing: But I would say so many... 00:03:12.695 --> 00:03:16.295 Irasa Downing: My mom and dad were very good at pivoting us. 00:03:16.295 --> 00:03:19.960 Irasa Downing: Pivot to, you know, moving from east Saint Louis, growing up in east Saint 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:23.400 Irasa Downing: Louis to go to Winfield, Missouri. 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:26.200 Irasa Downing: And so I think a lot of it was just, you know, my mom 00:03:26.200 --> 00:03:28.760 Irasa Downing: and dad values, 00:03:28.760 --> 00:03:32.760 Irasa Downing: that they raised us under and, you know, being a strong Christian 00:03:33.085 --> 00:03:35.965 Irasa Downing: and knowing that God is the center of everything. 00:03:35.965 --> 00:03:39.965 Irasa Downing: He's given us everything to, make it in this world and, 00:03:40.205 --> 00:03:44.125 Irasa Downing: you know, the good book is what we live by. 00:03:44.125 --> 00:03:46.080 Irasa Downing: So lots of that. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:50.080 Irasa Downing: Lots of, you know, pouring into us, confidence and 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:54.400 Irasa Downing: who we were as people, and being authentic to who we were. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:58.115 Irasa Downing: So I really, really appreciate our mom and dad. 00:03:58.115 --> 00:04:02.115 Irasa Downing: My mom, was a research chemist at WashU, and my dad 00:04:02.675 --> 00:04:04.035 Irasa Downing: worked at General Motors. 00:04:04.035 --> 00:04:06.835 Irasa Downing: He was in management at General Motors for a number of years. 00:04:06.835 --> 00:04:10.835 Irasa Downing: And so I think about their lessons to us every single 00:04:10.995 --> 00:04:11.195 Irasa Downing: day. 00:04:11.155 --> 00:04:14.730 Irasa Downing: There's something that shows up where my mom or dad might have said something, 00:04:14.730 --> 00:04:16.810 Irasa Downing: you know, to us. 00:04:16.810 --> 00:04:19.290 Irasa Downing: And so now I'm trying to drill that into my kid's head. 00:04:19.290 --> 00:04:21.050 Irasa Downing: I don't know if it's sticking, but I'm trying. 00:04:21.050 --> 00:04:21.930 Lisa Nichols: You're trying. 00:04:21.930 --> 00:04:23.290 Lisa Nichols: You've got two daughters. 00:04:23.290 --> 00:04:23.690 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:04:23.690 --> 00:04:24.090 Lisa Nichols: Yes. 00:04:24.090 --> 00:04:25.610 Lisa Nichols: So, 00:04:25.610 --> 00:04:29.105 Lisa Nichols: well, well, I know you began your career in technical recruiting. 00:04:29.105 --> 00:04:33.105 Lisa Nichols: We kinda connected on that because Technology Partners started in technical 00:04:33.505 --> 00:04:35.265 Lisa Nichols: recruiting and stamping. 00:04:35.265 --> 00:04:38.545 Lisa Nichols: I think you were in sales, but then you moved into HR and executive 00:04:38.545 --> 00:04:39.570 Lisa Nichols: leadership. 00:04:39.570 --> 00:04:42.850 Lisa Nichols: What did those early experiences with technical recruiting? 00:04:42.850 --> 00:04:45.490 Lisa Nichols: I think that's a great place to start. 00:04:45.490 --> 00:04:46.610 Irasa Downing: I really do. 00:04:46.610 --> 00:04:47.810 Irasa Downing: Wonderful place to start. 00:04:47.810 --> 00:04:49.730 Lisa Nichols: I hope did it teach you about people? 00:04:49.730 --> 00:04:51.010 Lisa Nichols: What did it teach you about people? 00:04:51.010 --> 00:04:53.175 Irasa Downing: Well, I think that there's so many variety. 00:04:53.175 --> 00:04:53.415 Irasa Downing: Right? 00:04:53.415 --> 00:04:57.255 Irasa Downing: There's just such an outstanding variety of people and what they bring to the 00:04:57.255 --> 00:05:01.255 Irasa Downing: table, their skill sets, their knowledge, their expertise, and, 00:05:02.215 --> 00:05:05.815 Irasa Downing: technology was advancing so fast at that time when I joined. 00:05:05.815 --> 00:05:09.815 Irasa Downing: It was kinda during the dot com era, that we were hiring 00:05:10.020 --> 00:05:12.740 Irasa Downing: people that, you know, could breathe technology. 00:05:12.740 --> 00:05:16.020 Irasa Downing: Like, just knew a little bit about technology, and we were training them. 00:05:16.020 --> 00:05:20.020 Irasa Downing: So it was such a, I fell into HR and kind 00:05:20.020 --> 00:05:22.785 Irasa Downing: of that recruiting role by accident. 00:05:22.785 --> 00:05:26.785 Irasa Downing: I was working at Enterprise Rent A Car, and one of my guests that 00:05:26.945 --> 00:05:29.105 Irasa Downing: I was taking back to pick up his car said, you know what? 00:05:29.105 --> 00:05:30.705 Irasa Downing: You would be a phenomenal recruiter. 00:05:30.705 --> 00:05:32.465 Irasa Downing: And I was like, what is a recruiter? 00:05:32.465 --> 00:05:33.825 Irasa Downing: I'm thinking army, navy. 00:05:33.825 --> 00:05:35.180 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:05:35.180 --> 00:05:36.060 Irasa Downing: Like, no. 00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:37.420 Irasa Downing: Like, a technical recruiter. 00:05:37.420 --> 00:05:41.420 Irasa Downing: We recruit for Fortune five hundred companies, and we play, you know, strong individuals 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:44.380 Irasa Downing: with the perfect match, for our clients. 00:05:44.380 --> 00:05:47.420 Irasa Downing: And so that's kinda how I got into it. 00:05:47.420 --> 00:05:50.220 Irasa Downing: And it wasn't, you know, something that I wrote on my vision board. 00:05:50.220 --> 00:05:53.595 Irasa Downing: It was something that just happened, and I loved it. 00:05:53.595 --> 00:05:57.595 Irasa Downing: But I do believe, you know, from an HR career standpoint, 00:05:57.595 --> 00:06:01.115 Irasa Downing: it was such a foundational piece for me to learn and be able to 00:06:01.115 --> 00:06:02.795 Irasa Downing: empathize that I love people. 00:06:02.795 --> 00:06:04.400 Irasa Downing: I love helping people. 00:06:04.400 --> 00:06:08.400 Irasa Downing: And the feeling that you get from, you know, helping someone else 00:06:08.400 -->

00:06:11.760 Irasa Downing: or giving to someone else is just remarkable. 00:06:11.760 --> 00:06:12.240 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:12.640 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:06:12.640 --> 00:06:14.960 Lisa Nichols: I could not agree more. 00:06:14.960 --> 00:06:15.280 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:06:15.280 --> 00:06:17.805 Lisa Nichols: It's, there's an old proverb. 00:06:17.805 --> 00:06:20.125 Lisa Nichols: It's more blessed to give than receive. 00:06:20.125 --> 00:06:23.725 Lisa Nichols: I mean, really helping other people, and that's what you've done pretty much your 00:06:23.725 --> 00:06:26.045 Lisa Nichols: whole career, and we're gonna talk a lot about that. 00:06:26.045 --> 00:06:29.085 Lisa Nichols: But you've already talked about this a little bit, but I was gonna ask 00:06:29.085 --> 00:06:29.645 Lisa Nichols: you the question. 00:06:29.645 --> 00:06:32.060 Lisa Nichols: Did somebody see something in you? 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:35.180 Lisa Nichols: Were there people along the way that saw something in you that you didn't 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:36.220 Lisa Nichols: see in yourself? 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:38.620 Lisa Nichols: And that that person did. 00:06:38.620 --> 00:06:38.860 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:06:38.860 --> 00:06:41.500 Lisa Nichols: There have been other people as well. 00:06:41.500 --> 00:06:42.140 Lisa Nichols: Yep. 00:06:42.140 --> 00:06:43.100 Lisa Nichols: But but... 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:44.425 Lisa Nichols: You know? 00:06:44.425 --> 00:06:46.105 Irasa Downing: And I think that's the blessing. 00:06:46.105 --> 00:06:46.425 Irasa Downing: Right? 00:06:46.425 --> 00:06:46.745 Irasa Downing: It's... 00:06:46.745 --> 00:06:50.745 Irasa Downing: You never know what people are coming into your life to do or why 00:06:50.985 --> 00:06:54.665 Irasa Downing: they're there, but somehow, someway, god revealed it. 00:06:54.665 --> 00:06:58.665 Irasa Downing: And I've always had really good people, Lisa, 00:06:58.710 --> 00:07:02.710 Irasa Downing: in my life that would bring me along, you know, and 00:07:02.870 --> 00:07:04.310 Irasa Downing: kinda show me the way. 00:07:04.310 --> 00:07:06.470 Irasa Downing: And I'm not saying this to be arrogant. 00:07:06.470 --> 00:07:09.510 Irasa Downing: I'm just seeing it as a fact that I've never had to apply for 00:07:09.510 --> 00:07:10.575 Irasa Downing: a job. 00:07:10.575 --> 00:07:14.575 Irasa Downing: It was always a referral or someone that knew my capabilities 00:07:14.575 --> 00:07:16.655 Irasa Downing: or my talents that would recommend me. 00:07:16.655 --> 00:07:17.775 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:07:17.775 --> 00:07:21.775 Irasa Downing: And that speaks to to me, you know, my... 00:07:22.015 --> 00:07:26.015 Irasa Downing: Who I am as a person and, the integrity and care that I 00:07:26.130 --> 00:07:28.050 Irasa Downing: have for individuals, it's real. 00:07:28.050 --> 00:07:28.610 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:07:28.610 --> 00:07:31.170 Irasa Downing: And I take that so seriously. 00:07:31.170 --> 00:07:35.170 Irasa Downing: And so being able to impact people's lives and give them jobs that's 00:07:35.170 --> 00:07:36.370 Irasa Downing: gonna impact their family. 00:07:36.370 --> 00:07:37.410 Irasa Downing: So it's not only them. 00:07:37.410 --> 00:07:40.825 Irasa Downing: It's their family that's also being impacted. 00:07:40.825 --> 00:07:41.305 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:07:41.305 --> 00:07:43.305 Lisa Nichols: It's a multigenerational. 00:07:43.305 --> 00:07:44.345 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:07:44.345 --> 00:07:45.225 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:07:45.225 --> 00:07:46.185 Lisa Nichols: It it is. 00:07:46.185 --> 00:07:46.505 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:07:46.505 --> 00:07:46.745 Lisa Nichols: When... 00:07:46.745 --> 00:07:49.945 Lisa Nichols: And when you're helping people grow, 00:07:49.945 --> 00:07:51.465 Lisa Nichols: it's not just that person. 00:07:51.465 --> 00:07:51.865 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:07:51.865 --> 00:07:52.570 Lisa Nichols: Right. 00:07:52.570 --> 00:07:56.570 Lisa Nichols: They're growing into the person that their family needs and that their community 00:07:56.730 --> 00:07:57.130 Lisa Nichols: needs. 00:07:57.130 --> 00:07:59.850 Lisa Nichols: So I love that. 00:07:59.850 --> 00:08:03.290 Lisa Nichols: Was there ever a season, 00:08:03.290 --> 00:08:06.985 Lisa Nichols: Irazza, in your career when you questioned whether you were in the right place 00:08:06.985 --> 00:08:10.025 Lisa Nichols: or where you were ready for the next move. 00:08:10.025 --> 00:08:14.025 Lisa Nichols: And I'm thinking specifically last week, I, 00:08:14.265 --> 00:08:18.265 Lisa Nichols: had the opportunity to do a fireside chat with Anita Klopfenstein, 00:08:19.330 --> 00:08:23.330 Lisa Nichols: who is the CDIO for, Ilitch, which 00:08:23.570 --> 00:08:25.010 Lisa Nichols: owns Caesars. 00:08:25.010 --> 00:08:28.610 Lisa Nichols: And she was telling the story about when she got the opportunity. 00:08:28.610 --> 00:08:31.410 Lisa Nichols: You know, she talked to John Meister, who at the time was the CIO 00:08:31.410 --> 00:08:33.825 Lisa Nichols: for Panera and said, I don't think I'm ready. 00:08:33.825 --> 00:08:34.305 Lisa Nichols: Right. 00:08:34.305 --> 00:08:35.265 Lisa Nichols: I'm not sure I'm ready. 00:08:35.265 --> 00:08:35.985 Lisa Nichols: And he goes, no. 00:08:35.985 --> 00:08:36.385 Lisa Nichols: Trust me. 00:08:36.385 --> 00:08:36.865 Lisa Nichols: You're ready. 00:08:36.865 --> 00:08:38.865 Lisa Nichols: Did you ever have a moment like that? 00:08:38.865 --> 00:08:40.145 Lisa Nichols: Oh, I've had several 00:08:40.145 --> 00:08:44.145 Irasa Downing: several moments like that, because I don't feel like you ever feel ready 00:08:44.225 --> 00:08:47.490 Irasa Downing: for your next promotion or your next job. 00:08:47.490 --> 00:08:51.490 Irasa Downing: And I remember, being at Edward Jones, and, 00:08:52.050 --> 00:08:52.770 Irasa Downing: I was asked... 00:08:52.770 --> 00:08:56.210 Irasa Downing: I had just

