Full Transcript for Breaking Barriers with Brigadier General Tia Young

because, 00:02:06.417 --> 00:02:10.857 you know, society seems to, well, this is a broad statement, 00:02:11.037 --> 00:02:15.197 but we oftentimes focus or it really is still a male dominated group. 00:02:15.496 --> 00:02:18.436 You know, leadership, you know, there's a lot of males who are in leadership. 00:02:18.436 --> 00:02:22.456 And, and I think, you know, we would always say that, you know, 00:02:22.516 --> 00:02:25.036 the man might be the head, but the woman is the neck, right. 00:02:25.156 --> 00:02:27.756 She turns the head, right. She makes things happen. 00:02:27.896 --> 00:02:31.536 And I want to kind of dive into this a little bit is especially overcoming, 00:02:31.556 --> 00:02:35.236 you know, your early career challenges, you know, 00:02:35.436 --> 00:02:38.176 that it's, you know, especially for our audience, our 00:02:38.176 --> 00:02:41.016 female audience who might be elevating themselves through 00:02:41.016 --> 00:02:44.916 leadership roles i mean you face skepticism you 00:02:44.916 --> 00:02:47.576 know as a woman you know 00:02:47.576 --> 00:02:51.076 in the army number one gaining in 00:02:51.076 --> 00:02:55.076 rank how did you navigate and overcome these challenges like what what what 00:02:55.076 --> 00:03:00.076 was did you have a secret to doing it or was it just grit what was it well i 00:03:00.076 --> 00:03:04.856 i wish i could say i had a grit in the world and that's how i did it yeah but 00:03:04.856 --> 00:03:09.336 the reality was as i went through those experiences, 00:03:09.356 --> 00:03:15.976 I was blessed to have some senior and non-commissioned officers that saw in 00:03:15.976 --> 00:03:22.416 me greatness and took me under their wing and taught me the S word. 00:03:22.936 --> 00:03:26.516 And no for your audience, it's not the word you're thinking, 00:03:26.856 --> 00:03:34.356 but they taught me strategy and taught me how to maneuver in that space because 00:03:34.356 --> 00:03:39.116 I had no idea as to what I was doing at that time. 00:03:39.416 --> 00:03:46.296 When we come into the military as junior officers, the mantra is, 00:03:46.576 --> 00:03:49.216 you're a junior officer, you should have milk behind the ears. 00:03:50.136 --> 00:03:53.316 Although you have the title of being in charge, 00:03:54.016 --> 00:03:56.816 you're not even anyone so so the biggest thing 00:03:56.816 --> 00:03:59.616 is really learning from your team and i 00:03:59.616 --> 00:04:03.076 had an nco sergeant first class body the heiress that 00:04:03.076 --> 00:04:06.016 took me under his wing and taught me strategy and from 00:04:06.016 --> 00:04:12.736 there i built upon what i learned from him to be able to maneuver in that space 00:04:12.736 --> 00:04:19.036 and get myself out of some interesting situations interesting so talk to me 00:04:19.036 --> 00:04:23.016 a little bit about this because i think you know you you kind of key in on two 00:04:23.016 --> 00:04:25.276 things is number one mentorship so being,

00:04:26.156 --> 00:04:30.396 like it's really what you're talking about is really being like 00:04:30.396 --> 00:04:34.416 almost letting go the ego to some degree is that correct and saying hey i'm 00:04:34.416 --> 00:04:41.336 willing to be mentored so that i can learn and grow so is that what i hear you 00:04:41.336 --> 00:04:45.516 saying is it's really important as a leader no matter the circumstance you're 00:04:45.516 --> 00:04:47.176 in is to really seek out leadership? 00:04:47.996 --> 00:04:53.436 I think it is. I think the important thing from my perspective is humility, right? 00:04:53.796 --> 00:04:58.896 I just come into a position and I came into that position as the senior. 00:04:58.976 --> 00:05:04.876 I have people that have kids that were my age, but I was the one that was responsible 00:05:04.876 --> 00:05:09.476 for what happened and what failed to happen in meeting the mission. 00:05:09.476 --> 00:05:12.756 So I had to come into that situation and 00:05:12.756 --> 00:05:16.116 i encourage others coming into positions where they 00:05:16.116 --> 00:05:19.316 are not the oldest if 00:05:19.316 --> 00:05:22.236 you will but they're the youngest on the team but they 00:05:22.236 --> 00:05:25.256 have the responsibility to lead it doesn't change by virtue 00:05:25.256 --> 00:05:28.096 of your age leading is leading and having 00:05:28.096 --> 00:05:32.256 the ability to influence others toward a positive game when 00:05:32.256 --> 00:05:36.156 i came into that position i initially i 00:05:36.156 --> 00:05:40.336 will tell you when i initially came into it there was no humbleness 00:05:40.336 --> 00:05:44.216 it was look i'm a brand new spanking second 00:05:44.216 --> 00:05:47.456 lieutenant in the army and i am freaking in 00:05:47.456 --> 00:05:53.136 charge baby yeah you know the the one little snippet i tell you that opened 00:05:53.136 --> 00:05:57.636 my eyes that hey t you're on the wrong track is when i reported to the unit 00:05:57.636 --> 00:06:02.016 i was told that i was wanting to be the s1 because my area of expertise is human 00:06:02.016 --> 00:06:06.316 resource yeah i went into the office, reported in. 00:06:06.456 --> 00:06:12.596 And before I got into the office, I drove up and I saw that there was a parking space for the S-1. 