Summary of "Leading with Love: A Hallmark of Excellence"
Podcast: Take Command: A Leadership Podcast
Host: Joe Hart, CEO of Dale Carnegie
Guest: Wanya Lucas, Director of Comcast Corporation
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Introduction
In the "Leading with Love: A Hallmark of Excellence" episode of Take Command: A Leadership Podcast, host Joe Hart engages in a profound conversation with Wanya Lucas, an esteemed media executive and current Director at Comcast Corporation. With a distinguished career encompassing roles such as CEO of Hallmark Media and board memberships with Jurors for the Peabody Awards and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Lucas brings a wealth of experience in management, marketing, and strategic planning. Inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2023, she is a passionate advocate for storytelling's power in leadership.
Wanya Lucas’ Journey to Media Leadership
From Engineering to Media
Wanya Lucas did not begin her career in media. She holds an engineering degree from Georgia Tech and initially worked at a Westinghouse plant in St. Louis. Discussing her transition, Lucas attributes her success to her duality—balancing both left and right-brained interests.
Wanya Lucas [02:10]: "I've always leveraged both sides of my brain and both interests, quite frankly."
Her decision to pivot from engineering to business was influenced by her engagement with marketing and finance at Wharton, which allowed her to blend her technical background with creative expression.
Embracing Marketing and Brand Management
Lucas highlights her time at Clorox, where understanding both the demographic and psychographic aspects of the audience enabled her to create impactful marketing strategies. This foundation proved instrumental throughout her career in various leadership roles.
Wanya Lucas [03:18]: "I could clearly see there was an opportunity to leverage both sides of my brain and both of my strengths."
Leadership Insights and Philosophy
Respecting and Understanding the Audience
A pivotal moment in Lucas's career occurred during her tenure at CNN, where she emphasized the importance of respecting the audience.
Wanya Lucas [04:52]: "Having a respect for the audience is what I learned, regardless of who they are."
She introduced a mindset shift within her team by distributing T-shirts that read, “You are not the target audience,” encouraging leaders to step into others' shoes to better understand and serve diverse audiences.
Defining Moments in Leadership
Lucas recounts her time at The Weather Channel as a defining period where she expanded the network’s storytelling beyond just weather forecasts to include human-interest stories post-storms.
Wanya Lucas [06:08]: "We created shows like Storm Stories...a year before Katrina. We saw it happening in real time."
This foresight not only diversified the content but also reinforced the channel’s commitment to connecting with the audience on a deeper level.
Influences and Personal Leadership Style
Family as a Leadership Model
Lucas draws significant inspiration from her parents, particularly her father, the first Black general manager in Major League Baseball. Her father’s ability to listen intently and understand individual motivations deeply influenced her leadership approach.
Wanya Lucas [12:31]: "He would spend a lot of time trying to understand...what motivates you, what drives you."
Similarly, her mother's courage to speak up on the board of Turner Broadcasting demonstrated the importance of voicing ideas and advocating for what one believes in.
Principles of Accessible Leadership
Lucas emphasizes the importance of being accessible to all team members, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
Wanya Lucas [10:59]: "Creating a safe space as a leader where people can say, I was wrong...what would you do differently?"
Her strategy mirrors Joe Hart’s "Ask Wanya" initiative, underscoring the universal desire for leaders to be approachable and genuinely interested in their team's well-being.
Legacy and Vision at Hallmark Media
Diversifying Content Through Love
As CEO of Hallmark Media, Lucas aimed to diversify content by expanding the portrayal of love in its many forms—family, romantic, self-love, and more. Her vision was to resonate with a younger demographic while maintaining the brand’s core value of love.
Wanya Lucas [22:24]: "I think my legacy will be the diversification of content...showing different types of love."
Under her leadership, Hallmark Media conducted extensive consumer research to ensure that the stories reflected a broader spectrum of experiences and backgrounds, making the content more inclusive and relatable.
Balancing Tradition with Innovation
Lucas balanced maintaining the beloved essence of Hallmark with the necessary evolution to stay relevant. By incorporating diverse narratives and focusing on universal themes of love, she ensured the brand continued to thrive and connect with a wider audience.
Building Strong Relationships
The Power of Listening
Lucas attributes her ability to build strong relationships to her dedication to listening and understanding others' motivations and aspirations.
Wanya Lucas [26:48]: "I think one of the ways that I've developed strong relationships is to listen."
Being Present and Accessible
She believes in being physically and emotionally present, making time for one-on-one interactions and being available to her team regardless of their position.
Wanya Lucas [26:48]: "Being present, just being in all the different places I can be."
Creating Connections Through Everyday Interactions
Lucas practices making small but meaningful connections, such as greeting people warmly, which fosters a sense of community and belonging.
Wanya Lucas [29:54]: "Creating that sense of familiarity for me to be semi vulnerable, but also just be present."
Balancing Career and Personal Well-Being
Prioritizing Self-Care
Lucas underscores the importance of self-care—both mental and physical—as foundational to balancing a demanding career with personal happiness.
Wanya Lucas [30:59]: "Self care, and I mean mentally and physically."
Focusing on Family and Community
She places significant emphasis on nurturing family relationships and contributing to the community, aligning with her family’s legacy of community involvement.
Wanya Lucas [30:59]: "Care of family and the last thing I would say is care of community."
Embracing Life’s Joys
Beyond professional responsibilities, Lucas finds fulfillment in personal joys such as spending quality time with family, engaging in community service, and exploring the world through travel.
Wanya Lucas [24:42]: "Spending time with my family, which I've not done as much as I wanted to...my own Hallmark movie love story."
Advice for Aspiring Leaders
Speak Up with Confidence
Drawing from her experiences, Lucas encourages leaders to have the courage to voice their ideas and to create environments where others feel safe to do the same.
Wanya Lucas [16:44]: "Have the courage to speak up. And I hope they have leaders who will listen."
Foster a Safe and Inclusive Environment
She emphasizes the necessity of creating a safe space where team members can express themselves freely, fostering innovation and collective growth.
Wanya Lucas [29:54]: "Creating a safe space that people can be themselves and be welcome to share whatever they want to share."
Continuous Relationship Building
Lucas advocates for consistent efforts in building and maintaining relationships through active listening, presence, and genuine interest in others' lives and aspirations.
Wanya Lucas [26:48]: "Developing relationships is about connection...to listen intently validates and creates connection."
Conclusion
In this insightful episode, Wanya Lucas shares her remarkable journey from engineering to becoming a leading media executive, underscoring the significance of love, respect, and inclusivity in leadership. Her experiences highlight the transformative power of storytelling and the essential role of accessible, empathetic leadership in fostering strong, effective teams. Lucas’s dedication to personal well-being, community involvement, and continuous relationship building offers valuable lessons for aspiring leaders aiming to balance career success with personal fulfillment.
Notable Quotes:
- Wanya Lucas [02:10]: "I've always leveraged both sides of my brain and both interests, quite frankly."
- Wanya Lucas [04:52]: "Having a respect for the audience is what I learned, regardless of who they are."
- Wanya Lucas [12:31]: "He would spend a lot of time trying to understand...what motivates you, what drives you."
- Wanya Lucas [22:24]: "I think my legacy will be the diversification of content...showing different types of love."
- Wanya Lucas [30:59]: "Self care, and I mean mentally and physically."
For More Information:
Visit www.dalecarnegie.com for additional resources, insights, and tools to support your leadership journey.