Lisa Gardner is joined by Vicki Blanton, Assistant Vice President and Senior Legal Counsel for AT&T to discuss transformative leadership through mentorship, availability, and empathy.  

Vicki shares her journey, from founding the Village Giving Circle at the Texas Women's Foundation to serving on the SMU Dedman School of Law executive board. Celebrated for her community and justice work, Vicki stresses her dedication to diversity, equity, and closing the gender wage gap. They explore qualities of effective leaders and the unique challenges women face in leadership roles. Vicki offers advice on asserting presence and making significant contributions, even as the only woman or person of color. They address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), dispelling myths and highlighting DEI's benefits.  
 
Also in this episode: 

• The importance of servant leadership and being available to your team. 
• How women can effectively lead and make their voices heard in male-dominated spaces. 
• The value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in fostering innovation and achieving the best results. 
• Insights into the roles of mentors and sponsors in shaping successful careers. 
• Strategies for navigating and excelling in environments where you might be the only diverse voice. 

 
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About Vicki Blanton 
A seasoned attorney with 30 years of experience, I specialize in transaction and litigation legal matters, with over 25 years advising Fortune 500 companies on employee benefits and executive compensation. I manage large-scale defined benefit and contribution plans, union and non-union retirement plans, health and welfare plans, international benefits, and executive compensation plans, impacting over $200 billion in assets and 6 million participants. I lead interdisciplinary teams, advise fiduciaries, and ensure compliance with ERISA and IRC regulations. Additionally, I serve as an experienced board chair and director for various nonprofit and civic organizations, committees, and commissions. 

About Lisa Gardner 
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.