00:06:12.776 --> 00:06:14.996 I was like, I have arrived. 00:06:15.236 --> 00:06:17.956 I got my own parking space. This is awesome. 00:06:18.596 --> 00:06:22.496 Walked in, talked to a Sergeant First Class, told him that I was there. 00:06:22.696 --> 00:06:28.096 And I said, is there anything I need to do to make sure that my parking space out front? 00:06:28.216 --> 00:06:31.236 And they were like, I'm sorry, ma'am, that parking space isn't Jordan. 00:06:31.796 --> 00:06:36.876 That's actually my parking space. You're going to be working behind the building in a unit. 00:06:37.714 --> 00:06:41.854 God opened my eyes and said, what, Cletus? 00:06:42.494 --> 00:06:45.814 I said, I got my partner's face. What are you talking about? 00:06:46.074 --> 00:06:50.334 And I had to have humility in that moment. Oh, okay. 00:06:50.514 --> 00:06:55.614 So I see that things have changed. And I went back around to the building where I actually work. 00:06:56.014 --> 00:07:01.014 And it was like parking in Egypt. You try to get as close as you can so you 00:07:01.014 --> 00:07:02.694 didn't have to walk on those cold mornings. 00:07:02.694 --> 00:07:08.354 But I was in the midst of everyone. And just that analogy of me thinking I was 00:07:08.354 --> 00:07:11.134 here to be humble, to have to go 00:07:11.134 --> 00:07:15.754 around the building, to not try to find a parking space wherever I could, 00:07:16.654 --> 00:07:20.174 to that office went a little bit more focused. 00:07:21.174 --> 00:07:24.834 Yeah, talk to us a little bit about humility, because I think, 00:07:24.874 --> 00:07:29.094 you know, in today's era, right, you know, we've got men and women who are getting 00:07:29.094 --> 00:07:32.614 out of the service, and you can certainly speak to this as well. 00:07:33.314 --> 00:07:39.314 Where you've achieved greatness in uniform and then you get ready to get out 00:07:39.314 --> 00:07:43.934 and you're faced with it. It's a whole new marketplace, right? 00:07:44.154 --> 00:07:47.014 And especially with AI, like things are changing every four months, 00:07:47.274 --> 00:07:52.374 sometimes every week, it's rapidly changing. So you come out and I don't care 00:07:52.374 --> 00:07:55.874 if you're senior enlisted or if you're a senior officer, all of a sudden you 00:07:55.874 --> 00:07:59.134 get out and you're like, Hey, I've commanded, I've had budgets, I've had all this stuff. 00:07:59.354 --> 00:08:04.314 I'm, I am an expert at what I do. And then you go to interview for jobs and 00:08:04.314 --> 00:08:08.654 how hard it is, is it to, to put on the humility? 00:08:08.694 --> 00:08:11.274 Because you're like, man, I've done all these amazing things. 00:08:11.414 --> 00:08:15.914 And then you come, you know, your face was some 20 something, 00:08:16.214 --> 00:08:21.354 30 something HR person that looks at you and goes, listen, you're like an, 00:08:21.474 --> 00:08:24.294 I don't know what an O six is. 00:08:24.414 --> 00:08:27.334 I don't, I don't, I don't know what any of this means? 00:08:27.954 --> 00:08:34.734 I'm an OG in the HR world. I think, you know, I can always speak from my own experience. 00:08:35.274 --> 00:08:42.014 Four years ago, I retired and I was told prior to retirement because I went 00:08:42.014 --> 00:08:46.474 through the transitional tap program and saying, you know, because of the skill 00:08:46.474 --> 00:08:48.854 sets that you have, because of the right that you've attained, 00:08:49.194 --> 00:08:52.094 all people are going to be knocking down the door and you're just, 00:08:52.134 --> 00:08:55.554 you know, you're just going to be sitting basically having it all come to you. 00:08:55.554 -->

00:08:59.374 Well that is a lie i've had 00:08:59.374 --> 00:09:02.154 to put in the effort i have to put in the work the same way that 00:09:02.154 --> 00:09:05.114 i had to work and network and connect with 00:09:05.114 --> 00:09:07.974 people and share the value that i brought to the table 00:09:07.974 --> 00:09:12.494 was the same thing that i've had to in the military i've had to do in the civilian 00:09:12.494 --> 00:09:15.934 sector and the reality of it 00:09:15.934 --> 00:09:25.714 was shopping then oh my gosh you know i've i've made it to this right and. 00:09:26.839 --> 00:09:29.919 Is crickets yeah crickets so 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:33.459 i had to really come in on what 00:09:33.459 --> 00:09:36.179 is it that i wanted to do what was my 00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:39.219 purpose you know what was what was my goal why 00:09:39.219 --> 00:09:42.679 was it my goal to do what i wanted to do how 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:45.779 was i thinking no different than when i was in the military how 00:09:45.779 --> 00:09:48.739 was i going to attain that goal what was 00:09:48.739 --> 00:09:51.639 the value that that goal was going to bring once i got 