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Founded and hosted by lawyer, advisor, strategist, and educator LaFonda Willis, The Strategic Wins Podcast™ aims to equip individuals of all ages and stages with the information, insights, principles, and...
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Founded and hosted by lawyer, advisor, strategist, and educator LaFonda Willis, The Strategic Wins Podcast™ aims to equip individuals of all ages and stages with the information, insights, principles, and strategies they need to win in business, law, and life.
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Transcribed
10 AUG 2024 · Today we begin our Access to Capital Series with Robert Pitre, an Independent Businessman, Entrepreneur, Inventor, Real Estate Developer, and Community Leader from Dallas, Texas who has been self-employed for 53 years and counting.
Robert started his career with $300. Yes - $300! He used $272 to buy a car and parlayed the remaining $28 dollars of operating capital into a successful multi-million dollar enterprise.
Robert Pitre grew up in a Beaumont Texas Housing Project but is now the owner of Skyline Ranch, which boasts an event center and ballroom, a swimming pool, a natural spring, 2 volleyball courts, 2 basketball courts, horses, and a full view of the Dallas Skyline. Robert is one of the largest Black landowners in Dallas, Texas and is said to own more land in Dallas, Texas than Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones combined.
One of Robert’s chief goals is to empower and create opportunities for urban youth, a passion we both share. In this episode, Robert talks about mindset and money, economic embargoes, the role that banks (and governments) can play in community development, the need for access to capital for Black Americans, how he overcame setbacks to become a multi-millionaire, and how he and his then 94-year-old grandmother Marie Forward helped create legislation in the State of Texas in the year 2005.
And one of the most valuable lessons Robert shares in this podcast interview is from his mother, who told him at 12 years old that “if you can define yourself, nothing can stop you.” Thank you, Robert, for showing all of us how true this is!
You can also listen to The Strategic Wins Podcast™ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
The views expressed on The Strategic Wins Podcast™ are those of the podcaster, host, and interviewees.
Transcribed
8 FEB 2024 · Today, during Black History Month, the Strategic Wins Podcast ™ presents Mr. Melvin F. Williams, Jr., an extraordinarily accomplished individual, principled leader, and C-Suite Executive in the financial services industry.
Melvin is currently the Chief Legal Officer at the Chicago Trading Company, a leading proprietary trading firm and market maker providing liquidity in all major exchanges.
Melvin is also a two-time Presidential appointee by (two-term) President Barack Obama.
Over the course of his brilliant career, Melvin has also served as:
- General Counsel for the U.S. Small Business Administration;
- General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for the Millenium Challenge Corporation; and
- Director and Counsel at Citi, one of the largest consumer banks in the world.
Like me, Melvin started his legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk for a United States District Court Judge.
Melvin has a tremendous amount of widsom to share with aspiring and current professionals, including lawyers, entrepreneurs, and C-Suite executives. Below are five nuggets of wisdom he shared during his dynamic interview with the Strategic Wins Podcast ™.
Remember:
- Everyone is deserving of your kindness;
- Speak up on behalf of others who want and are prepared for opportunity, especially when you are the only "one" in the room;
- Choose a job that values you, is worthy of your time, and makes you better;
- You do not need to check all boxes when applying for opportunities. Take a chance on yourself (!);
- Do not discount your power!
Many thanks to Melvin for his outstanding contribution to the Strategic Wins Podcast™ and for being a shining example of leadership and success in the legal profession and financial services industry.
You can listen to his inspiring and thought-provoking podcast interview here on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spodify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Happy Black History 365!!
The views expressed on the Strategic Wins Podcast™ are those of the podcaster, host, and interviewees.
Transcribed
2 DEC 2023 · Today, Strategic wins ™ returns to our Trailblazer Series, featuring the phenomenal Carmen M. Lineberger, a Managing AUSA for the Southern District of Florida, who has been a prosecutor her entire career.
In the interview, Carmen talks about:
- Becoming a Managing AUSU for the Southern District of Florida;
- George Floyd*;
- Doing the right thing;
- How prosecutors can use their discretion;
- Her DEI + mentoring work in the world of prosecution; and
- Challenges she faced and how she overcame them to get to where she is today.
Carmen also talks about the legacy of her father and the gravitas and inspiration that comes from being a daddy’s girl (which I can fully appreciate because my father was also my little league coach).
You can listen to Carmen's informative and thought-provoking podcast interview here.
You can also listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, or wherever your listen to your favorite shows.
The views expressed on Strategic wins ™ are those of the podcasters and interviewees.
Transcribed
11 SEP 2023 · This September 11th, the Strategic Wins Podcast ™ brings you another dose of inspiration and optimism through our Trailblazer Series!
Today, we feature, Elizabeth Lan Davis, Co-Chair of the National Financial Services Practice Group at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, and one of the only women and women of color to ascend to the position of Chair and President of a financial services firm in these United States!
Liz has nearly two decades of federal government experience between her roles at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. In her practice, she advocates before the CFTC, DOJ, IRS, SEC, NFA, and exchanges such as the CME Group and ICE. And her practice covers a wide variety of assets and financial products, including agricultural and energy commodities, digital assets, swaps, forex, precious metals, and Treasuries.
Liz is also a former fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, a former Diversity Committee Co-Chair of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, and a fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, in the legal profession and financial services industry.