been there maybe a little bit less than a year, and 00:08:56.210 --> 00:09:00.210 Irasa Downing: I was asked to move over to a different division to help support 00:09:00.210 --> 00:09:02.355 Irasa Downing: Penny Pennington. 00:09:02.355 --> 00:09:03.955 Irasa Downing: And I was like, oh my gosh. 00:09:03.955 --> 00:09:07.235 Irasa Downing: I am not ready for the big job, you know, to go over there 00:09:07.235 --> 00:09:09.235 Irasa Downing: and lead from an HR standpoint. 00:09:09.235 --> 00:09:13.235 Irasa Downing: And, my boss at the time, Brian Ashworth, and you 00:09:13.235 --> 00:09:16.420 Irasa Downing: probably hear me talk about him quite a bit, but he is the one 00:09:16.420 --> 00:09:18.100 Irasa Downing: that said you are ready. 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:21.140 Irasa Downing: And you're gonna interview for this job, and he pushed me. 00:09:21.140 --> 00:09:21.860 Irasa Downing: He pushed me. 00:09:21.860 --> 00:09:24.660 Irasa Downing: And so did my mentor, Brad Iverson. 00:09:24.660 --> 00:09:26.100 Irasa Downing: He was also... 00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:29.380 Irasa Downing: You know, he was a part of the, you know, division that I would 00:09:29.380 --> 00:09:30.745 Irasa Downing: be going to. 00:09:30.745 --> 00:09:33.545 Irasa Downing: And he's like, you know, you have nothing to lose. 00:09:33.545 --> 00:09:37.545 Irasa Downing: You should absolutely go in there, you know, be authentic 00:09:37.625 --> 00:09:41.625 Irasa Downing: to who you are, and showcase, you know, what your capabilities 00:09:41.865 --> 00:09:42.425 Irasa Downing: are. 00:09:42.425 --> 00:09:44.265 Irasa Downing: And I kept saying no. 00:09:44.265 --> 00:09:44.505 Irasa Downing: No. 00:09:44.505 --> 00:09:44.745 Irasa Downing: No. 00:09:44.745 --> 00:09:46.800 Irasa Downing: And then finally, Brian came back to to me. 00:09:46.800 --> 00:09:47.760 Irasa Downing: He was my leader at the time. 00:09:47.760 --> 00:09:49.360 Irasa Downing: He's like, you're gonna interview for this. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:51.280 Irasa Downing: You were going to go do it. 00:09:51.280 --> 00:09:52.880 Irasa Downing: And I was like, okay. 00:09:52.880 --> 00:09:53.360 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:57.120 Irasa Downing: I needed that push, and he was there in the small of my back 00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:59.760 Irasa Downing: just pushing me along, saying, you got this, girl. 00:09:59.760 --> 00:10:00.425 Irasa Downing: You got this. 00:10:00.425 --> 00:10:00.825 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:10:00.825 --> 00:10:01.785 Irasa Downing: Mhmm. 00:10:01.785 --> 00:10:05.465 Irasa Downing: And so I feel like I've had many instances of that. 00:10:05.465 --> 00:10:09.465 Irasa Downing: When Penny became the managing partner for Edward 00:10:09.705 --> 00:10:13.385 Irasa Downing: Jones, one of the things she had asked me to do was to lead 00:10:13.385 --> 00:10:15.170 Irasa Downing: our cultural, 00:10:15.170 --> 00:10:18.450 Irasa Downing: you know, innovation, kind of where where do we what do we need to 00:10:18.450 --> 00:10:20.370 Irasa Downing: do next from a cultural standpoint? 00:10:20.370 --> 00:10:23.090 Irasa Downing: We had a very strong cultural, 00:10:23.090 --> 00:10:24.370 Irasa Downing: you know, background. 00:10:24.370 --> 00:10:25.810 Irasa Downing: We are... 00:10:25.810 --> 00:10:28.850 Irasa Downing: We love to talk about and treat people with kindness. 00:10:28.850 --> 00:10:32.850 Irasa Downing: And so it was one of those things where she had asked me to 00:10:33.065 --> 00:10:33.625 Irasa Downing: lead it. 00:10:33.625 --> 00:10:37.625 Irasa Downing: And so one of my favorite books that, I read is called 00:10:37.865 --> 00:10:40.505 Irasa Downing: Walk the Talk, and it is... 00:10:40.505 --> 00:10:41.785 Irasa Downing: It's an amazing book. 00:10:41.785 --> 00:10:45.785 Irasa Downing: If you've never read it, highly encourage you to read it by Carolyn Taylor. 00:10:45.820 --> 00:10:49.820 Irasa Downing: And it's really about, you know, leaders leading from a, 00:10:50.540 --> 00:10:51.820 Irasa Downing: real a real place. 00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:52.140 Irasa Downing: Right? 00:10:52.140 --> 00:10:56.140 Irasa Downing: Like, how we treat people, how we make decisions, all of that creates your 00:10:56.300 --> 00:10:57.235 Irasa Downing: culture. 00:10:57.235 --> 00:11:00.435 Irasa Downing: And so she had asked me to lead that, and I'm like, for the 00:11:00.435 --> 00:11:01.155 Irasa Downing: whole firm. 00:11:01.155 --> 00:11:02.035 Irasa Downing: And she said, yes. 00:11:02.035 --> 00:11:03.955 Irasa Downing: I need you to lean into that. 00:11:03.955 --> 00:11:07.235 Irasa Downing: And so I was able to do that, and it was one of the 00:11:07.235 --> 00:11:10.115 Irasa Downing: best career moves that I'd ever made. 00:11:10.115 --> 00:11:11.820 Irasa Downing: So it was awesome. 00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:12.700 Lisa Nichols: Wow. 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:16.700 Lisa Nichols: Well, I am so grateful to those two gentlemen, 00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:20.860 Lisa Nichols: that push you, you know, to do that because you may not have had 00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:23.100 Lisa Nichols: that opportunity behind them. 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:25.105 Lisa Nichols: And so our... 00:11:25.105 --> 00:11:29.105 Lisa Nichols: Also, maybe there's somebody out there that that, you know, this opportunity 00:11:29.425 --> 00:11:32.305 Lisa Nichols: is there for them, and there's... 00:11:32.305 --> 00:11:33.345 Lisa Nichols: It's fear. 00:11:33.345 --> 00:11:33.665 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:11:33.665 --> 00:11:33.905 Lisa Nichols: Yep. 00:11:33.905 --> 00:11:34.865 Lisa Nichols: It's fear. 00:11:34.865 --> 00:11:37.825 Lisa Nichols: Fear that, oh, am I really ready? 00:11:37.825 --> 00:11:39.860 Lisa Nichols: Can I do this? 00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:40.180 Lisa Nichols: Yes. 00:11:40.180 --> 00:11:42.100 Lisa Nichols: See, what would you say to them? 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:43.620 Lisa Nichols: What would you say to them?

00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:45.460 Irasa Downing: I would say be courageous. 00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:47.540 Irasa Downing: Be courageous. 00:11:47.540 --> 00:11:50.260 Irasa Downing: Know that you're gonna have support in that role. 00:11:50.260 --> 00:11:54.260 Irasa Downing: Whatever that role may be, there's always God's gonna put his little angels 00:11:54.465 --> 00:11:58.465 Irasa Downing: around you and and camp you with some very good knowledge and understanding, 00:11:58.465 --> 00:11:59.585 Irasa Downing: and people were there for you. 00:11:59.585 --> 00:12:03.105 Irasa Downing: If they believe that you're ready for that role or they tapped you on 00:12:03.105 --> 00:12:05.870 Irasa Downing: the shoulder, then you gotta step into it. 00:12:05.870 --> 00:12:06.190 Irasa Downing: Mhmm. 00:12:06.190 --> 00:12:10.190 Irasa Downing: And I wish I had, you know, at that point, in my career where 00:12:10.270 --> 00:12:14.110 Irasa Downing: I was making that decision, been as courageous just where I didn't need that 00:12:14.110 --> 00:12:14.510 Irasa Downing: push. 00:12:14.510 --> 00:12:18.510 Irasa Downing: But I think sometimes we all do, and I would say definitely 00:12:19.150 --> 00:12:20.110 Irasa Downing: jump in it. 00:12:20.110 --> 00:12:20.875 Irasa Downing: Right. 00:12:20.875 --> 00:12:24.235 Irasa Downing: The only thing that could happen is that, you know, maybe you don't like 00:12:24.235 --> 00:12:26.395 Irasa Downing: it or maybe you pivot and do something else. 00:12:26.395 --> 00:12:30.395 Irasa Downing: So definitely be courageous and jump into that next opportunity. 00:12:31.195 --> 00:12:31.835 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:12:31.835 --> 00:12:32.155 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:12:32.155 --> 00:12:33.515 Lisa Nichols: I hear it a lot today. 00:12:33.515 --> 00:12:34.990 Lisa Nichols: Do it scared. 00:12:34.990 --> 00:12:35.350 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:12:35.350 --> 00:12:39.350 Lisa Nichols: So, you know, for a listener out there, I mean, you may look at 00:12:39.550 --> 00:12:41.150 Lisa Nichols: Irazza and go, wow. 00:12:41.150 --> 00:12:42.590 Lisa Nichols: Look at what she's done. 00:12:42.590 --> 00:12:45.870 Lisa Nichols: But don't think that she wasn't fearful. 00:12:45.870 --> 00:12:46.750 Lisa Nichols: There was fear. 00:12:46.750 --> 00:12:50.110 Lisa Nichols: But, you know, Nelson Mandela said courage is not the absence of fear. 00:12:50.110 --> 00:12:51.795 Lisa Nichols: It's the triumph over it. 00:12:51.795 --> 00:12:52.195 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:12:52.195 --> 00:12:53.315 Lisa Nichols: We all have fear. 00:12:53.315 --> 00:12:56.435 Lisa Nichols: We all have those fears, but, I love that. 00:12:56.435 --> 00:13:00.435 Lisa Nichols: And I I know, like, you were a principal at Edward Jones for 00:13:00.435 --> 00:13:02.035 Lisa Nichols: thirteen years, but you... 00:13:02.035 --> 00:13:06.035 Lisa Nichols: I think you told me that even you kinda became, like, the 00:13:06.250 --> 00:13:07.050 Lisa Nichols: one of... 00:13:07.050 --> 00:13:10.010 Lisa Nichols: Maybe one of Penny's executive coaches. 00:13:10.010 --> 00:13:10.730 Lisa Nichols: Okay. 00:13:10.730 --> 00:13:14.490 Lisa Nichols: So, I mean, what kinds of things, 00:13:14.490 --> 00:13:17.050 Lisa Nichols: IRASA, would she lean on you for? 00:13:17.050 --> 00:13:17.770 Irasa Downing: And then... 00:13:17.770 --> 00:13:18.515 Irasa Downing: Yeah. 00:13:18.515 --> 00:13:18.715 Irasa Downing: Yeah. 00:13:18.675 --> 00:13:20.035 Irasa Downing: All of the talent. 00:13:20.035 --> 00:13:23.555 Irasa Downing: So when you think about the talent in the organization, at that point in 00:13:23.555 --> 00:13:27.155 Irasa Downing: time, we had six hundred people in that division. 00:13:27.155 --> 00:13:31.155 Irasa Downing: And so when we think about succession plan a, you know, her direct 00:13:31.395 --> 00:13:35.395 Irasa Downing: leaders and, you know, some of the needs that they may have had, 00:13:35.630 --> 00:13:39.630 Irasa Downing: whether it was on the leadership side or technical, but figuring out 00:13:39.870 --> 00:13:43.870 Irasa Downing: kinda how do we help them put their leadership plans together and succession 00:13:43.870 --> 00:13:44.270 Irasa Downing: plans. 00:13:44.270 --> 00:13:47.470 Irasa Downing: So when one of them have to step out or something happened, which we 00:13:47.470 --> 00:13:51.470 Irasa Downing: have had happen, we had a strong succession plan in play to back 00:13:51.635 --> 00:13:52.915 Irasa Downing: that leader up. 00:13:52.915 --> 00:13:56.115 Irasa Downing: So those are the kinda things that we talked about. 00:13:56.115 --> 00:13:58.115 Irasa Downing: And then also just all of the people. 00:13:58.115 --> 00:13:58.835 Irasa Downing: Right? 00:13:58.835 --> 00:14:02.835 Irasa Downing: Making sure that we're leading ourselves, you know, as we lead others. 00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:06.520 Irasa Downing: Before you lead others, you gotta know how to lead yourself. 00:14:06.520 --> 00:14:10.520 Irasa Downing: Listen to understand to make sure that we had a a pulse on the 00:14:10.520 --> 00:14:14.520 Irasa Downing: organization and the culture so she would lean on me and my team to 00:14:14.605 --> 00:14:18.605 Irasa Downing: make sure that we were bringing some observation back that we needed to adjust 00:14:18.685 --> 00:14:19.965 Irasa Downing: or change. 00:14:19.965 --> 00:14:23.645 Irasa Downing: But when we were talking, one of the best things that I learned about 00:14:23.645 --> 00:14:27.645 Irasa Downing: Penny, in my leadership journey was, 00:14:27.885 --> 00:14:31.380 Irasa Downing: her her willingness to listen with double ears. 00:14:31.380 --> 00:14:35.380 Irasa Downing: It's like she could listen, and she could summarize so quickly, 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:38.820 Irasa Downing: you know, what people were feeling, how they... 00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:42.820 Irasa Downing: You know, their fears, their obstacles, you know, challenges in the organization,

