It's a Good Life — S2E352: "Lead to Win with Carla Harris"
Host: Brian Buffini
Guest: Carla Harris
Date: December 2, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode features Brian Buffini in conversation with Carla Harris—business leader, gospel singer, and author of Lead to Win. Together, they explore the true nature of leadership, the challenges of transitioning from individual contributor to leader, the value of authenticity, and how to draw strength from one’s faith, mentors, and community. The conversation is rich with stories from Carla’s career on Wall Street and her journey embracing her full self both professionally and personally.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Carla’s Leadership Journey
[02:44–06:46]
- Carla started on Wall Street in 1987, right before the market crash, describing the era as “100-hour weeks” where bravado triumphed over true leadership.
- “People really were not focused on leadership… they were focused more on who had the biggest bravado, the biggest ego…” (Carla, 04:13)
- Learning from early leaders: True leadership is about involving people, making them feel seen, and focusing on collaboration.
- “He would engage everybody and have them put their fingerprints on the blueprint… by the time the meeting was over, everybody thought it was their idea.” (Carla, 05:24)
- Influential encounters: Notably, Dr. Jannetta Cole and President Bill Clinton, who made her feel like “the only person in the room,” inspiring her approach to leadership.
- Transformational advice from James Gorman (Morgan Stanley): Leaders “should be squarely focused on only those things that the CEO can do… just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”
Transitioning from Individual Contributor to Leader
[06:46–09:47]
- The toughest transition for high performers is giving up doing everything themselves and embracing the role of enabling others.
- “I’m not the person that gets it done. I’m the person that enables everybody else to do it and to do it well.” (Carla, 07:54)
- Key practices: Daily “mind-shift,” resisting the urge to do it all, and focusing on equipping others while accepting new stakeholders as a leader.
Carla’s Leadership Style
[09:21–10:35]
- Described herself as inclusive, transparent, and a “coach”—focused on giving feedback, owning outcomes, and maintaining a “we, not me” mentality.
- “If I make a mistake, I live. The buck stops with me.” (Carla, 09:43)
- “I’m straight, no chaser… you’re never going to have to wonder where you are with me.” (Carla, 10:05)
Overcoming Barriers & Staying Focused
[10:35–16:17]
- Navigating being a trailblazer on Wall Street as a Black woman (and gospel singer), Carla credits her faith and upbringing for resilience.
- Recalls well-meaning but discouraging advice, such as being told she’d never be promoted:
- “He pulled me in a conference room and said, ‘You work so hard, you try so hard, they are never going to promote you to managing director.’” (Carla, 12:34)
- She recalls being glad, retrospectively, that these words didn’t land and stop her drive.
The Role of Faith, Family and Drive
[16:17–17:57]
- Faith, parental support, and having entrepreneurial role models shaped her.
- Advice from her grandmother: “Whatever you be, be good at it.”
- “Sometimes your best isn’t good enough, but you will always have the personal satisfaction of knowing you left it on the floor.” (Carla, 17:08)
- Focused on doing her best regardless of external noise—“Keep your head up and roll.”
Embracing Authenticity & Sharing Hidden Talents
[17:57–23:50]
- Hid her singing talent early in her Wall Street career, worried it showed a lack of seriousness.
- Story of singing “Happy Birthday” on the trading floor disarmed even the gruffest colleague, leading her to embrace her full identity at work.
- “I said, ‘I hear it’s your birthday…’ and then I started singing. From that day on, every time he saw me… he would smile.” (Carla, 20:10 - paraphrased)
- Singing career highlights: Grew up loving gospel; sang in gospel choirs and churches, later releasing albums and selling out Carnegie Hall six times, with the seventh scheduled for December 1, 2025.
- “From that day to this one, I’ve been singing gospel.” (Carla, 22:55)
The Power of Being Yourself
[23:50–25:15]
- Brian: “Just being myself was good enough to be great.”
- Both emphasize grounding one’s business and decisions in authenticity, values, and conviction—even when it means rejecting conventional wisdom.
- “I would rather fail pursuing what’s in my own gut than conform to the mediocrity that’s all around me.” (Brian, 15:28)
Leveraging Others’ Wisdom and Community
[25:15–27:26]
- Carla attributes her public speaking skills to being a great listener—noting its value in both sales and leadership.
- “One of my big superpowers… is that I’m a great listener. And I also think that makes you a great salesperson.” (Carla, 25:22)
- She always strives to understand what her audience or client needs, constructing value-driven conversations.
Serving, Not Selling
[27:26–28:53]
- Brian shares the impact of “leading with value,” offering free consultations and resources, resulting in a powerful business turnaround.
- Carla agrees: “Serve, don’t sell. Because if you can serve well, you’re going to sell all day long.” (Carla, 28:53)
Rapid Fire Questions & Memorable Moments
[29:01–32:45]
- Best advice ever received on Wall Street:
- “Frequently wrong, but never in doubt.” (Carla, 29:33)
Carla learned to project confidence while remaining authentic, adapting the advice to fit her own style: "If somebody asked me a question, I’d say, ‘I believe the answer is X, but give me a few minutes, let me check it out.’”
- “Frequently wrong, but never in doubt.” (Carla, 29:33)
- Talent she wishes she had:
- “I’d like to be such a great golfer that I had a single digit handicap.” (Carla, 31:05)
- Most instrumental book:
- “The Bible. That’s easy.” (Carla, 31:34)
- Most identified-with biblical character: “Peter. Or Rachel.” (Carla, 31:42)
- Movie she always stops to watch:
- “Sparkle. And The Godfather. Equally. I love The Godfather.” (Carla, 32:09)
- What does a good life mean?:
- “Being kind and thinking about others first and putting yourself and all your gifts in a place where they can be leveraged by other people, whether it’s your family, people you will never see, or people that you’re working with.” (Carla, 32:45)
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “You can serve well, you're going to sell all day long.” (Carla, 28:53)
- “Just being myself was good enough to be great.” (Brian, 23:53)
- “I have no interest in failing, so we can’t fail.” (Carla, 09:53)
- “Whatever you be, be good at it.” – her grandmother’s advice (Carla, 16:44)
- “Keep your head up and roll.” (Carla, 17:55)
Important Timestamps
- 02:44 – Carla describes her leadership journey on Wall Street
- 06:46 – The challenge of shifting from individual contributor to leader
- 09:35 – How her team would describe her leadership style
- 12:19 – Overcoming discouragement and staying focused
- 16:17 – Faith, family, and personal drive
- 19:39 – Embracing her singing talent at work
- 23:33 – Her career singing at Carnegie Hall and loving gospel music
- 25:15 – The value of listening and serving clients
- 29:33 – Rapid-fire Q&A with Carla’s unique answers
Tone & Language
The episode is warm, candid, and practical—full of wisdom, encouragement, and actionable advice. Both Carla and Brian share personal stories with humility and humor, making the content accessible and inspiring for entrepreneurs and leaders at all stages.
RECOMMENDATION
For Listeners:
This episode is essential listening for anyone leading teams, facing adversity, or struggling to bring their whole self to work. Carla’s stories and philosophies offer actionable strategies for authentic leadership, resilience, and success “with the heart.” The discussion is peppered with memorable quotes and actionable takeaways, making it both motivational and deeply practical.