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:55.179 it and i had to recalibrate my 00:09:55.179 --> 00:09:58.919 mindset and I had to recalibrate my 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:01.859 speaking because you know in the military we you know we can speak in 00:10:01.859 --> 00:10:05.259 acronyms in a whole sentence and we all enjoy understanding each 00:10:05.259 --> 00:10:10.499 other but how was I going to transition that way of speaking to the civilian 00:10:10.499 --> 00:10:15.319 sector and still be able to get my point across and communicate the value that 00:10:15.319 --> 00:10:22.259 I brought to the table so I've always encouraged military members that I mentored, 00:10:22.439 --> 00:10:24.539 coached, and died is, look, 00:10:24.839 --> 00:10:30.099 the military has a plethora of certifications that you can get under your belt. 00:10:30.479 --> 00:10:36.099 Make sure you get every certification you can in an area that you desire to 00:10:36.099 --> 00:10:39.819 make you more marketable on the civilian sector. 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:45.379 And understand that you're going to have to give yourself some grace through 00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:47.239 the process as you transition. 00:10:47.539 --> 00:10:50.679 Yeah, you touched on something which is interesting, which is purpose. 00:10:51.199 --> 00:10:55.299 How did you, you know, when we're working with transitioning service members, 00:10:55.479 --> 00:10:57.519 oftentimes they're like, I don't even know what my purpose is. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:59.779 You know, I mean, the military assigned my purpose, right? 00:11:00.099 --> 00:11:04.079 My purpose was to help save the world from bad people. And my mission was commander's intent. 00:11:04.239 --> 00:11:08.199 My identity was my rank and my uniform. And now all that's stripped away and purpose. 00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:12.739 I mean, I've, you know, I've worked HR or I've been infantry or I've been, 00:11:12.939 --> 00:11:15.399 you know, a pilot and I definitely don't want to fly, you know, 00:11:15.559 --> 00:11:17.039 cattle cars and it, right? 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:21.279 So how did you land on purpose? Like, is there a step? 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:24.859 Cause you like, you're, you know, you're the founder of LT3 leadership. 00:11:24.859 --> 00:11:27.099 You focus on leadership development and coaching. 00:11:27.239 --> 00:11:30.259 Are there ways that you guide people to discover their purpose? 00:11:31.099 --> 00:11:35.819 Yes, I do. It's, it's back to those five questions I was sharing earlier. 00:11:35.979 --> 00:11:38.999 I initially asked you, what is your goal? 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:41.319 Yeah. Why is it your goal? 00:11:41.939 --> 00:11:44.239 How are you going to obtain that goal? 00:11:45.132 --> 00:11:49.232 What are you going to do with it once you obtain it? And what is the value that 00:11:49.232 --> 00:11:51.812 that goal brings to the world or to society? 00:11:52.872 --> 00:11:58.352 As you walk yourself through those questions, really reflecting on, 00:11:58.632 --> 00:12:03.092 it brings you and puts you on a path to start thinking about what are you passionate 00:12:03.092 --> 00:12:05.832 about? I enjoy talking to people. 00:12:06.092 --> 00:12:13.112 I enjoy seeing a metamorphosis in someone's personal or professional life where 00:12:13.112 --> 00:12:20.212 they have garnered the ideas and come up with the solutions that I'm helping 00:12:20.212 --> 00:12:24.632 them kind of frame to meet their goals, to know that they can't do it. 00:12:24.632 --> 00:12:31.152 But it requires that you have to really give some methodical thought into what 00:12:31.152 --> 00:12:33.512 makes you happy, what makes you get up in the morning. 00:12:33.952 --> 00:12:37.912 You know, I know it sounds cliche, but what makes me get up in the morning is 00:12:37.912 --> 00:12:42.732 an opportunity to be able to see where can I impact somebody's life for the better. 00:12:43.152 --> 00:12:46.932 Now, now that I get paid for it, that's even better. 00:12:47.332 --> 00:12:50.712 But the key thing is, what is that? 00:12:50.712 --> 00:12:55.452 It's a little selfish because I get to see the growth in someone, 00:12:55.472 --> 00:12:58.532 and I get to be a part of that, kind of like a fly on the wall, 00:12:58.632 --> 00:13:03.172 being able to see them change, see them grow, see them fall, 00:13:03.772 --> 00:13:08.772 get up, dust themselves off, try again, a new perspective, a new strategy. 00:13:09.532 --> 00:13:18.172 So answering those five questions starts you on that path, but it will end where you're passionate at. 00:13:18.652 --> 00:13:23.732 What ignites your fire? What gives you, what do you have a burning desire to 00:13:23.732 --> 00:13:29.312 do if you were queen or king for the world for a day and had all the money you 00:13:29.312 --> 00:13:31.432