00:14:43.565 --> 00:14:47.565 Irasa Downing: and immediately be able to turn something around that impacted 00:14:48.365 --> 00:14:50.445 Irasa Downing: each and every person in our organization. 00:14:50.445 --> 00:14:54.445 Irasa Downing: So the way she led and she listened before she responded, 00:14:54.765 --> 00:14:56.850 Irasa Downing: you know, frequently, and I just... 00:14:56.850 --> 00:15:00.850 Irasa Downing: I felt like that was such a good leadership lesson for me, you know, 00:15:00.930 --> 00:15:03.810 Irasa Downing: if I was watching her because she's so dynamic. 00:15:03.810 --> 00:15:04.050 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:15:04.050 --> 00:15:08.050 Irasa Downing: One of the other things that I felt like, you know, 00:15:08.465 --> 00:15:12.225 Irasa Downing: was tough in the organization is, you know, having the courage to make hard 00:15:12.225 --> 00:15:13.585 Irasa Downing: decisions. 00:15:13.585 --> 00:15:17.585 Irasa Downing: And, you know, those are opportunities I think all of us need executive coaching 00:15:17.905 --> 00:15:18.145 Irasa Downing: on. 00:15:18.145 --> 00:15:18.545 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:15:18.545 --> 00:15:20.545 Irasa Downing: Because it's not easy. 00:15:20.545 --> 00:15:21.985 Lisa Nichols: It's not easy. 00:15:21.985 --> 00:15:22.385 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:15:22.385 --> 00:15:26.180 Irasa Downing: There's fallout when you make, you know, the right or wrong decision. 00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:29.460 Irasa Downing: So how do you adjust and how do you pivot from that? 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:30.020 Irasa Downing: Yeah. 00:15:30.020 --> 00:15:31.700 Irasa Downing: That's that's good. 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:32.100 Irasa Downing: Yeah. 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:36.100 Irasa Downing: I think that's one of the, you know, biggest lessons that, you 00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:39.115 Irasa Downing: know, we were continuously talking about. 00:15:39.115 --> 00:15:39.915 Lisa Nichols: Right. 00:15:39.915 --> 00:15:40.475 Lisa Nichols: Yes. 00:15:40.475 --> 00:15:41.275 Lisa Nichols: I love that. 00:15:41.275 --> 00:15:41.675 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:15:41.675 --> 00:15:42.555 Lisa Nichols: Hard decisions. 00:15:42.555 --> 00:15:46.555 Lisa Nichols: But in that role, you gotta make hard decisions, and they're 00:15:46.555 --> 00:15:48.395 Lisa Nichols: not always the popular one. 00:15:48.395 --> 00:15:49.195 Irasa Downing: Absolutely. 00:15:49.195 --> 00:15:51.035 Lisa Nichols: They're not always the popular one. 00:15:51.035 --> 00:15:51.980 Lisa Nichols: But Yeah. 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.100 Lisa Nichols: Hopefully, they're the right one. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:55.900 Lisa Nichols: But then sometimes, we don't make the right one because we're 00:15:55.900 --> 00:15:56.380 Irasa Downing: a vegan. 00:15:56.380 --> 00:15:56.700 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:59.740 Lisa Nichols: And so how do you how do you recover from that? 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:03.660 Lisa Nichols: Let me, let me go back to what you said, the book, and I'm 00:16:03.660 --> 00:16:05.905 Lisa Nichols: gonna order it today, Walk the Talk. 00:16:05.905 --> 00:16:06.705 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:16:06.705 --> 00:16:07.425 Lisa Nichols: So did you... 00:16:07.425 --> 00:16:11.265 Lisa Nichols: How did you how did you incorporate those principles? 00:16:11.265 --> 00:16:13.825 Lisa Nichols: Did you guys have, a book club? 00:16:13.825 --> 00:16:17.345 Lisa Nichols: Did the leadership read that book? 00:16:17.345 --> 00:16:19.025 Lisa Nichols: Irazza, what did you have? 00:16:19.025 --> 00:16:20.870 Lisa Nichols: How did you roll that out? 00:16:20.870 --> 00:16:21.590 Irasa Downing: So we did. 00:16:21.590 --> 00:16:25.590 Irasa Downing: We we gave copies of the book to all of the executive 00:16:25.590 --> 00:16:29.590 Irasa Downing: leadership team, and we had small, you know, 00:16:30.390 --> 00:16:34.390 Irasa Downing: small meetings with all of our employees where we would either... 00:16:34.565 --> 00:16:35.605 Irasa Downing: We polled them. 00:16:35.605 --> 00:16:39.605 Irasa Downing: We had small group conversations, you know, to hear about what they felt 00:16:39.765 --> 00:16:41.445 Irasa Downing: about our culture at this point. 00:16:41.445 --> 00:16:45.445 Irasa Downing: So we needed a baseline of how are people feeling today, 00:16:45.525 --> 00:16:49.525 Irasa Downing: what are obstacles that they're, you know, coming up against that maybe are unseen 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:51.300 Irasa Downing: or unheard? 00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:53.140 Irasa Downing: But they call it our culture. 00:16:53.140 --> 00:16:57.140 Irasa Downing: And so we we did a lot of different things to gather information. 00:16:58.020 --> 00:17:02.020 Irasa Downing: I also went to speak with Carolyn Taylor because I think she's just such 00:17:02.235 --> 00:17:06.235 Irasa Downing: the subject matter expert in this area and how she 00:17:06.475 --> 00:17:10.475 Irasa Downing: how she talks about culture and, 00:17:10.475 --> 00:17:12.635 Irasa Downing: I think, sets the example for culture. 00:17:12.635 --> 00:17:16.635 Irasa Downing: She's one of the best in the in the world around this topic. 00:17:16.730 --> 00:17:20.570 Irasa Downing: And though she had also asked, you know, you guys, are you ready to 00:17:20.570 --> 00:17:24.410 Irasa Downing: be real about what's not working in your culture? 00:17:24.410 --> 00:17:27.050 Irasa Downing: Because, you know, culture is one of our flagships. 00:17:27.050 --> 00:17:28.975 Irasa Downing: We talk about that all the time. 00:17:28.975 --> 00:17:32.975 Irasa Downing: And so, you know, it was some opportunities where we talked about a 00:17:32.975 --> 00:17:35.135 Irasa Downing: couple of things that weren't working well. 00:17:35.135 --> 00:17:39.135 Irasa Downing: And, you know, it's interesting because when you have an executive leadership, everybody 00:17:39.135 --> 00:17:40.095 Irasa Downing: has an opinion. 00:17:40.095 --> 00:17:44.095 Irasa Downing: And

when you're at that level of the organization, sometimes you're not reaching 00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:45.280 Irasa Downing: back down. 00:17:45.280 --> 00:17:49.280 Irasa Downing: So you're not talking to the individuals on the floor that are experiencing 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:53.440 Irasa Downing: our decisions, the impact of our decisions, what we're turning a blind 00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:55.175 Irasa Downing: eye to. 00:17:55.175 --> 00:17:57.815 Irasa Downing: And those things we brought back. 00:17:57.815 --> 00:18:01.255 Irasa Downing: And so it was a very direct discussion about, hey. 00:18:01.255 --> 00:18:01.655 Irasa Downing: This... 00:18:01.655 --> 00:18:04.055 Irasa Downing: Here are the pros in our culture, and here are the cons. 00:18:04.055 --> 00:18:08.055 Irasa Downing: And so what are we willing to pivot to and change? 00:18:08.300 --> 00:18:12.220 Irasa Downing: What are the mindsets and behaviors that are gonna be required to get us 00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:14.220 Irasa Downing: to the twenty thirty objective that we had? 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:18.220 Irasa Downing: And so we had lots of sessions with our ELT. 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:22.380 Irasa Downing: Lots of good candor, lots of good courage, you know, courageous 00:18:23.225 --> 00:18:27.225 Irasa Downing: and, going against, you know, some of the ELT members that didn't feel 00:18:27.225 --> 00:18:28.585 Irasa Downing: anything was wrong with our culture. 00:18:28.585 --> 00:18:28.985 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:18:28.985 --> 00:18:29.865 Irasa Downing: Right. 00:18:29.865 --> 00:18:33.865 Irasa Downing: So, that was that was my challenge, during 00:18:33.865 --> 00:18:34.425 Irasa Downing: COVID. 00:18:34.425 --> 00:18:36.505 Irasa Downing: And we had to roll this out during COVID. 00:18:36.505 --> 00:18:40.505 Irasa Downing: So that was even harder because we weren't face to face at that time. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.720 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.680 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.000 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.360 Lisa Nichols: But I love what you said. 00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:47.000 Lisa Nichols: Unless you're willing to be real Mhmm. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.280 Lisa Nichols: And honest. 00:18:48.280 --> 00:18:49.080 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:51.185 Lisa Nichols: I mean, then it's not... 00:18:51.185 --> 00:18:53.345 Lisa Nichols: Things are not gonna change. 00:18:53.345 --> 00:18:54.945 Lisa Nichols: It's not gonna be authentic. 00:18:54.945 --> 00:18:55.665 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:18:55.665 --> 00:18:57.185 Lisa Nichols: So Right. 00:18:57.185 --> 00:18:57.745 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:18:57.745 --> 00:18:59.025 Lisa Nichols: That's that's really good. 00:18:59.025 --> 00:19:00.625 Lisa Nichols: Well, let me ask you this. 00:19:00.625 --> 00:19:00.865 Lisa Nichols: What... 00:19:00.865 --> 00:19:02.945 Lisa Nichols: In your experience, 00:19:02.945 --> 00:19:06.945 Lisa Nichols: you know, what is

