“It’s Who You Know” is a series of monthly profiles designed to help community leaders get to know each other and learn from each other.
We are grateful for the wealth of leadership talent our board members share with us. Read on for insights and wisdom from three of the 31 board members in response to questions we recently posed to them, and be sure to check out the full board roster.
See the full board roster
Meet Ken Selvaggi, Vice President/General Manager, WAVE 3 News
Ken is chair of the Leadership Louisville Center board.
Q. What character trait do you most appreciate in other leaders – why is that an important trait?
A. Integrity. Without integrity, it is difficult to appreciate other good qualities.
Q. Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?
A. John Buettler, high school teacher, and coach. He demonstrated the importance of effective communication in being a quality leader and how important coaching is when leading others. When you uplift others, as John did, you impact someone for the rest of their lives!
Q. What’s your best advice for someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
A. Be a servant leader and realize your success is measured by how well your team members achieve. Help them excel by actively listening and mentoring with compassion and integrity.
Meet Stacey Wade, President/CCO, Nimbus
Q. How do you help a new employee understand your company’s culture?
A. I encourage every person in my office to have a “growth” mindset. The only competition is with themselves.
Q. What’s your best advice for someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
A. Have the courage to bring your “whole self” to that position, along with the humility to know what you don’t know.
Q. What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?
A. I never stay comfortable.
Meet Cynthia Williams, Vice President, Global Talent Management, Brown-Forman Corporation
Q. What’s your best advice for someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
A. Be open to listening and understanding the career and leadership paths of your team members. Engage in collaborative learning experiences while being transparent, trustworthy and vulnerable. Demonstrate inclusive leadership behaviors.
Q. How do you encourage creative thinking within your organization?
A. Encourage risk-taking, by creating a safe environment that makes room for different perspectives and ideas. It’s important to recognize and reward innovation, creativity, and failures.
Q. Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?
A. I was fortunate to have a mentor who really shared some great advice on how to be open to different growth experiences to build my leadership capabilities. While I had outlined a specific career path focusing on traditional roles within my area of expertise, I was encouraged to explore different paths which ultimately broadened my perspectives, overall business acumen and enhanced my leadership capabilities.
See the complete board roster