needed, what would you do with it? 00:13:32.152 --> 00:13:36.172 Yeah. You know, it's, as you're, as you're sharing that, it's so interesting 00:13:36.172 --> 00:13:41.192 to me that, you know, you rattle off those questions, right? 00:13:41.272 --> 00:13:43.572 And people are like, oh yeah, you know, okay, what's my goal? 00:13:43.752 --> 00:13:46.012 And, you know, they start to rattle off, but that takes work. 00:13:46.312 --> 00:13:49.372 Like you're talking like that really, like, you know, what happens? 00:13:49.787 --> 00:13:52.487 Picks your head up off the pillow. And some people are like, 00:13:52.587 --> 00:13:55.787 well, you know, if I just get a job, but you and I think both know the stats, 00:13:55.947 --> 00:13:59.027 like 70% of the people are miserable in their jobs, right? 00:13:59.187 --> 00:14:03.647 They're pursuing this social purpose, what we call a social purpose. 00:14:03.787 --> 00:14:06.807 You know, what can I bring to the marketplace, right? That I can get paid to 00:14:06.807 --> 00:14:08.307 do that adds value to people's lives. 00:14:08.727 --> 00:14:11.867 There's a key component to that though, is make sure that excites you. 00:14:12.007 --> 00:14:16.567 That's what you're talking about is make sure that piece excites you. Do the work. 00:14:16.947 --> 00:14:19.787 You're excited to share about what you do 00:14:19.787 --> 00:14:25.247 you're excited to share your knowledge skills and abilities and no matter who 00:14:25.247 --> 00:14:30.727 comes to talk to you about it you have that same excitement you have that same 00:14:30.727 --> 00:14:35.087 burning i i want to be able to share this knowledge with you because i know 00:14:35.087 --> 00:14:38.227 if i if i get you to get the light bulb to come on. 00:14:38.807 --> 00:14:41.607 You're going to be better for it and if you're better for it 00:14:41.607 --> 00:14:44.267 you're going to be a better leader those you leave in the 00:14:44.267 --> 00:14:49.907 office as well as leading better at home and that is the mission of lt3 leadership 00:14:49.907 --> 00:14:56.207 solutions that that is why i started the business is because i enjoy seeing 00:14:56.207 --> 00:14:58.527 other people succeed i've gone 00:14:58.527 --> 00:15:02.787 through a career of 33 years where competition was the name of the game. 00:15:03.967 --> 00:15:10.067 Yeah that's how the reality of stepping that ladder right yes you're good at 00:15:10.067 --> 00:15:14.707 your craft knowing your craft, but there's an element of some fierce competition in there. 00:15:14.907 --> 00:15:21.507 So to be able to now sit back and share some tidbits, some strategies, 00:15:21.787 --> 00:15:26.987 some insights of helping people really think through their decisions, 00:15:27.327 --> 00:15:29.987 to be able to make a more informed decision. 00:15:31.170 --> 00:15:34.250 Come to a better solution that's not only going 00:15:34.250 --> 00:15:37.190 to seed into their life but seed into the 00:15:37.190 -->

00:15:40.190 organization to be better for the people that come in 00:15:40.190 --> 00:15:42.970 every day that just may be coming in to 00:15:42.970 --> 00:15:47.670 get a paycheck that you through your leadership may may be able to change their 00:15:47.670 --> 00:15:52.090 mindset when they're excited to come to work why because you're adding value 00:15:52.090 --> 00:15:56.250 and you're leading in a way what you want to be led and you're treating them 00:15:56.250 --> 00:15:59.710 with dignity and respect yeah it sounds like you're really helping people find 00:15:59.710 --> 00:16:01.770 like this purpose, purposeful presence. 00:16:01.990 --> 00:16:05.970 Like when you show up, you understand what your purpose is, which I think the 00:16:05.970 --> 00:16:08.130 military was probably pretty good at that. 00:16:08.330 --> 00:16:11.550 You know, even helping the deckhand, like, you know, me being Navy, 00:16:11.790 --> 00:16:14.850 helping the deckhand understand the importance of being a deckhand. 00:16:14.950 --> 00:16:16.630 You know, I mean, it was still important. 00:16:16.950 --> 00:16:19.810 It might've not have been the sexiest job, but that's, you know, some people did it. 00:16:19.890 --> 00:16:22.450 They had to do it and they understood that, Hey, listen, this is kind of my 00:16:22.450 --> 00:16:27.930 domain. I think, you know, as one of the, you know, the army is so diverse, 00:16:28.430 --> 00:16:30.130 right? You and I both can speak to that, right? 00:16:30.370 --> 00:16:34.590 Religious backgrounds, different races, you know, just, you know, 00:16:34.670 --> 00:16:39.890 different, so many differences, you know, even economic stratospheres that are pulled together. 00:16:40.430 --> 00:16:47.130 And, you know, they figure out how to get this band of misfits to work together 00:16:47.130 --> 00:16:52.730 somehow and carry off some pretty big, amazing feats, which I think is just incredible. 00:16:52.730 --> 00:16:58.050 But what you're doing at LT3, I love what you're doing there. 00:16:58.110 --> 00:17:01.190 And I want to unpack that a little bit, but I really want to step back for a 00:17:01.190 --> 00:17:05.950 moment, just say you were like one of the few African-American female generals 00:17:05.950 --> 00:17:09.310 coming through the ranks, like pretty amazing. 