the difference between a manager who gets results 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.320 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:19:07.320 --> 00:19:11.240 Lisa Nichols: And a leader who genuinely develops people? 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:13.720 Lisa Nichols: And it could go back to... 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.120 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:16.040 Lisa Nichols: You know, I mean, you talked a lot about kindness. 00:19:16.040 --> 00:19:16.520 Lisa Nichols: You know? 00:19:16.520 --> 00:19:19.400 Lisa Nichols: Kindness doesn't mean that there's not accountability there. 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.715 Irasa Downing: Right. 00:19:20.715 --> 00:19:22.635 Irasa Downing: That's a really good question, Lisa. 00:19:22.635 --> 00:19:26.635 Irasa Downing: I think, you know, when I think about leaders that get results, 00:19:26.635 --> 00:19:29.835 Irasa Downing: because, you know, we do have leaders that are great at getting results, but 00:19:29.835 --> 00:19:31.675 Irasa Downing: they're horrible people leaders. 00:19:31.675 --> 00:19:32.395 Lisa Nichols: Exactly. 00:19:32.395 --> 00:19:32.795 Lisa Nichols: And to 00:19:32.795 --> 00:19:35.620 Irasa Downing: me, I think you have to have success in both of those. 00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:38.580 Irasa Downing: You have to be able to lead yourself, like I said, before you lead 00:19:38.580 --> 00:19:39.140 Irasa Downing: others. 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:43.140 Irasa Downing: You have to be willing to listen, to understand, and not be understood. 00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:47.620 Irasa Downing: And, you know, I think in the leadership capacity, 00:19:47.645 --> 00:19:51.645 Irasa Downing: we have so many, leaders that are 00:19:52.045 --> 00:19:56.045 Irasa Downing: very resourceful, so they know how to work across the the whole, enterprise, 00:19:56.365 --> 00:19:57.965 Irasa Downing: the organization. 00:19:57.965 --> 00:20:01.965 Irasa Downing: And I think that's super important too because the connections and the relationships 00:20:02.125 --> 00:20:04.060 Irasa Downing: matter. 00:20:04.060 --> 00:20:07.180 Irasa Downing: So in order to get good results, you gotta have really good people skills. 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:09.100 Irasa Downing: You gotta be able to deal with people. 00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:12.620 Irasa Downing: You gotta be able to know who to go to for what things. 00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:16.620 Irasa Downing: You gotta be courageous to make those hard decisions, and 00:20:16.665 --> 00:20:20.265 Irasa Downing: give people opportunities before they're even ready for them. 00:20:20.265 --> 00:20:24.105 Irasa Downing: So when I think about, you know, it shouldn't be about you as the 00:20:24.105 --> 00:20:24.425 Irasa Downing: leader. 00:20:24.425 --> 00:20:28.425 Irasa Downing: When I think about leadership, it's a, what do you call it, a 00:20:28.505 --> 00:20:29.865 Irasa Downing: upside down triangle. 00:20:29.865 --> 00:20:30.185 Irasa Downing: Right? 00:20:30.185 --> 00:20:30.880 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:31.120 Irasa Downing: The... 00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:34.000 Irasa Downing: You're at the bottom and your people are at the top, so you're there 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:35.200 Irasa Downing: to serve. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:39.200 Irasa Downing: And that's how, to me, you get best results when everybody is willing to 00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:43.200 Irasa Downing: grow with you in the same direction, and they know that you're genuine. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:47.200 Irasa Downing: They know that you care about them first, before the results, and 00:20:47.365 --> 00:20:50.405 Irasa Downing: I think that's how effective leadership happens. 00:20:50.405 --> 00:20:50.805 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:20:50.805 --> 00:20:51.845 Lisa Nichols: That's so good. 00:20:51.845 --> 00:20:52.725 Lisa Nichols: That's good. 00:20:52.725 --> 00:20:56.165 Lisa Nichols: Well, you just said something about recognizing 00:20:56.165 --> 00:21:00.165 Lisa Nichols: people and and putting them in positions even before they feel ready. 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:01.360 Lisa Nichols: You know? 00:21:01.360 --> 00:21:05.360 Lisa Nichols: How how can you recognize potential in someone Mhmm. 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:07.920 Lisa Nichols: Or Rasa, you know, and when... 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:11.920 Lisa Nichols: And their gifts that may not be obvious or when their confidence 00:21:12.320 --> 00:21:13.615 Lisa Nichols: is low. 00:21:13.615 --> 00:21:14.095 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:21:14.095 --> 00:21:14.575 Lisa Nichols: You know? 00:21:14.575 --> 00:21:18.575 Lisa Nichols: I mean, how how did you go about recognizing 00:21:18.655 --> 00:21:20.175 Lisa Nichols: potential in... 00:21:20.175 --> 00:21:21.375 Irasa Downing: Well, I think you start with... 00:21:21.375 --> 00:21:23.695 Irasa Downing: You know, you see them in stretch opportunities. 00:21:23.695 --> 00:21:24.335 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:21:24.335 --> 00:21:26.335 Irasa Downing: You you watch them grow. 00:21:26.335 --> 00:21:30.335 Irasa Downing: You see where they're making decisions, where they're asking instead 00:21:30.530 --> 00:21:33.170 Irasa Downing: of just jumping right in. 00:21:33.170 --> 00:21:36.930 Irasa Downing: I also see that, you know, most people need sponsors. 00:21:36.930 --> 00:21:40.770 Irasa Downing: A lot of people don't have sponsors, but most people need a sponsor that's 00:21:40.770 --> 00:21:43.295 Irasa Downing: gonna see that potential, 00:21:43.295 --> 00:21:47.295 Irasa Downing: and be willing to put their capital on the table, to allow 00:21:47.455 --> 00:21:48.975 Irasa Downing: that person to get in that role. 00:21:48.975 --> 00:21:52.655 Irasa Downing: And I know somebody did it for me, so I would always recognize that 00:21:52.655 --> 00:21:54.015 Irasa Downing: in others. 00:21:54.015 --> 00:21:56.175 Irasa Downing: And a lot of times way before they see it. 00:21:56.175 --> 00:22:00.175 Irasa Downing: I think a lot of times fear just paralyzes people, and so you

00:22:00.320 --> 00:22:02.640 Irasa Downing: need someone to push them out of that. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:04.240 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:08.240 Irasa Downing: And we have the responsibility as leaders to help discover talent, 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:12.720 Irasa Downing: across the firm and, you know, their capabilities and what's needed in the future. 00:22:13.215 --> 00:22:17.215 Irasa Downing: And I see more and more people are willing to push 00:22:17.455 --> 00:22:21.055 Irasa Downing: and ask for those opportunities more so than just being tapped on the shoulder 00:22:21.055 --> 00:22:21.935 Irasa Downing: now. 00:22:21.935 --> 00:22:22.175 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:22:22.175 --> 00:22:26.175 Irasa Downing: This next generation, they they are ready, and they are pushing in. 00:22:26.630 --> 00:22:30.630 Irasa Downing: Even if they only have ten percent of what the job requires, they wanna... 00:22:31.190 --> 00:22:31.910 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:22:31.910 --> 00:22:35.590 Lisa Nichols: I've I've I've seen the same thing, you know, and I think that that's 00:22:35.590 --> 00:22:36.230 Lisa Nichols: wonderful. 00:22:36.230 --> 00:22:39.525 Lisa Nichols: I think that that's wonderful. 00:22:39.525 --> 00:22:40.565 Lisa Nichols: Well, let me... 00:22:40.565 --> 00:22:40.885 Lisa Nichols: Okay. 00:22:40.885 --> 00:22:42.325 Lisa Nichols: Let's talk about this. 00:22:42.325 --> 00:22:46.325 Lisa Nichols: Is there a leadership mistake that you have seen people make 00:22:46.565 --> 00:22:49.685 Lisa Nichols: when they do get successful? 00:22:49.685 --> 00:22:53.685 Lisa Nichols: And what can they do to avoid that mistake? 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:58.480 Irasa Downing: I think one of the biggest mistakes is, you know, what got you there. 00:22:58.560 --> 00:23:01.360 Irasa Downing: You don't continue to do some of those same things. 00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:05.360 Irasa Downing: And, a prime example, this one particular leader 00:23:05.520 --> 00:23:09.520 Irasa Downing: that I can think of did an amazing job of, you know, 00:23:10.005 --> 00:23:14.005 Irasa Downing: managing down, making sure that they understood the pulse of the organization, 00:23:14.485 --> 00:23:18.085 Irasa Downing: that they understood every level in the organization. 00:23:18.085 --> 00:23:22.085 Irasa Downing: And I think once they moved up, they quit doing that 00:23:22.210 --> 00:23:26.210 Irasa Downing: and only started talking to primarily their peer group. 00:23:26.210 --> 00:23:26.530 Irasa Downing: Mhmm. 00:23:26.530 --> 00:23:30.210 Irasa Downing: And that is a big mistake because then, you know, people quit talking to 00:23:30.210 --> 00:23:32.370 Irasa Downing: you because then you become untouchable. 00:23:32.370 --> 00:23:32.850 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:23:32.850 --> 00:23:36.275 Irasa Downing: People don't feel the same, 00:23:36.275 --> 00:23:40.275 Irasa Downing: what I wanna say, the same, value of, you know, sharing 00:23:40.355 --> 00:23:44.355 Irasa Downing: information with you because you're not asking the questions anymore. 00:23:44.435 --> 00:23:48.435 Irasa Downing: So I think those opportunities that, you know, 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:53.000 Irasa Downing: leaders need to continue to do is to make sure they have a pulse 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:57.000 Irasa Downing: of the organization, not just through their own leadership teams. 00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.600 Lisa Nichols: So That's good. 00:23:58.600 --> 00:24:02.600 Irasa Downing: You know, different things like that to really understand what's going on. 00:24:03.285 --> 00:24:04.085 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:24:04.085 --> 00:24:04.285 Lisa Nichols: No. 00:24:04.245 --> 00:24:07.765 Lisa Nichols: That's really good. 00:24:07.765 --> 00:24:08.405 Lisa Nichols: Well... 00:24:08.405 --> 00:24:09.045 Lisa Nichols: Okay. 00:24:09.045 --> 00:24:10.565 Lisa Nichols: So, I mean... 00:24:10.565 --> 00:24:12.645 Lisa Nichols: And Edward Jones is still going through it. 00:24:12.645 --> 00:24:14.405 Lisa Nichols: As all companies are going... 00:24:14.405 --> 00:24:16.325 Lisa Nichols: You know, we have to reinvent ourselves. 00:24:16.325 --> 00:24:16.645 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:24:16.645 --> 00:24:18.690 Lisa Nichols: Change is inevitable. 00:24:18.690 --> 00:24:19.250 Lisa Nichols: Yes. 00:24:19.250 --> 00:24:20.610 Lisa Nichols: Change is inevitable. 00:24:20.610 --> 00:24:24.610 Lisa Nichols: And so, I mean, you've worked across human resources, organizational 00:24:24.770 --> 00:24:28.130 Lisa Nichols: culture, in consulting, 00:24:28.130 --> 00:24:29.250 Lisa Nichols: human capital. 00:24:29.250 --> 00:24:31.545 Lisa Nichols: How can leaders 00:24:31.545 --> 00:24:35.545 Lisa Nichols: navigate organizational change without losing trust 00:24:35.945 --> 00:24:37.065 Lisa Nichols: or a sense of belonging? 00:24:37.065 --> 00:24:38.505 Lisa Nichols: Because people typically... 00:24:38.505 --> 00:24:42.505 Lisa Nichols: Change is inevitable, but a lot of times, people are 00:24:42.505 --> 00:24:44.185 Lisa Nichols: resistant to change. 00:24:44.185 --> 00:24:44.585 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:24:44.585 --> 00:24:45.220 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:48.900 Lisa Nichols: I mean, how do you navigate that as a leader? 00:24:48.900 --> 00:24:52.900 Irasa Downing: So I had a role, in the organization where I let change 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:56.900 Irasa Downing: management for, a couple of years, and, you know, I think 00:24:57.060 --> 00:24:59.825 Irasa Downing: one of the hardest things for anybody is change. 00:24:59.825 --> 00:25:03.185 Irasa Downing: It it doesn't matter how small or how big it is, the size of 00:25:03.185 --> 00:25:03.505 Irasa Downing: it. 00:25:03.505 --> 00:25:04.465 Irasa Downing: It doesn't matter. 00:25:04.465 --> 00:25:07.105 Irasa Downing: Everybody has difficulty with change. 00:25:07.105 --> 00:25:07.585 Irasa Downing: And 00:25:07.585 --> 00:25:07.985 Lisa Nichols: Yes. 00:25:07.985 -->

00:25:11.025 Irasa Downing: One of the things that I would always say, you know, you have to 00:25:11.025 --> 00:25:13.505 Irasa Downing: put one step in front of the other. 00:25:13.505 --> 00:25:17.505 Irasa Downing: Don't look at the the magnitude of the change, but just put 00:25:17.610 --> 00:25:21.610 Irasa Downing: one foot in front of the other and go in it with positivity 00:25:22.010 --> 00:25:25.850 Irasa Downing: because there's so many negative thoughts in your head and fear and, you know, 00:25:25.850 --> 00:25:26.410 Irasa Downing: what is this... 00:25:26.410 --> 00:25:27.690 Irasa Downing: Is this gonna impact me? 00:25:27.690 --> 00:25:29.775 Irasa Downing: Because it's all what's in it for me. 00:25:29.775 --> 00:25:32.175 Irasa Downing: Change is all about what's in it for me. 00:25:32.175 --> 00:25:36.175 Irasa Downing: So when you're leading change, my suggestion is to think 00:25:36.255 --> 00:25:40.255 Irasa Downing: about the other person, right, that's on the other side of 00:25:40.335 --> 00:25:44.335 Irasa Downing: you and suggest that they think about it from, you know, 00:25:44.650 --> 00:25:44.970 Irasa Downing: what it... 00:25:44.970 --> 00:25:46.330 Irasa Downing: What do I need to do? 00:25:46.330 --> 00:25:49.610 Irasa Downing: What's important to me right now? 00:25:49.610 --> 00:25:50.890 Irasa Downing: How can I pivot? 00:25:50.890 --> 00:25:53.370 Irasa Downing: How can I think about this in a positive way? 00:25:53.370 --> 00:25:56.185 Irasa Downing: Like, what are the positives and the cons? 00:25:56.185 --> 00:26:00.185 Irasa Downing: And go through your own mental load first before 00:26:00.345 --> 00:26:04.345 Irasa Downing: trying to pull your team through it, to make sure that you're change 00:26:04.345 --> 00:26:06.745 Irasa Downing: ready and that you're being adaptable. 00:26:06.745 --> 00:26:10.590 Irasa Downing: Because, like I tell my team, like, you don't have to always agree with 00:26:10.590 --> 00:26:12.750 Irasa Downing: the change, but you have to align. 00:26:12.750 --> 00:26:13.630 Irasa Downing: Mhmm. 00:26:13.630 --> 00:26:17.630 Irasa Downing: And so alignment doesn't necessarily mean agreement, but you gotta go through 00:26:18.030 --> 00:26:20.030 Irasa Downing: the things that we need to do to get it... 00:26:20.030 --> 00:26:21.470 Irasa Downing: Get us to a better place. 00:26:21.470 --> 00:26:24.835 Irasa Downing: At the end of the day, for our clients, it's not for each of 00:26:24.835 --> 00:26:25.035 Irasa Downing: us. 00:26:24.915 --> 00:26:26.035 Irasa Downing: It's for our clients. 00:26:26.035 --> 00:26:27.955 Irasa Downing: They deserve that. 00:26:27.955 --> 00:26:28.275 Irasa Downing: Mhmm. 00:26:28.275 --> 00:26:31.715 Irasa Downing: They deserve evolution in our products and strategies, etcetera. 00:26:31.715 --> 00:26:33.635 Irasa Downing: So 00:26:33.635 --> 00:26:33.835 Irasa Downing: --. 00:26:33.715 --> 00:26:37.715 Irasa Downing: Change is in about inevitable,

