Why People Who Have The Ability To Make Change Also Show Resistance To Change | feat. Leah Williams

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

Leah discusses her unconventional career path, emphasizing how curiosity, perseverance, and key relationships shaped her journey. She highlights systemic barriers for women of color in entrepreneurship and introduces the Capital Access Network (CAPEX network), a collaborative effort to bridge female investors with women-led businesses. Leah discusses her leadership style, influenced by figures like Phil Jackson, and the importance of timing and adaptability. Tune in to hear Leah and Lisa Gardner discuss resilience, purposeful leadership, and creating systemic change in both business and social impact. 

Also in this episode:  

• Curiosity and Relationships: Leah emphasizes the role of curiosity and meaningful relationships in shaping her non-traditional career path. Her journey was influenced by connections with mentors and colleagues, highlighting how staying open to people and their perspectives can lead to unexpected opportunities. 

• Mission-Driven Leadership: Williams' career has been driven by a larger purpose rather than a rigid plan. Her work with organizations like WestEd and Digitalundivided reflects her focus on mission-driven leadership, aiming to create positive change and adapt based on values and goals. 

• Timing and Decision-Making: Both Leah and Lisa discuss the significance of timing in leadership and personal growth. Leah advocates for taking time to "marinate" on decisions, underscoring the importance of patience and thoughtful decision-making for achieving the greatest impact. 

• Systemic Barriers in Entrepreneurship: Leah addresses the systemic barriers faced by women, especially women of color, in entrepreneurship and investment. She points out the low percentage of institutional investments received by women-led businesses and introduces the Capital Access Network (CAPEX) to bridge this gap. 

• Collaboration Over Competition: Leah highlights the need for collaboration among female investors and women-led businesses to create systemic change. She argues that building a collective movement through intentional networks can lead to more scalable and impactful outcomes than isolated efforts. 

• Humility and Adaptability in Leadership: Leah reflects on her evolving leadership style, marked by humility and curiosity. She notes the importance of admitting what she doesn’t know and being open to ideas from all levels, emphasizing that real leaders see obstacles as challenges to overcome rather than roadblocks. 

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As an experienced C - Suite member, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary; I have established and reset legal departments serving highly regulated professional service organizations with revenues of $100 million - $500 million. Enjoyed experiences of restructuring contract management structure, system, and function during hyper growth from 1k to over 3k in one year. 

Lisa Gardner is a corporate real estate thought leader and co-founder of OMS Strategic Advisors, LLC, focusing on real estate, strategy, and workforce development. With over 25 years of experience, she drives profitability by optimizing human capital, leading diversity initiatives, and crafting corporate strategies. She has managed national accounts for Fortune 500 companies like Wal-Mart and AT&T, and revitalized multicultural marketing for JCPenney. Lisa serves on the Executive Board of SMU's Cox School of Business and contributes to DCEO Magazine. She is active in her community at Gateway Church and lives in Plano, Texas, with her husband and two children.