00:17:09.570 --> 00:17:15.010 So how, I've got to believe your perspective is probably different than mine 00:17:15.010 --> 00:17:17.470 in how people raised the ranks. 00:17:17.470 --> 00:17:22.490 How did that experience help shape who you are today, number one, 00:17:22.590 --> 00:17:29.530 and number two, how you administer or how you deploy your leadership development and coaching today? 00:17:30.450 --> 00:17:38.770 I think that that whole 33 years really shaped me to see different parts of me. Yeah. 00:17:39.130 --> 00:17:42.650 You get some settings, of course. You know, how do I operate in war? 00:17:42.790 --> 00:17:48.850 How do I operate in a boardroom? How do I operate just in a day-to-day work setting? 00:17:49.750 --> 00:17:53.710 And because of, as you were talking about, the humble beginnings, 00:17:53.970 --> 00:17:55.270 I come from humble beginnings. 00:17:56.270 --> 00:18:02.810 And my mom and dad never graduated from high school. I was a first-generational student for my family. 00:18:03.110 --> 00:18:08.750 So there were a lot of firsts for me with a lot of pressure to make sure that 00:18:08.750 --> 00:18:10.550 I didn't mess it up. Yeah. 00:18:11.010 --> 00:18:17.870 And came into the military. I brought that with me, that same mindset and same 00:18:17.870 --> 00:18:23.210 focus that I had to be the best I could be at whatever I was doing. 00:18:23.210 --> 00:18:26.290 And and along the way i 00:18:26.290 --> 00:18:29.550 and when i say i learned more about tia was 00:18:29.550 --> 00:18:32.570 in those years in the military coming 00:18:32.570 --> 00:18:37.130 in initially i thought he had to be perfect everything i had to do we had to 00:18:37.130 --> 00:18:42.750 be solid perfect because not only because i was a female because i was black 00:18:42.750 --> 00:18:49.390 female because i was short you know yeah thatcher all of those things i had 00:18:49.390 --> 00:18:51.710 on my own shoulder now some of the environment. 00:18:52.370 --> 00:18:55.770 Add it to that but i have to be honest i 00:18:55.770 --> 00:18:58.770 brought some of that with me yeah insecurities with 00:18:58.770 --> 00:19:01.890 me myself so learning through that process 00:19:01.890 --> 00:19:04.850 of learning tia and her ability to 00:19:04.850 --> 00:19:10.930 be able to take something and make make take something that seemed to be nothing 00:19:10.930 --> 00:19:16.870 and make something out of it of gaining the learning how to build trust learning 00:19:16.870 --> 00:19:23.710 how to share and communicate your intent and your vision, your leadership philosophy, 00:19:24.010 --> 00:19:26.030 I found so many was. 00:19:26.750 --> 00:19:30.450 Mind-blowing. And some may say, why would that be mind-blowing? 00:19:30.550 --> 00:19:36.550 Because to learn how your leadership philosophy is built, is built on your experiences. 00:19:36.950 --> 00:19:42.590 And through each experience, my leadership philosophy grew of what was important to me. 00:19:42.650 --> 00:19:47.790 And those things that were important to me, I began to share and seed that into 00:19:47.790 --> 00:19:54.750 the teams or organizations I had the honor to lean you know one situation when 00:19:54.750 --> 00:19:56.830 i was a battalion commander at four bedding georgia, 00:19:57.490 --> 00:20:00.550 my commander didn't want me i was like that sesame 00:20:00.550 --> 00:20:03.430 street thing i was one of those things that didn't look like the other i 00:20:03.430 --> 00:20:06.730 was the only female out of 22 battalion 00:20:06.730 --> 00:20:13.350 commanders and and he i mean i'm in an infantry unit so you know go hardcore

00:20:13.350 --> 00:20:20.530 and you know my unit are doing the mission of a opponent's replacement of sending 00:20:20.530 --> 00:20:24.630 people to the war and getting them prepared administratively in training. 00:20:25.470 --> 00:20:29.470 And he just, for whatever reason, to this day, I can't tell you, 00:20:29.610 --> 00:20:32.810 other than I surmised I was just one of those things that didn't look like the 00:20:32.810 --> 00:20:35.230 other, as to why he didn't want me on his team. 00:20:35.890 --> 00:20:42.530 And I had my SAR major who told me, pulled me to the side and shared with me, said, hey, 00:20:43.270 --> 00:20:46.170 Utecrow, you are responsible for this unit and you're 00:20:46.170 --> 00:20:49.210 responsible to make sure that we get the resources that we 00:20:49.210 --> 00:20:53.670 need to do our mission and right now you fall in flat because every meeting 00:20:53.670 --> 00:20:58.230 i would go into with this team with this this particular as you would say in 00:20:58.230 --> 00:21:03.790 the civilian sector executive coach executive uh person senior executive he 00:21:03.790 --> 00:21:08.710 beloted me and he will say stuff to me like that that's stupid, 00:21:09.430 --> 00:21:12.630 that didn't ever work what do you mean is that 00:21:12.630 --> 00:21:15.710 that is that the the suggestion or 00:21:15.710 --> 00:21:18.670 recommendation you're giving me somebody else give me something 00:21:18.670 --> 00:21:21.550 because i don't understand she's saying and i went through 00:21:21.550 --> 00:21:28.410 that for a long time until i had that conversation with my my csm and he said 00:21:28.410 --> 00:21:33.490 back to that word you're going to have to learn strategy and i realized that 00:21:33.490 --> 00:21:38.970 my senior executive lacked everything that my summer major would say because 00:21:38.970 --> 00:21:41.330 he had all the lovely badges. He was infantry. 