and we all go through it. 00:26:38.670 --> 00:26:42.670 Irasa Downing: But I think too, as a Christian, I think about that as 00:26:42.830 --> 00:26:45.070 Irasa Downing: how much change did Jesus walk through. 00:26:45.070 --> 00:26:45.470 Irasa Downing: Right? 00:26:45.470 --> 00:26:49.470 Irasa Downing: Like, how much change was out there that he had to walk through, 00:26:49.630 --> 00:26:51.390 Irasa Downing: and he did it with kindness. 00:26:51.390 --> 00:26:53.925 Irasa Downing: He did it gently. 00:26:53.925 --> 00:26:54.645 Irasa Downing: So when we... 00:26:54.645 --> 00:26:57.925 Irasa Downing: When I do it personally and think about that, like, how... 00:26:57.925 --> 00:27:00.965 Irasa Downing: Whose hand can I hold to go through this that's struggling? 00:27:00.965 --> 00:27:04.965 Irasa Downing: This change at the individual level, not at the organizational level. 00:27:05.845 --> 00:27:06.485 Lisa Nichols: Right. 00:27:06.485 --> 00:27:07.205 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:27:07.205 --> 00:27:11.205 Lisa Nichols: It's, yeah, every person has to make 00:27:11.520 --> 00:27:14.720 Lisa Nichols: that journey, right, for the organization to do it. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:17.920 Lisa Nichols: But there's a lot of things that you just said that I really do 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.880 Lisa Nichols: love. 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:21.115 Lisa Nichols: Seeing the person on the other side of the change. 00:27:21.115 --> 00:27:21.435 Lisa Nichols: Yes. 00:27:21.435 --> 00:27:25.435 Lisa Nichols: And having empathy for that person, I think, is really important. 00:27:26.075 --> 00:27:29.835 Lisa Nichols: I think also something else that you said that I really love, you said, 00:27:29.835 --> 00:27:31.595 Lisa Nichols: ultimately, this is for our clients. 00:27:31.595 --> 00:27:33.640 Lisa Nichols: Our clients deserve this. 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:35.160 Lisa Nichols: Yes. 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:37.800 Lisa Nichols: Explaining why we're doing the change. 00:27:37.800 --> 00:27:40.200 Lisa Nichols: It's not change for change sake. 00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:44.200 Lisa Nichols: It's change so that we can be who we need to be for our 00:27:44.360 --> 00:27:46.865 Lisa Nichols: customer and and our clients. 00:27:46.865 --> 00:27:50.865 Lisa Nichols: And and if we are not thinking about the people that we're serving 00:27:51.425 --> 00:27:51.745 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:27:51.745 --> 00:27:53.985 Lisa Nichols: Like, we have no company. 00:27:53.985 --> 00:27:54.785 Lisa Nichols: That's right. 00:27:54.785 --> 00:27:56.145 Lisa Nichols: None of us have a job. 00:27:56.145 --> 00:27:56.465 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:27:56.465 --> 00:27:57.585 Lisa Nichols: None of us have a job. 00:27:57.585 --> 00:27:57.785 Lisa Nichols: Paid. 00:27:57.745 --> 00:27:59.510 Irasa Downing: You're doing the song and the checks. 00:27:59.510 --> 00:28:00.150 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:28:00.150 --> 00:28:00.710 Lisa Nichols: That's right. 00:28:00.710 --> 00:28:01.110 Lisa Nichols: Cool. 00:28:01.110 --> 00:28:01.350 Lisa Nichols: That's right. 00:28:01.350 --> 00:28:04.230 Irasa Downing: Every week you get paid, you need to thank the client. 00:28:04.230 --> 00:28:05.030 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:28:05.030 --> 00:28:05.590 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:28:05.590 --> 00:28:06.470 Lisa Nichols: So good. 00:28:06.470 --> 00:28:07.110 Lisa Nichols: That's... 00:28:07.110 --> 00:28:10.550 Lisa Nichols: I'm I'm so glad that you dug into that because I do think... 00:28:10.550 --> 00:28:14.550 Lisa Nichols: And especially, we see it now with AI, you know, and there's so 00:28:14.755 --> 00:28:16.755 Lisa Nichols: much change at a very rapid pace. 00:28:16.755 --> 00:28:17.635 Lisa Nichols: And it it does. 00:28:17.635 --> 00:28:17.875 Lisa Nichols: It's... 00:28:17.875 --> 00:28:18.595 Lisa Nichols: There's a... 00:28:18.595 --> 00:28:20.915 Lisa Nichols: Creates a lot of uncertainty for people. 00:28:20.915 --> 00:28:21.875 Irasa Downing: It's intimidating. 00:28:21.875 --> 00:28:22.755 Irasa Downing: No doubt about it. 00:28:22.755 --> 00:28:23.795 Irasa Downing: It's intimidating. 00:28:23.795 --> 00:28:24.435 Lisa Nichols: It is. 00:28:24.435 --> 00:28:25.635 Lisa Nichols: It is. 00:28:25.635 --> 00:28:27.420 Irasa Downing: Talk about, 00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:31.340 Irasa Downing: you know, AI replacing so many jobs and how that's gonna happen. 00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:33.900 Irasa Downing: And, you know, we still are human. 00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:37.340 Irasa Downing: We still have to have human touch, but this just means how do you 00:28:37.340 --> 00:28:41.340 Irasa Downing: pivot and think about your skill set and your capability in 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:42.755 Irasa Downing: the AI world? 00:28:42.755 --> 00:28:44.755 Irasa Downing: Like, how can you evolve? 00:28:44.755 --> 00:28:48.755 Irasa Downing: We should be evolving every day every every 00:28:48.835 --> 00:28:52.835 Irasa Downing: day about something different, that, you know, we need to do. 00:28:53.075 --> 00:28:57.075 Lisa Nichols: I'll tell you just a little a little fun thing here. 00:28:58.150 --> 00:28:59.670 Lisa Nichols: Arasa, I know that you did too. 00:28:59.670 --> 00:29:03.030 Lisa Nichols: I read so many of Zig Ziglar's books back in the day. 00:29:03.030 --> 00:29:07.030 Lisa Nichols: I remember when we first had our kids, I, read his book, 00:29:07.590 --> 00:29:11.110 Lisa Nichols: the the raising positive kids in the negative world. 00:29:11.110 --> 00:29:15.110 Lisa Nichols: I mean, I just love Zig, but I had his, son 00:29:15.135 --> 00:29:15.455 Lisa Nichols: on. 00:29:15.455 --> 00:29:19.295 Lisa Nichols: Zig has now passed away, but Tom Zigler runs the Zigler group now. 00:29:19.295 --> 00:29:21.375 Lisa Nichols: And he was on the podcast. 00:29:21.375 --> 00:29:23.535 Lisa Nichols: It's been a couple of years ago now. 00:29:23.535 --> 00:29:27.455 Lisa Nichols: And he said, Lisa, he goes, I love the title of your podcast, Something 00:29:27.455 -->

00:29:28.340 Lisa Nichols: Extra. 00:29:28.340 --> 00:29:30.580 Lisa Nichols: He said, my dad would love it. 00:29:30.580 --> 00:29:32.260 Lisa Nichols: He said, think about this. 00:29:32.260 --> 00:29:36.260 Lisa Nichols: If we just learn a little something extra every 00:29:36.260 --> 00:29:36.500 Lisa Nichols: day... 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.700 Lisa Nichols: And, of course, that's not... 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:39.060 Lisa Nichols: You know, it's like the something... 00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:42.525 Lisa Nichols: The gifts that God's placed inside of us, but he said, learn just a 00:29:42.525 --> 00:29:46.525 Lisa Nichols: little something extra every day, just how much we're off we would 00:29:46.685 --> 00:29:47.085 Lisa Nichols: be. 00:29:47.085 --> 00:29:47.485 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:29:47.485 --> 00:29:49.565 Lisa Nichols: And so, you know, I just... 00:29:49.565 --> 00:29:53.165 Lisa Nichols: I think about that as you're talking about the change. 00:29:53.165 --> 00:29:55.990 Lisa Nichols: It doesn't necessarily always have to be quantum leaps. 00:29:55.990 --> 00:29:58.070 Lisa Nichols: It's like every day, we need to be improving. 00:29:58.070 --> 00:29:59.270 Lisa Nichols: We need to be learning. 00:29:59.270 --> 00:30:01.270 Lisa Nichols: We need to be growing every day. 00:30:01.270 --> 00:30:02.150 Lisa Nichols: So... 00:30:02.150 --> 00:30:02.870 Lisa Nichols: Oh my goodness. 00:30:02.870 --> 00:30:04.230 Lisa Nichols: Well, I've got learner. 00:30:04.230 --> 00:30:04.870 Irasa Downing: I think it's... 00:30:04.870 --> 00:30:08.870 Irasa Downing: I think the point of learning is such a key element of leadership. 00:30:10.005 --> 00:30:13.045 Irasa Downing: Every day, we should be learning something new. 00:30:13.045 --> 00:30:17.045 Irasa Downing: Reading, you know, speaking to a mentor, coaching, whatever 00:30:17.125 --> 00:30:21.125 Irasa Downing: it is, but be in that learning mindset because it's such a 00:30:21.125 --> 00:30:21.525 Irasa Downing: gift. 00:30:21.525 --> 00:30:25.525 Irasa Downing: And I just believe that how God set up this world, you know, that 00:30:25.550 --> 00:30:27.310 Irasa Downing: we are all to be learners. 00:30:27.310 --> 00:30:30.030 Irasa Downing: We are all to be learning by the good look. 00:30:30.030 --> 00:30:30.590 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:30:30.590 --> 00:30:33.470 Irasa Downing: He he had paved the way. 00:30:33.470 --> 00:30:37.470 Irasa Downing: But how many people don't invest in themselves is discouraging. 00:30:37.870 --> 00:30:38.750 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:30:38.750 --> 00:30:42.545 Irasa Downing: And That's an opportunity that we all need to do differently. 00:30:42.545 --> 00:30:43.505 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:30:43.505 --> 00:30:46.945 Lisa Nichols: So, listeners, take this as a challenge. 00:30:46.945 --> 00:30:47.505 Lisa Nichols: You know? 00:30:47.505 --> 00:30:49.505 Lisa Nichols: Learn something new every day. 00:30:49.505 --> 00:30:50.545 Lisa Nichols: Just keep growing. 00:30:50.545 --> 00:30:52.810 Lisa Nichols: Keep moving forward. 00:30:52.810 --> 00:30:55.290 Lisa Nichols: The people that you're serving need you to do that. 00:30:55.290 --> 00:30:56.970 Lisa Nichols: Your family needs you to do that. 00:30:56.970 --> 00:30:57.610 Lisa Nichols: So... 00:30:57.610 --> 00:30:58.090 Lisa Nichols: Well, we... 00:30:58.090 --> 00:31:02.090 Lisa Nichols: I've got so much more to talk about, Irazza, but we've got, to take 00:31:02.170 --> 00:31:06.170 Lisa Nichols: a quick break here, and we'll be right back on the something extra podcast 00:31:06.330 --> 00:31:07.605 Lisa Nichols: with my friend. 00:31:07.605 --> 00:31:08.165 AD: Hey there. 00:31:08.165 --> 00:31:12.165 AD: In a challenging business climate like this, savvy leaders look to technology to 00:31:12.245 --> 00:31:13.045 AD: find an edge. 00:31:13.045 --> 00:31:16.565 AD: This can mean the difference between staying ahead of the curve or playing catch 00:31:16.565 --> 00:31:17.045 AD: up. 00:31:17.045 --> 00:31:21.000 AD: It's time to collaborate with the highly skilled experts at Technology Partners. 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:24.760 AD: Our team of technologists draws upon decades of experience for your project. 00:31:24.760 --> 00:31:28.760 AD: With each bringing a passion for solving problems and a track record of success, 00:31:28.840 --> 00:31:32.280 AD: how can we help you overcome your biggest technology challenges? 00:31:32.280 --> 00:31:36.040 AD: Visit technology partners dot net to book a free consultation with one of our 00:31:36.040 --> 00:31:37.775 AD: leaders. 00:31:37.775 --> 00:31:41.775 Lisa Nichols: Welcome back, everyone, to the Something Extra podcast with my friend, 00:31:42.575 --> 00:31:44.415 Lisa Nichols: Arasa Downing. 00:31:44.415 --> 00:31:48.415 Lisa Nichols: Arasa, I've just loved loved loved loved this conversation so far, but I wanna 00:31:48.495 --> 00:31:50.095 Lisa Nichols: I wanna talk about this because I know... 00:31:50.095 --> 00:31:54.095 Lisa Nichols: And you've already mentioned it, several times now, but I know how important it 00:31:54.130 --> 00:31:55.970 Lisa Nichols: is to you. 00:31:55.970 --> 00:31:57.090 Lisa Nichols: You know, your... 00:31:57.090 --> 00:32:01.090 Lisa Nichols: The community really does recognize you as a leader whose impact 00:32:01.090 --> 00:32:03.090 Lisa Nichols: is guided by your faith. 00:32:03.090 --> 00:32:03.330 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:32:03.330 --> 00:32:05.235 Lisa Nichols: Tons of compassion. 00:32:05.235 --> 00:32:09.235 Lisa Nichols: You know, how does your faith shape the way you make decisions, 00:32:09.235 --> 00:32:13.235 Lisa Nichols: how you led people when you were at Jones, and 00:32:13.475 --> 00:32:16.675 Lisa Nichols: how you define success? 00:32:16.675 --> 00:32:17.155 Irasa Downing: Oh, wow. 00:32:17.155 --> 00:32:19.310 Irasa Downing: That's such a great question. 00:32:19.310 --> 00:32:20.990 Irasa Downing: So a couple of things that I'll say.

00:32:20.990 --> 00:32:24.990 Irasa Downing: I I I read this book called, doing business by the 00:32:24.990 --> 00:32:28.270 Irasa Downing: good book, as you know, with Dave Stewart. 00:32:28.270 --> 00:32:32.270 Irasa Downing: And I value that book because I think it's such a very 00:32:32.510 --> 00:32:34.305 Irasa Downing: good, 00:32:34.305 --> 00:32:37.905 Irasa Downing: parallel to how we are supposed to lead and show up in life. 00:32:37.905 --> 00:32:40.865 Irasa Downing: And God lays out his principles. 00:32:40.865 --> 00:32:44.865 Irasa Downing: He lays out how we should work together, how we need each other. 00:32:45.265 --> 00:32:45.745 Irasa Downing: Our... 00:32:45.745 --> 00:32:49.550 Irasa Downing: Each one of us have have our own unique purpose, but it is to 00:32:49.550 --> 00:32:50.430 Irasa Downing: serve others. 00:32:50.430 --> 00:32:54.430 Irasa Downing: And so I've always had that kind of mindset of how can I be 00:32:54.430 --> 00:32:55.310 Irasa Downing: of service today? 00:32:55.310 --> 00:32:57.710 Irasa Downing: When I get up, my feet hit the ground in the morning. 00:32:57.710 --> 00:32:58.270 Irasa Downing: I'm like, god. 00:32:58.270 --> 00:33:00.190 Irasa Downing: How do you wanna use me today? 00:33:00.190 --> 00:33:03.705 Irasa Downing: How do you want to improve my leadership? 00:33:03.705 --> 00:33:03.905 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:33:03.785 --> 00:33:06.745 Irasa Downing: What are things that I need to be aware of that that are not 00:33:06.745 --> 00:33:07.305 Irasa Downing: on my radar today? 00:33:07.305 --> 00:33:11.225 Irasa Downing: So I have this whole conversation every morning with God about, you know, how 00:33:11.225 --> 00:33:14.505 Irasa Downing: I wanna show up and what he needs of me, you know, on a 00:33:14.505 --> 00:33:15.545 Irasa Downing: day to day basis. 00:33:15.545 --> 00:33:19.545 Irasa Downing: And, you know, even in retirement, I think about that because now I 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:23.680 Irasa Downing: have time to think about where I wanna serve and how I wanna serve 00:33:23.840 --> 00:33:24.240 Irasa Downing: and that. 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:26.560 Irasa Downing: So I wanna be very, 00:33:26.560 --> 00:33:28.880 Irasa Downing: intentional about that. 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:31.040 Irasa Downing: And when I think about success, I just... 00:33:31.040 --> 00:33:35.040 Irasa Downing: You know, success for me has just been being 00:33:35.225 --> 00:33:36.665 Irasa Downing: planet where god wants me to be. 00:33:36.665 --> 00:33:38.345 Irasa Downing: And 00:33:38.345 --> 00:33:42.345 Irasa Downing: I I feel he gives us direction and, you know, have 00:33:42.345 --> 00:33:44.985 Irasa Downing: us showing up in places you're kinda like, how did I get here, and 00:33:44.985 --> 00:33:46.025 Irasa Downing: what am I here for? 00:33:46.025 --> 00:33:49.280 Irasa Downing: Because, like, my my degree was in criminal justice, but I... 00:33:49.280 --> 00:33:53.280 Irasa Downing: You know, because I was so, passionate about serving the underdog 00:33:53.600 --> 00:33:54.960 Irasa Downing: when I chose that major. 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:58.800 Irasa Downing: I really wanted to understand how we help people, 00:33:58.800 --> 00:34:02.800 Irasa Downing: you know, successfully get out of prison to, you know, have 00:34:03.045 --> 00:34:05.845 Irasa Downing: normal jobs and families, etcetera. 00:34:05.845 --> 00:34:06.565 Irasa Downing: And so... 00:34:06.565 --> 00:34:07.045 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:34:07.045 --> 00:34:09.445 Irasa Downing: But that wasn't where god wanted me plan it. 00:34:09.445 --> 00:34:12.565 Irasa Downing: He put me in a different direction, and that was to be a reef 00:34:12.565 --> 00:34:14.325 Irasa Downing: force for multiple humans. 00:34:14.325 --> 00:34:14.645 Irasa Downing: Right? 00:34:14.645 --> 00:34:15.587 Irasa Downing: So Yes. 00:34:15.587 --> 00:34:19.587 Irasa Downing: Working an organization and, being able to help so many people. 00:34:20.290 --> 00:34:24.290 Irasa Downing: But I I truly believe that the harmony of, 00:34:24.450 --> 00:34:28.317 Irasa Downing: purpose, resilience, joy, 00:34:28.317 --> 00:34:31.145 Irasa Downing: you know, when I think about what success is for me. 00:34:31.145 --> 00:34:35.145 Irasa Downing: And having all of that together, I think, is, you know, how I would 00:34:35.225 --> 00:34:36.985 Irasa Downing: define success. 00:34:36.985 --> 00:34:37.625 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:34:37.625 --> 00:34:38.665 Lisa Nichols: That's so good. 00:34:38.665 --> 00:34:40.630 Lisa Nichols: So dig into purpose. 00:34:40.630 --> 00:34:41.670 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:34:41.670 --> 00:34:45.110 Lisa Nichols: I had John Pepper on the podcast a couple of weeks ago. 00:34:45.110 --> 00:34:49.110 Lisa Nichols: And John, you may not know that name, but, he was the CEO 00:34:49.270 --> 00:34:51.270 Lisa Nichols: chairman of Procter and Gamble for a 00:34:51.270 --> 00:34:51.750 Irasa Downing: long time. 00:34:51.750 --> 00:34:53.635 Lisa Nichols: He's eighty eight years old now. 00:34:53.635 --> 00:34:53.835 Lisa Nichols: Wow. 00:34:53.755 --> 00:34:56.355 Lisa Nichols: I thought it was so much fun having him on. 00:34:56.355 --> 00:34:58.435 Lisa Nichols: He's, you know, physically... 00:34:58.435 --> 00:35:02.435 Lisa Nichols: You know, he's declined just a little bit, but, boy, he is still mentally 00:35:02.995 --> 00:35:04.275 Lisa Nichols: so sharp. 00:35:04.275 --> 00:35:08.275 Lisa Nichols: But at the end, I asked, you know, about something extra, And and 00:35:08.540 --> 00:35:10.540 Lisa Nichols: I told him, I'll give you two, John. 00:35:10.540 --> 00:35:12.380 Lisa Nichols: And so he said purpose and love. 00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:14.220 Lisa Nichols: You've got to have purpose. 00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:17.660 Lisa Nichols: Dig into purpose a little bit, Raza. 00:35:17.660 --> 00:35:21.340 Lisa Nichols: And what if what if somebody's sitting out there and they're listening and

they're 00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:24.505 Lisa Nichols: like, I don't even know what my purpose is. 00:35:24.505 --> 00:35:27.625 Lisa Nichols: And I do believe a lot of people struggle 00:35:27.625 --> 00:35:28.105 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:35:28.105 --> 00:35:29.865 Lisa Nichols: About why am I here? 00:35:29.865 --> 00:35:32.185 Lisa Nichols: What is my purpose? 00:35:32.185 --> 00:35:36.185 Irasa Downing: So I would strongly suggest Purpose Driven Life, that book. 00:35:36.185 --> 00:35:36.770 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:35:36.770 --> 00:35:39.970 Irasa Downing: Because I think it's very clear when you read that book what our purpose 00:35:39.970 --> 00:35:40.850 Irasa Downing: is. 00:35:40.850 --> 00:35:43.650 Irasa Downing: And it's simply put, I think it's to serve others. 00:35:43.650 --> 00:35:47.650 Irasa Downing: So I would say as you think about your purpose and you think about 00:35:47.890 --> 00:35:51.890 Irasa Downing: all the things that people say you're excellent at, like, you know, your listeners 00:35:52.225 --> 00:35:56.065 Irasa Downing: have so many different skills and capabilities out there and wonderful people. 00:35:56.065 --> 00:36:00.065 Irasa Downing: So what is it that people say that you're excellent at, that you're really 00:36:00.065 --> 00:36:00.865 Irasa Downing: good at? 00:36:00.865 --> 00:36:04.710 Irasa Downing: And then how do you take that and put it into a job or 00:36:04.710 --> 00:36:08.710 Irasa Downing: a entrepreneurial opportunity or serving others on a board, 00:36:09.670 --> 00:36:13.670 Irasa Downing: but your purpose is driven by who you are and the special gifts 00:36:13.910 --> 00:36:17.715 Irasa Downing: and talent that God has given you to, 00:36:17.715 --> 00:36:18.995 Irasa Downing: serve others in the world. 00:36:18.995 --> 00:36:20.755 Irasa Downing: So for me, I... 00:36:20.755 --> 00:36:24.755 Irasa Downing: You know, my purpose is to be a helping hand and to lift others. 00:36:25.315 --> 00:36:27.475 Irasa Downing: Simply put, that's how I would tagline it. 00:36:27.475 --> 00:36:31.010 Irasa Downing: So I think you gotta think through, you know, what is your tagline? 00:36:31.010 --> 00:36:32.610 Irasa Downing: What is your Mhmm. 00:36:32.610 --> 00:36:36.610 Irasa Downing: One thing that you want to make sure you make decisions 00:36:37.170 --> 00:36:39.330 Irasa Downing: based off of that one thing? 00:36:39.330 --> 00:36:43.330 Irasa Downing: So when I think about my purpose, and and I'm a very intentional purpose, 00:36:43.645 --> 00:36:47.325 Irasa Downing: so I don't wanna get into something that's not aligned to my purpose or 00:36:47.325 --> 00:36:50.845 Irasa Downing: that I can be of good service to you. 00:36:50.845 --> 00:36:53.005 Irasa Downing: So I purposely try. 00:36:53.005 --> 00:36:56.250 Irasa Downing: And, I mean, I hit my head on this in my twenties, like, super 00:36:56.250 --> 00:36:59.770 Irasa Downing: hard because I couldn't figure what I wanted to do, how I wanted to 00:36:59.770 --> 00:37:00.650 Irasa Downing: do it. 00:37:00.650 --> 00:37:04.650 Irasa Downing: And I think the older I've gotten, the better at it I am 00:37:04.810 --> 00:37:08.315 Irasa Downing: and really clear around 00:37:08.315 --> 00:37:12.315 Irasa Downing: how I make decisions around my purpose because I used to not do that. 00:37:12.555 --> 00:37:13.435 Lisa Nichols: And so 00:37:13.435 --> 00:37:16.715 Irasa Downing: now it's helped me get rid of a lot of stuff that I don't 00:37:16.715 --> 00:37:20.715 Irasa Downing: need to be involved with and do and be very intentional with my time 00:37:20.795 --> 00:37:24.520 Irasa Downing: and my talent and my treasure on the things that I really want to 00:37:24.520 --> 00:37:25.400 Irasa Downing: do. 00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:26.600 Lisa Nichols: That's good. 00:37:26.600 --> 00:37:28.040 Lisa Nichols: Well, I love what you said. 00:37:28.040 --> 00:37:30.440 Lisa Nichols: I think the purpose when... 00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:31.560 Lisa Nichols: A couple things. 00:37:31.560 --> 00:37:34.840 Lisa Nichols: I think purpose, number one, gives you staying power. 00:37:34.840 --> 00:37:35.815 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:37:35.815 --> 00:37:36.615 Lisa Nichols: Don't you? 00:37:36.615 --> 00:37:39.975 Lisa Nichols: When you have a clear purpose, it gives you staying power because some days 00:37:39.975 --> 00:37:41.095 Lisa Nichols: are hard. 00:37:41.095 --> 00:37:41.815 Irasa Downing: Very hard. 00:37:41.815 --> 00:37:45.815 Lisa Nichols: Let's just say, some days are really hard, but it's 00:37:46.055 --> 00:37:49.820 Lisa Nichols: the thing that will get you up on a bet if you have a 00:37:49.820 --> 00:37:50.540 Lisa Nichols: clear purpose. 00:37:50.540 --> 00:37:54.540 Lisa Nichols: The other thing that I really loved what you said, 00:37:55.260 --> 00:37:59.260 Lisa Nichols: Irazza, is the purpose when you're clear about that 00:37:59.580 --> 00:38:00.060 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:38:00.060 --> 00:38:02.855 Lisa Nichols: It really helps other things fall in place. 00:38:02.855 --> 00:38:03.135 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:38:03.135 --> 00:38:06.535 Lisa Nichols: It can it can give you that clarity to know what you need to 00:38:06.535 --> 00:38:07.735 Lisa Nichols: say no to. 00:38:07.735 --> 00:38:08.855 Speaker 2: Yes. 00:38:08.855 --> 00:38:10.375 Lisa Nichols: And when you say yes 00:38:10.375 --> 00:38:12.935 Irasa Downing: success because you'll have your time back. 00:38:12.935 --> 00:38:16.935 Irasa Downing: You'll have your, you know, you'll have truer relationship... 00:38:17.190 --> 00:38:19.430 Irasa Downing: More authentic relationships. 00:38:19.430 --> 00:38:23.430 Irasa Downing: Everything around your life starts to become more clear when you're able to 00:38:23.430 --> 00:38:25.030 Irasa Downing: identify what your purpose is. 00:38:25.030 --> 00:38:29.030 Irasa Downing: And it took several, you know, 00:38:29.825 --> 00:38:33.665 Irasa Downing: I don't know, me writing it out, putting it