00:21:42.670 --> 00:21:45.570 He was airborne. I was airborne too. I wasn't chairman. I was airborne, 00:21:45.710 --> 00:21:49.190 but he was the master blaster, as we would call it. 00:21:49.570 --> 00:21:52.910 I learned in that strategy that I would tell him what I wanted. 00:21:53.270 --> 00:21:56.030 I said, I'm going to tell you what I want. You're going to say it in a meeting. 00:21:56.170 --> 00:21:59.470 You're going to buy it offline. We're going to walk out of there with the resources we need. 00:22:00.030 --> 00:22:03.190 We played that senior executive that way for a whole year. 00:22:03.930 --> 00:22:10.090 We need it. So it taught me how to be in a situation, how to survey the land, 00:22:10.250 --> 00:22:15.950 and how to come up with a strategy or a possible solution to help me better lead my people. 00:22:16.130 --> 00:22:19.890 And that's always been my focus, is that I can do it. 00:22:20.250 --> 00:22:24.310 You can do it to me, but doing it to my people, that's like being on the playground 00:22:24.310 --> 00:22:26.930 and saying, you

can talk about anything, but don't talk about my mom. 00:22:28.610 --> 00:22:34.990 That's the kind of mentality that I've gone through 33 years of how to protect my people. 00:22:35.110 --> 00:22:39.990 And to protect my people, I have to be the best I can be in that leadership 00:22:39.990 --> 00:22:42.670 role for them and for the organization. 00:22:43.070 --> 00:22:48.470 Yeah. I mean, it sounds like a pivotal moment, like a discovery moment, 00:22:48.610 --> 00:22:51.990 like an aha moment almost. Wow. You know what? This is... 00:22:53.244 --> 00:22:56.544 You know, like almost like OODA loop, right? Like observe, orient, decide, and act. 00:22:56.644 --> 00:23:01.004 And I think sometimes we, you know, that, that orient piece, 00:23:01.004 --> 00:23:04.904 you almost have to start there, which is, it sounds like you figured that out, 00:23:05.004 --> 00:23:09.244 which is, okay, I got to orient myself to my environment, figure out who the players are, right? 00:23:09.464 --> 00:23:13.764 Then I can observe how the flow of information goes and how to be effective. 00:23:13.924 --> 00:23:16.844 That's the strategy part. Then we can make decisions and then we can act on 00:23:16.844 --> 00:23:22.504 them, right? I mean, it's, I think that's so, so, so powerful. 00:23:22.784 --> 00:23:27.784 So what would you recommend to young women or even middle-aged women, 00:23:27.984 --> 00:23:30.304 women who are aspiring to be something greater? 00:23:30.804 --> 00:23:36.224 What would you, like, and I don't care if it's in the military or in the civilian 00:23:36.224 --> 00:23:39.164 sector, like, what's your recommendation to them? 00:23:39.244 --> 00:23:42.204 Because we are still in a male-dominated society, right? 00:23:42.244 --> 00:23:45.844 We got a lot of men that, you know, regardless of color of skin. 00:23:45.844 --> 00:23:49.124 If it's a woman they're like not going to pay attention right because they're 00:23:49.124 --> 00:23:54.684 not open-minded necessarily so what what's your advice to them like how how 00:23:54.684 --> 00:23:59.564 do they navigate that environment well first i'd say you got to be your own biggest cheerleader. 00:24:00.464 --> 00:24:03.744 What what do you mean by that what from your abilities 00:24:03.744 --> 00:24:06.924 okay you have to make sure that you 00:24:06.924 --> 00:24:09.724 know your craft yeah at the 00:24:09.724 --> 00:24:12.684 table when i'm confident in my knowledge skills and abilities 00:24:12.684 --> 00:24:17.684 at that table that's the first hurdle that i cross the second hurdle that you 00:24:17.684 --> 00:24:22.764 cross is you have to have the right mentality and when i say that i'm talking 00:24:22.764 --> 00:24:27.564 about what i what i have garnered throughout my career and even now as a business 00:24:27.564 --> 00:24:31.104 owner is what i call you got to have a p3 mentality, 00:24:32.098 --> 00:24:37.058 And to have a P3 mentality means you have to be persistent in your focus, 00:24:37.258 --> 00:24:41.778 that this is, you're on the right track, you have the ability, 00:24:42.058 --> 00:24:49.318 the intellectual capacity to do your job, either at the rate that others are or even better, 00:24:49.798 --> 00:24:54.498 but you're persistent to ensure others understand the value you bring to the table. 00:24:55.358 --> 00:24:59.598 Perseverance is the second key. And in that perseverance, you've got to understand 00:24:59.598 --> 00:25:03.458 there are going to be days that are not always going to be sunshine. 00:25:04.598 --> 00:25:10.998 And those days that aren't sunshine, ask yourself, what am I to learn from this experience? 00:25:11.338 --> 00:25:16.038 As opposed to having a pity party, dive into it, dissect it, 00:25:16.558 --> 00:25:21.578 peel the onion back, and kind of step out the situation to really look at it 00:25:21.578 --> 00:25:23.718 to see what is it that you're supposed to be learning. 00:25:23.718 --> 00:25:29.438 Or what strategy you may come away with after observing your actions and the 00:25:29.438 --> 00:25:31.038 actions of the other individuals. 00:25:31.978 --> 00:25:35.298 And then number three, which is most important and the one that we have the 00:25:35.298 --> 00:25:39.958 hardest time dealing with, and that is give patience with the process. 00:25:40.338 --> 00:25:46.758 Give yourself patience, give yourself grace that you're not going to be able to do it all at once, 00:25:46.898 --> 00:25:53.678 but do it in a phased approach where you build up your leadership acumen to 00:25:53.678 --> 00:25:58.158 the area that you want to be to be able to go after that promotion or to be 00:25:58.158 --> 00:26:01.158 solidified and cemented in the position that you're in. 00:26:01.638 --> 00:26:07.218 So having a P3 mentality, a persistence, perseverance, and patience with the process. 00:26:07.478 --> 00:26:14.718 Then I will tell you coupled with that is what I share about having a seed approach to leadership, 00:26:14.718 --> 00:26:19.118 which means that you have to be strategically focused intentionally 00:26:19.118 --> 00:26:22.158 committed and decisive and disciplined in 00:26:22.158 --> 00:26:25.198 your execution and if you take that 00:26:25.198 --> 00:26:31.038 along with the p3 mentality whatever goal that you're putting together or trying 00:26:31.038 --> 00:26:36.818 to attempt to achieve or in the position that you're in you can solidify yourself 00:26:36.818 --> 00:26:42.338 being confident in your abilities to lead that organization to where it means to go. 00:26:42.758 --> 00:26:45.858 You know, the military puts us in positions all the time. 00:26:46.258 --> 00:26:51.018 Yes, I'm HR, but when I get into that position, it's not just HR that I'm doing. 00:26:51.778 --> 00:26:55.078 I'm doing a plethora of other things that have been put on my plate. 00:26:55.718 --> 00:26:59.818 And you can't go into positions timid. That's why I say you have to be your 00:26:59.818 -->

00:27:00.878 own biggest cheerleader. 00:27:01.653 --> 00:27:05.673 You can accomplish the goals that have been set up before you. 00:27:06.433 --> 00:27:09.993 Yeah. So do you work with, that's so, so good. I mean, so good. 00:27:10.033 --> 00:27:13.953 I love the P3s. I love Sid even, I mean, decisive. 00:27:14.273 --> 00:27:17.693 I think so many people question the things that they do, right? 00:27:18.073 --> 00:27:21.133 And so they're not decisive. So that probably looks like they're intimidated 00:27:21.133 --> 00:27:22.393 or they're not as confident. 00:27:22.533 --> 00:27:25.473 They've got a lot of uncertainty, which probably impacts why they're not getting 00:27:25.473 --> 00:27:30.053 promoted in many ways. But so do you work with big companies, 00:27:30.213 --> 00:27:32.173 small companies, individual clients? 00:27:32.493 --> 00:27:37.813 Like who, like if somebody wanted to reach out to you, who do you take on as 00:27:37.813 --> 00:27:39.213 a client? How does that work? 00:27:39.613 --> 00:27:44.273 Well, we take on all clients, honestly, because our focus, where there's a focus 00:27:44.273 --> 00:27:46.913 and my passion is making better leaders. 00:27:47.273 --> 00:27:49.353 So leaders are in all organizations. 00:27:49.733 --> 00:27:53.693 Yeah. We're working in the corporate space, what universities. 00:27:53.693 --> 00:27:58.373 I'm a professor at Bowie State University. as a professor teaching on leadership 00:27:58.373 --> 00:28:00.573 development and conflict management. 00:28:00.893 --> 00:28:04.613 We work with churches, religious-affiliated organizations. 00:28:04.893 --> 00:28:09.493 We speak on different platforms and stages, sharing information. 00:28:10.253 --> 00:28:14.473 So we do executive coaching one-on-one, which I love. 00:28:14.593 --> 00:28:18.993 I love doing one-on-one, seeing people actually growing through the process. 00:28:19.713 --> 00:28:25.913 So we we open our doors to all to be able to then take what it is that you're you're going after, 00:28:26.433 --> 00:28:29.593 and then tailoring the services we 00:28:29.593 --> 00:28:32.653 provide to meet your needs so it's 00:28:32.653 --> 00:28:35.813 not a one one you know cookie cutter approach you know 00:28:35.813 --> 00:28:38.813 being able to really get to know you and 00:28:38.813 --> 00:28:41.533 talk about and give you the space to be 00:28:41.533 --> 00:28:44.473 able to share what are the goals that you have if for 00:28:44.473 --> 00:28:47.553 professional life or personally or within 00:28:47.553 --> 00:28:50.873 your organization of where you're wanting to go and then 00:28:50.873 --> 00:28:56.673 helping you guide yourself through that process to get to that meeting of goal 00:28:56.673 --> 00:29:01.933 with not seeing the goal yeah i love that oh my gosh miss tia your experience 00:29:01.933 --> 00:29:06.393 i mean what you've accomplished over the 33 years brigadier general facing the 00:29:06.393 --> 00:29:10.093 things figuring out