in my journal, praying about 00:38:33.665 --> 00:38:37.665 Irasa Downing: it, you know, asking God for clarity around it, 00:38:37.745 --> 00:38:41.745 Irasa Downing: before it really became concrete for me, on what is 00:38:41.825 --> 00:38:45.825 Irasa Downing: the one thing that I do extremely well that I feel God has, 00:38:46.120 --> 00:38:48.680 Irasa Downing: you know, put a special hand from me to do. 00:38:48.680 --> 00:38:49.960 Irasa Downing: And that... 00:38:49.960 --> 00:38:53.240 Irasa Downing: That's how I got to where I where I am today. 00:38:53.240 --> 00:38:54.120 Lisa Nichols: Right. 00:38:54.120 --> 00:38:54.520 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:38:54.520 --> 00:38:58.120 Lisa Nichols: So if you're a listener and you're sitting there going, I don't know what 00:38:58.120 --> 00:38:59.825 Lisa Nichols: my purpose is. 00:38:59.825 --> 00:39:03.505 Lisa Nichols: You know, I'm I'm just saying, understand that you have to do... 00:39:03.505 --> 00:39:05.585 Lisa Nichols: Sometimes you have to do hard work. 00:39:05.585 --> 00:39:05.905 Lisa Nichols: Yes. 00:39:05.905 --> 00:39:09.905 Lisa Nichols: You have to step back from everything and do what Ira has 00:39:10.065 --> 00:39:10.465 Lisa Nichols: said. 00:39:10.465 --> 00:39:11.905 Lisa Nichols: You write it down. 00:39:11.905 --> 00:39:12.625 Lisa Nichols: Work on it. 00:39:12.625 --> 00:39:13.425 Lisa Nichols: Pray about it. 00:39:13.425 --> 00:39:14.960 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:17.200 Lisa Nichols: It it it requires some work. 00:39:17.200 --> 00:39:20.880 Lisa Nichols: It does require work. 00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:22.800 Lisa Nichols: Well, let's see. 00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:24.720 Lisa Nichols: Oh, let me ask you this question. 00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:28.720 Lisa Nichols: So how's your faith shape decisions that 00:39:28.925 --> 00:39:32.925 Lisa Nichols: you've made when the right path wasn't necessarily the easiest 00:39:33.085 --> 00:39:34.605 Lisa Nichols: one 00:39:34.605 --> 00:39:38.605 Lisa Nichols: or the most popular one? 00:39:38.925 --> 00:39:39.645 Irasa Downing: So I... 00:39:39.645 --> 00:39:41.325 Irasa Downing: I'll start with my prayer life. 00:39:41.325 --> 00:39:44.090 Irasa Downing: I I think, you know, 00:39:44.090 --> 00:39:48.090 Irasa Downing: asking God for clarity and peace around a decision that I'm 00:39:48.170 --> 00:39:50.090 Irasa Downing: gonna make, 00:39:50.090 --> 00:39:52.090 Irasa Downing: is hugely important. 00:39:52.090 --> 00:39:56.090 Irasa Downing: And I think sometime when life throws you, 00:39:56.170 --> 00:39:59.305 Irasa Downing: you know, all these different balls at the same time and you've gotta make 00:39:59.305 --> 00:40:02.985 Irasa Downing: quick decisions and sometimes you don't have a lot of time to, you know, 00:40:02.985 --> 00:40:06.985 Irasa Downing: navigate through that, you always know that there's another decision behind that 00:40:06.985 --> 00:40:10.270 Irasa Downing: remember can be made even if it was the wrong call. 00:40:10.270 --> 00:40:12.510 Irasa Downing: But as a leader, you have to own it. 00:40:12.510 --> 00:40:13.950 Irasa Downing: You gotta say, you know, hey. 00:40:13.950 --> 00:40:15.790 Irasa Downing: I made a wrong call here. 00:40:15.790 --> 00:40:19.470 Irasa Downing: We're gonna go this direction instead, and here's why. 00:40:19.470 --> 00:40:23.470 Irasa Downing: And so I feel like leaders sometimes are afraid, and they 00:40:23.550 --> 00:40:26.665 Irasa Downing: stick to their own decision even if it was a bad one. 00:40:26.665 --> 00:40:29.385 Irasa Downing: And they don't come back to the team to explain that it was a 00:40:29.385 --> 00:40:31.145 Irasa Downing: bad decision and why. 00:40:31.145 --> 00:40:34.745 Irasa Downing: So I think I think work forgiveness in some of those situations are really 00:40:34.745 --> 00:40:35.225 Irasa Downing: important. 00:40:35.225 --> 00:40:39.225 Irasa Downing: But every morning, I ask God for direction, for clarity around 00:40:39.290 --> 00:40:43.290 Irasa Downing: my decision because I think being a good leader, you need to provide clarity, 00:40:44.410 --> 00:40:47.290 Irasa Downing: guidance, and expectation to your team. 00:40:47.290 --> 00:40:51.290 Irasa Downing: And so clarity is so important, and, I 00:40:51.485 --> 00:40:55.485 Irasa Downing: ask God every morning, you know, to give me clarity of 00:40:55.565 --> 00:40:59.565 Irasa Downing: my vision of what needs to be done around everything from 00:40:59.645 --> 00:41:03.645 Irasa Downing: my plate, help me prioritize my day, thinking about what the 00:41:03.645 --> 00:41:06.950 Irasa Downing: head, and, you know, contemplating tough decisions. 00:41:06.950 --> 00:41:07.430 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:41:07.430 --> 00:41:11.190 Irasa Downing: So I kinda do my pros and cons list of what I would... 00:41:11.190 --> 00:41:14.630 Irasa Downing: You know, direction I would go and, you know, what are the pros and 00:41:14.630 --> 00:41:17.590 Irasa Downing: cons of that decision, and, you know, they'll play it out. 00:41:17.590 --> 00:41:21.590 Irasa Downing: I also like to get other people's, perspective before I make 00:41:21.855 --> 00:41:22.495 Irasa Downing: decisions. 00:41:22.495 --> 00:41:26.495 Irasa Downing: So I'm huge on hearing from different voices, 00:41:26.655 --> 00:41:30.015 Irasa Downing: not by just my care group, but down the chain, up the chain, you 00:41:30.015 --> 00:41:32.815 Irasa Downing: know, before I make a final call. 00:41:32.815 --> 00:41:33.215 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:41:33.215 --> 00:41:34.760 Lisa Nichols: That's so good. 00:41:34.760 --> 00:41:36.760 Lisa Nichols: That's another biblical principle. 00:41:36.760 --> 00:41:39.000 Lisa Nichols: There's wisdom in many advisers. 00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:39.880 Lisa Nichols: Right? 00:41:39.880 --> 00:41:40.760 Lisa Nichols: There is. 00:41:40.760 --> 00:41:43.800 Lisa Nichols: I just say make sure you got the right adviser. 00:41:43.800 -->

00:41:44.520 Irasa Downing: Right. 00:41:44.520 --> 00:41:45.240 Irasa Downing: Right. 00:41:45.240 --> 00:41:46.120 Lisa Nichols: Yes. 00:41:46.120 --> 00:41:49.640 Lisa Nichols: Oh, well, let's let's talk about this a little bit. 00:41:49.640 --> 00:41:53.640 Lisa Nichols: I've got few more questions here, and I know that goodness gracious, we're not 00:41:53.755 --> 00:41:54.475 Lisa Nichols: gonna get through it. 00:41:54.475 --> 00:41:58.475 Lisa Nichols: There's just more to you than one podcast can handle, 00:41:58.875 --> 00:41:59.675 Lisa Nichols: Arasa. 00:41:59.675 --> 00:42:00.235 Lisa Nichols: It's true. 00:42:00.235 --> 00:42:03.630 Lisa Nichols: But you you have dedicated, and I think I counted up. 00:42:03.630 --> 00:42:07.230 Lisa Nichols: I don't know if you're still active, but you've done a lot of serving 00:42:07.230 --> 00:42:08.430 Lisa Nichols: on boards. 00:42:08.430 --> 00:42:09.150 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:42:09.150 --> 00:42:12.270 Lisa Nichols: You know, connections to success, Kathy and Brett, Lambert. 00:42:12.270 --> 00:42:13.870 Lisa Nichols: You mentioned Kathy earlier. 00:42:13.870 --> 00:42:17.870 Lisa Nichols: Covenant House Love, Covenant in a House, Saint Louis Symphony. 00:42:18.655 --> 00:42:22.655 Lisa Nichols: You know, how do you decide on that, Araiza, which 00:42:22.895 --> 00:42:26.815 Lisa Nichols: one of those you devote your time, treasure, and talent to? 00:42:26.815 --> 00:42:30.015 Irasa Downing: It goes back to my purpose, you know, and Mhmm. 00:42:30.015 --> 00:42:33.455 Irasa Downing: Fundamentally, you know, serving others is what I do. 00:42:33.455 --> 00:42:36.730 Irasa Downing: And I like to, you know, lift others, give them a hand up. 00:42:36.730 --> 00:42:38.250 Irasa Downing: Not a handout, but a hand up. 00:42:38.250 --> 00:42:42.250 Irasa Downing: And so when I think about what the organization's doing and their 00:42:42.330 --> 00:42:46.090 Irasa Downing: purpose, their mission, like, what they're trying to drive and how does that align 00:42:46.090 --> 00:42:50.090 Irasa Downing: to my own personal purpose, that's how I make the connection of where 00:42:50.115 --> 00:42:51.795 Irasa Downing: I wanna spend my time. 00:42:51.795 --> 00:42:55.795 Irasa Downing: And so today, I'm the president, of the board for 00:42:55.795 --> 00:42:59.795 Irasa Downing: Covenant House, and we're having our big sleep out, executive sleep out, 00:42:59.795 --> 00:43:00.675 Irasa Downing: November nineteenth. 00:43:00.675 --> 00:43:04.010 Irasa Downing: So I would love all your listeners to join me in that. 00:43:04.010 --> 00:43:05.930 Irasa Downing: It's a very fun experience. 00:43:05.930 --> 00:43:09.210 Irasa Downing: And, Lisa, when I say something that has... 00:43:09.210 --> 00:43:13.130 Irasa Downing: It shook me to my core the first night I slept out and put 00:43:13.130 --> 00:43:17.130 Irasa Downing: myself in the shoes of someone homeless, the homeless youth. 00:43:17.235 --> 00:43:17.875