how to navigate the different environments. 00:29:10.793 --> 00:29:12.553 You know, becoming a business owner. 00:29:13.033 --> 00:29:17.013 I mean, so what a rich experience and the fact that you're giving back. 00:29:17.573 --> 00:29:20.813 I love that. Like you, you're owning your social purpose, right? 00:29:20.953 --> 00:29:24.353 You're like, man, this is what pulls my head up off the pillow. 00:29:24.593 --> 00:29:28.173 I can bring this to the marketplace. People pay me for it and it betters their 00:29:28.173 --> 00:29:30.393 life because of it. And I still have joy doing it. 00:29:30.473 --> 00:29:34.113 I mean, that, that in and of itself is like, 00:29:34.737 --> 00:29:37.897 monumental how do people find you 00:29:37.897 --> 00:29:42.877 where can they find you well you can go to lt3eeds.com 00:29:42.877 --> 00:29:48.337 that's our website you can find you on social media on linkedin at quanda.young 00:29:48.337 --> 00:29:59.337 or on facebook at quanda.young you can give us a call you can text lt3 to 704-769-1625. 00:30:00.197 --> 00:30:03.417 A plethora of ways of getting involved with us. 00:30:03.617 --> 00:30:08.437 We like doing community activities, you know, paying it back through the community. 00:30:08.697 --> 00:30:13.117 So we're on a few boards. If I can give a shameless plug for Veterans Bridge, 00:30:13.757 --> 00:30:18.437 homes that I'm on the board, and it helps with transitioning military members 00:30:18.437 --> 00:30:23.497 into the Charlotte area and the Piedmont area and the South Carolina area, 00:30:23.677 --> 00:30:26.537 but providing them resources and support to make 00:30:26.537 --> 00:30:29.337 a smoother transition from the military but i 00:30:29.337 --> 00:30:32.457 would be honored to speak to anyone who wants to talk about leadership 00:30:32.457 --> 00:30:35.457 wants to build cultivate their 00:30:35.457 --> 00:30:38.397 leadership through their own self-awareness you know i always say 00:30:38.397 --> 00:30:44.477 don't commit adultery on yourself by not investing in yourself so if you want 00:30:44.477 --> 00:30:49.497 to invest in yourself you want to have a partner on the journey then i'll keep 00:30:49.497 --> 00:30:54.337 your leadership solutions as a partner for you that is so great And that's not 00:30:54.337 --> 00:30:56.237 a shameless plug. I love that organization. 00:30:56.477 --> 00:31:00.277 As a matter of fact, one of my board members, Rick Gromlick, 00:31:00.277 --> 00:31:04.317 is very familiar with that organization. And we talk about that organization 00:31:04.317 --> 00:31:08.177 a lot. So you guys are doing some great work out there in the Charlotte area, for sure. 00:31:08.557 --> 00:31:12.277 It's so good. Well, I'm going to encourage my audience to certainly reach out to you. 00:31:12.417 --> 00:31:17.177 And, you know, for my audience, you guys know Operation Military Family, we really do. 00:31:17.884 --> 00:31:21.684 Dive into the mission purpose identity piece of who you are when that uniform comes off. 00:31:21.784 --> 00:31:26.304 And it's so important. And the work that Ms. Tia is doing is so, so important. 00:31:26.744 --> 00:31:30.884 And if you're a rising star getting out or just getting in and really wanting 00:31:30.884 --> 00:31:33.504 to understand how do I take my leadership to the next level, 00:31:33.624 --> 00:31:36.944 I'm going to highly recommend that you reach out to Tia and her organization. 00:31:38.704 --> 00:31:42.024 Brigadier General is not easy to get to. For those of you who know, 00:31:42.324 --> 00:31:45.864 especially as a woman, even in the military, we like to say that, 00:31:45.864 --> 00:31:50.544 you know, that doesn't matter anymore, but I know for sure it still matters. 00:31:51.004 --> 00:31:54.604 And she did it. And I think you can learn from her experience. 00:31:54.884 --> 00:31:58.164 So please be sure you check those guys out at LT3 Leadership. 00:31:58.684 --> 00:32:03.184 And for sure, if we can ever be of service to you guys in our audience at the 00:32:03.184 --> 00:32:07.484 Military Wire, please reach out to us at Operation Military Family and just 00:32:07.484 --> 00:32:08.924 know that we've got your back. 00:32:09.064 --> 00:32:13.764 It's one team, one mission, and one world, and we're committed to help and serve you. 00:32:13.944 --> 00:32:16.964 So Again, Ms. Tia, thank you for being on the show. 00:32:17.424 --> 00:32:21.424 Now, thank you for the opportunity to come on and share a little bit of my story 00:32:21.424 --> 00:32:23.264 and ideas and expertise. 00:32:23.304 --> 00:32:27.544 And I commend you for the work that you're doing. And I encourage you to continue 00:32:27.544 --> 00:32:33.144 because what you're doing matters and it's important and it's bringing value to the world. 00:32:33.304 --> 00:32:37.224 So thank you for allowing me to be on your platform. Of course.