Irasa Downing: Imagine that. 00:43:17.875 --> 00:43:18.595 Irasa Downing: We have kids. 00:43:18.595 --> 00:43:18.835 Irasa Downing: Right? 00:43:18.835 --> 00:43:22.835 Irasa Downing: So imagine a sixteen year old, a fourteen year old that 00:43:22.995 --> 00:43:25.075 Irasa Downing: doesn't have, 00:43:25.075 --> 00:43:26.595 Irasa Downing: a place to call home. 00:43:26.595 --> 00:43:27.155 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:43:27.155 --> 00:43:31.155 Irasa Downing: They've left home for whatever reason or got kicked out for whatever reason, 00:43:31.200 --> 00:43:35.200 Irasa Downing: and they're on the street at night pouring snow, 00:43:35.840 --> 00:43:39.840 Irasa Downing: you know, rain, whatever the case may be, and they're under a bridge. 00:43:40.320 --> 00:43:40.720 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:43:40.720 --> 00:43:41.600 Irasa Downing: Can you imagine? 00:43:41.600 --> 00:43:45.600 Irasa Downing: And so when I slept out that night, you only get a cardboard box. 00:43:46.155 --> 00:43:50.155 Irasa Downing: And I slept in the cardboard box, and I was freezing all 00:43:50.315 --> 00:43:51.355 Irasa Downing: night. 00:43:51.355 --> 00:43:55.355 Irasa Downing: And all I kept hearing was the sound, sirens, you know, people 00:43:55.595 --> 00:43:58.635 Irasa Downing: yelling, breaking glass, like, all of these things. 00:43:58.635 --> 00:44:01.920 Irasa Downing: And I'm just like, how can they ever sleep in peace? 00:44:01.920 --> 00:44:02.960 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:44:02.960 --> 00:44:06.960 Irasa Downing: And so my purpose, you know, of 00:44:07.520 --> 00:44:11.120 Irasa Downing: wanting to join that organization and be a part of it is because I 00:44:11.120 --> 00:44:13.855 Irasa Downing: want to end homelessness for our kids. 00:44:13.855 --> 00:44:14.095 Irasa Downing: Yeah. 00:44:14.095 --> 00:44:18.095 Irasa Downing: There's no reason our kids should be on the street, you know, for 00:44:18.095 --> 00:44:18.815 Irasa Downing: any reason. 00:44:18.815 --> 00:44:20.655 Irasa Downing: So how can we end homelessness? 00:44:20.655 --> 00:44:24.655 Irasa Downing: And it's by each and every one of us taking a chance 00:44:24.735 --> 00:44:27.660 Irasa Downing: that helping one of those youth. 00:44:27.660 --> 00:44:31.660 Irasa Downing: So November nineteenth being our big day, for this sleep out, 00:44:31.900 --> 00:44:34.780 Irasa Downing: I would love for you all to experience that. 00:44:34.780 --> 00:44:35.660 Irasa Downing: It's it's... 00:44:35.660 --> 00:44:37.980 Irasa Downing: It will change your life completely. 00:44:37.980 --> 00:44:38.380 Lisa Nichols: Yeah. 00:44:38.380 --> 00:44:39.425 Irasa Downing: Guarantee. 00:44:39.425 --> 00:44:43.345 Lisa Nichols: Well, we'll put the information in the show notes, and there might be listeners 00:44:43.345 --> 00:44:44.865 Lisa Nichols: that would love to do that. 00:44:44.865 --> 00:44:48.865 Lisa Nichols: So I would love to do that, but, our daughter's getting married, 00:44:48.945 --> 00:44:52.945 Lisa Nichols: so I will be, I will be reporting things less. 00:44:53.035 --> 00:44:54.650 Lisa Nichols: Reporting things. 00:44:54.650 --> 00:44:56.170 Lisa Nichols: Yes. 00:44:56.170 --> 00:44:57.050 Lisa Nichols: Oh my goodness. 00:44:57.050 --> 00:44:57.450 Lisa Nichols: Gosh. 00:44:57.450 --> 00:44:58.570 Lisa Nichols: I've got so many more. 00:44:58.570 --> 00:45:00.170 Lisa Nichols: Well, let's talk about this. 00:45:00.170 --> 00:45:01.450 Lisa Nichols: You retired. 00:45:01.450 --> 00:45:02.970 Lisa Nichols: You retired. 00:45:02.970 --> 00:45:06.810 Lisa Nichols: And I'm gonna say I told my friend Paris Forrest that just retired from 00:45:06.810 --> 00:45:07.130 Lisa Nichols: Boeing. 00:45:07.130 --> 00:45:08.905 Lisa Nichols: I'm like, girl, you're not retiring. 00:45:08.905 --> 00:45:10.665 Lisa Nichols: You're gonna be refiring. 00:45:10.665 --> 00:45:10.905 Lisa Nichols: I... 00:45:10.905 --> 00:45:11.625 Lisa Nichols: You know? 00:45:11.625 --> 00:45:15.145 Lisa Nichols: Because I said, there is no way you're just gonna retire. 00:45:15.145 --> 00:45:15.625 Lisa Nichols: You know? 00:45:15.625 --> 00:45:16.905 Lisa Nichols: But Alright. 00:45:16.905 --> 00:45:20.905 Lisa Nichols: You know, what is this transition taught you, and what what are you excited 00:45:20.905 --> 00:45:21.145 Lisa Nichols: about? 00:45:21.145 --> 00:45:25.145 Lisa Nichols: You're kinda taking the time to really think about where you 00:45:25.170 --> 00:45:26.610 Lisa Nichols: wanna spend your time. 00:45:26.610 --> 00:45:29.570 Lisa Nichols: Talent Manager and Covenant House is one of those. 00:45:29.570 --> 00:45:30.050 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:45:30.050 --> 00:45:31.090 Irasa Downing: Definitely. 00:45:31.090 --> 00:45:33.890 Irasa Downing: So it's coming up on a year already. 00:45:33.890 --> 00:45:36.130 Irasa Downing: Like, it's, like, shocking. 00:45:36.130 --> 00:45:39.805 Irasa Downing: And, you know, I I have heard so many things about retirement. 00:45:39.805 --> 00:45:43.805 Irasa Downing: So when I first retired and because I'm young, a lot of people 00:45:44.045 --> 00:45:45.405 Irasa Downing: were like, well, what are you gonna do next? 00:45:45.405 --> 00:45:45.965 Irasa Downing: What's what are you... 00:45:45.965 --> 00:45:46.845 Irasa Downing: What's on your agenda? 00:45:46.845 --> 00:45:49.565 Irasa Downing: I'm like, a part of retirement is you don't have an agenda. 00:45:49.565 --> 00:45:52.810 Irasa Downing: You are, you know, taking it all in. 00:45:52.810 --> 00:45:55.690 Irasa Downing: Everything you've hard for, you're going to enjoy. 00:45:55.690 --> 00:45:59.690 Irasa Downing: And so right now, this year, both my husband and I have been traveling 00:46:00.010 --> 00:46:04.010 Irasa Downing: all over the world, and trying to go to a couple places a month 00:46:04.010 --> 00:46:07.935 Irasa Downing: just to enjoy traveling, you know, with no... 00:46:07.935 --> 00:46:11.935 Irasa Downing: We can extend, we can

shorten, whatever we wanna do, the most flexibility. 00:46:12.655 --> 00:46:16.655 Irasa Downing: So the freedom that retirement has given me has just been wonderful. 00:46:17.295 --> 00:46:21.295 Irasa Downing: But, obviously, as a, you know, constant learner, 00:46:21.540 --> 00:46:23.460 Irasa Downing: I'm always thinking about what's next. 00:46:23.460 --> 00:46:27.460 Irasa Downing: And so, I am definitely going to start an executive 00:46:27.940 --> 00:46:31.940 Irasa Downing: coaching business, next year, and I'm really excited about that. 00:46:32.405 --> 00:46:34.565 Irasa Downing: And I've also started writing a book. 00:46:34.565 --> 00:46:36.405 Irasa Downing: So Oh, cool. 00:46:36.405 --> 00:46:36.605 Irasa Downing: Those 00:46:36.565 --> 00:46:37.685 Lisa Nichols: are my... 00:46:37.685 --> 00:46:41.685 Irasa Downing: Those are kinda my two big things that, you know, I'm working on. 00:46:42.485 --> 00:46:44.405 Irasa Downing: So, yeah, it's been exciting. 00:46:44.405 --> 00:46:48.390 Irasa Downing: It's like, you know, finding out who you are, you know, we kinda had 00:46:48.390 --> 00:46:49.910 Irasa Downing: a conversation about that. 00:46:49.910 --> 00:46:50.390 Irasa Downing: You know? 00:46:50.390 --> 00:46:51.270 Irasa Downing: Yes. 00:46:51.270 --> 00:46:53.350 Irasa Downing: What title about the things that's... 00:46:53.350 --> 00:46:55.030 Irasa Downing: You know, it's reflection. 00:46:55.030 --> 00:46:58.405 Irasa Downing: You know, you're reflecting on what do I want to do? 00:46:58.405 --> 00:47:00.485 Irasa Downing: What are the things that excite me? 00:47:00.485 --> 00:47:04.485 Irasa Downing: And, you know, without having any issues or, you know, 00:47:04.565 --> 00:47:07.445 Irasa Downing: concerns about everybody else, it's about you now. 00:47:07.445 --> 00:47:07.685 Irasa Downing: Yeah. 00:47:07.685 --> 00:47:10.085 Lisa Nichols: So Oh, that is so exciting. 00:47:10.085 --> 00:47:10.965 Lisa Nichols: That is exciting. 00:47:10.965 --> 00:47:14.610 Lisa Nichols: I know you've really been enjoying the traveling and just enjoying your family, your 00:47:14.610 --> 00:47:15.330 Lisa Nichols: two girls. 00:47:15.330 --> 00:47:16.850 Lisa Nichols: And Yeah. 00:47:16.850 --> 00:47:17.490 Lisa Nichols: That's wonderful. 00:47:17.490 --> 00:47:21.490 Lisa Nichols: So we'll have you on again, Arasah, when your book comes out. 00:47:21.730 --> 00:47:22.450 Lisa Nichols: Okay? 00:47:22.450 --> 00:47:23.650 Lisa Nichols: We'll have you on again. 00:47:23.650 --> 00:47:24.930 Lisa Nichols: But I have to ask you this. 00:47:24.930 --> 00:47:26.935 Lisa Nichols: This is called something extra. 00:47:26.935 --> 00:47:27.175 Lisa Nichols: Mhmm. 00:47:27.175 --> 00:47:31.175 Lisa Nichols: What do you believe is a something extra that every leader needs? 00:47:32.375 --> 00:47:34.135 Irasa Downing: So I would say courage. 00:47:34.135 --> 00:47:35.815 Irasa Downing: Courage Mhmm. 00:47:35.815 --> 00:47:38.615 Irasa Downing: Is

a huge one for me and authenticity. 00:47:38.615 --> 00:47:42.615 Irasa Downing: So not only should you be courageous in who you are and what 00:47:42.800 --> 00:47:46.800 Irasa Downing: you stand for and your purpose, but also be authentic 00:47:46.880 --> 00:47:47.920 Irasa Downing: to who you are. 00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:51.920 Irasa Downing: And sometimes corporate can change you, and, 00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:53.840 Irasa Downing: you become like everybody else. 00:47:53.840 --> 00:47:57.840 Irasa Downing: But that's why God gave you something special and something different so 00:47:57.955 --> 00:48:00.435 Irasa Downing: that you can be, 00:48:00.435 --> 00:48:02.435 Irasa Downing: you can be courageous in who that... 00:48:02.435 --> 00:48:04.995 Irasa Downing: Who you are and what you stand for. 00:48:04.995 --> 00:48:08.115 Irasa Downing: So when I think about that, it's not really how many people report to 00:48:08.115 --> 00:48:08.315 Irasa Downing: you. 00:48:08.275 --> 00:48:12.275 Irasa Downing: It's about how many lives are you impacting and touching that 00:48:12.490 --> 00:48:15.930 Irasa Downing: they're better because of your leadership experience. 00:48:15.930 --> 00:48:16.970 Lisa Nichols: Absolutely. 00:48:16.970 --> 00:48:19.610 Lisa Nichols: I'm one hundred percent with you on that. 00:48:19.610 --> 00:48:21.930 Lisa Nichols: Well, this has been so much fun. 00:48:21.930 --> 00:48:23.705 Lisa Nichols: Thank you so much. 00:48:23.705 --> 00:48:25.465 Lisa Nichols: I appreciate you sharing your wisdom. 00:48:25.465 --> 00:48:28.185 Lisa Nichols: I know it's gonna help our listeners, 00:48:28.185 --> 00:48:28.665 Lisa Nichols: Irazza. 00:48:28.665 --> 00:48:29.865 Lisa Nichols: And I'm so excited. 00:48:29.865 --> 00:48:33.865 Lisa Nichols: I'm so excited for this next chapter for you with your executive 00:48:34.265 --> 00:48:38.265 Lisa Nichols: coaching and, yeah, the book coming out, that's gonna be really... 00:48:38.570 --> 00:48:39.770 Lisa Nichols: That's awesome. 00:48:39.770 --> 00:48:43.450 Lisa Nichols: So I just appreciate the time today, and, it's always... 00:48:43.450 --> 00:48:44.890 Lisa Nichols: It's good to see you. 00:48:44.890 --> 00:48:48.090 Irasa Downing: It is so great to see you, Leba, and thank you so much for 00:48:48.090 --> 00:48:48.650 Irasa Downing: having me. 00:48:48.650 --> 00:48:52.650 Irasa Downing: And what you're doing for us in our society and, 00:48:53.065 --> 00:48:56.745 Irasa Downing: you know, the impact that you have made has just been phenomenal. 00:48:56.745 --> 00:49:00.745 Irasa Downing: So I applaud you and everything that you're doing as well, and 00:49:00.905 --> 00:49:02.425 Irasa Downing: god bless you. 00:49:02.425 --> 00:49:06.425 Announcer: Something extra with Lisa Nichols is a Technology Partners production. 00:49:06.480 --> 00:49:08.240 Announcer: Copyright Technology Partners Inc. 00:49:08.240 --> 00:49:09.600 Announcer: Twenty nineteen. 00:49:09.600 --> 00:49:13.600 Announcer: To learn more about this week's guest, check out the show notes at tpi 00:49:13.600 --> 00:49:15.760 Announcer: dot co slash podcast. 00:49:15.760 --> 00:49:18.960 Announcer: If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review. 00:49:18.960 --> 00:49:20.960 Announcer: Thank you for listening to Something Extra.