In her podcast interview, Liz talks about her litigation experience, her time as a regulator, and becoming Chair and President of McGonigle, P.C. (a preeminent financial services boutique that combined with DWT in 2022). She also shares advice on how to achieve her incredible level of success!
Liz is a real gem in the legal profession and financial services industry, and you can listen to her podcast here!
Transcribed
30 AUG 2023 · This week, the Strategic Wins Podcast ™ brings to you trailblazer and attorney extraordinaire, Bruce Anthony McMullen, the first Black person to ever become Managing Shareholder of the Memphis Office of the law firm Baker Donelson.
Indeed, Bruce has done remarkable things during his legal career!
In 2022, he orchestrated a strategic and covert operation to remove confederate monuments from Memphis Parks; and
Bruce is the only person in Memphis history to have ever served a four year term as the Chief Legal Officer for the City of Memphis while simultaneously maintaining his active legal practice at Baker Donelson!
So it comes as no surprise that Bruce is a past recipient of the Memphis Bar Association's Judge Jerome Turner Lawyer's Lawyer Award as well as the MLK Luminary Award, which recognizes attorneys who champion civil rights in Memphis.
Bruce is a minority powerbroker and was named to the Memphis Business Journal's Power 100 in 2022 and 2023. One of the ways he shares his wealth of knowledge and experience is by giving advice on how law firms can increase diversity in their partner ranks. Bruce advises law firms to “include diverse associates in high-profile engagements with institutional clients.” And to “include diverse associates at all levels of engagement, from the client strategy meetings to actual court involvement.”
Bruce strongly believes that "the practice of law is an apprenticeship occupation" and that "[t]o elevate to a successful partner, an associate must be developed, trained, and exposed."
Well said, Bruce. And thank you so much for your strategic thinking, community involvement, and dynamic leadership style! We are grateful to have you as a stellar example in the legal profession and we are so proud of your trailblazing work!
Transcribed
8 AUG 2023 · We are back with another episode of Strategic Wins (TM)-- the Podcast, and this time, we feature Morehouse Man, Attorney Van Turner, the ONLY choice for Memphis Mayor!
In this podcast episode, Van talks about:
- his extraordinary background in public service;
- removing confederate monuments from the City of Memphis;
- the Billion Dollar Ford Blue Oval Project;
- economic prosperity for ALL Memphis residents; and
- why I believe he is the ONLY choice for Memphis Mayor!
Early voting takes place September 15th through September 30th!
And Election Day is on Thursday, October 5th, which is exactly 2 months away!!
In the meantime, you can support Van for Memphis Mayor at his website:
www.vanformemphis.com or www.vanturnerformayor.com
Thank you so much Morehouse Man Van, for running this race!!
Transcribed
19 JUN 2023 · Today, in celebration of Juneteenth, Strategic Wins (TM) is delighted to release a podcast episode featuring De'Ana Dow, a derivatives lawyer and trailblazer in the financial services industry.
De'Ana is Partner and General Counsel at Capitol Counsel, LLC and Founder and Board Chair of Financial Services Professionals, and is one of the most respected experts on energy markets and financial regulation in the United States.
During her extensive career in the futures and derivatives industry, De'Ana served as Associate Vice President and Counsel in the Market Regulation Department at FINRA and as Managing Director for Government Relations at the CME Group, the world's largest derivatives exchange. De'Ana also spent over 22 years at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and was the first Black person to serve as Counsel to a CFTC Chairman!
De'Ana has made phenomenal contributions to the legal profession and financial services industry. And you can learn more about her remarkable career and some of the obstacles she has overcome on her road to success through her informative and insightful podcast interview on Strategic Wins (TM).
Listeners, please don't forget to leave your positive reviews! Thank you & Happy Juneteenth!!
Transcribed
23 MAY 2023 · Today's feature for my Strategic Wins (TM) Podcast - Living Legends Series is none other than the Honorable Judge Arthur Burnett, Sr., whom I have known as a mentor and advisor for the past 12 years.
Judge Burnett was:
- the first African American Federal Magistrate Judge in the United States;
- an Associate Judge for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia;
- an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia; and
- an Advisor to former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy during the Martin Luther King Civil Rights Movement.
Judge Burnett also serves as the National Executive Director of the National African American Drug Policy Coalition, where I had the pleasure of serving on the Board of Directors with him for two years.
With all that he has done with his life, it comes as no surprise that Judge Burnett was voted Top Judge of the Decade (2020) by the https://www.linkedin.com/feed/ and a Waymaker by the https://www.linkedin.com/feed/'s Judge's Journal.
Judge Burnett recently turned 88 years of age and is still going strong, even being called on by the Biden Administration to consult on the most serious issues of the day. Congratulations, Judge Burnett, on a most remarkable and inspiring career! Thank you for your service and for being such an incredible support and role model to so many of us in the legal profession throughout the years!
Transcribed
25 APR 2023 · I am thrilled to release the 4th episode of my podcast, Strategic Wins (TM), featuring the legendary lawyer and leader Douglas E. Harris, the only Black man to have ever been inducted into the FIA Futures Hall of Fame!
Doug has the most extensive, impressive, and extraordinary career in the banking, derivatives, and futures industry I have ever seen! During his remarkable career Doug was:
- instrumental in the creation, management, and growth of JP Morgan Futures, which remains one of the largest FCM's globally;
- tapped by the 27th Comptroller of the Currency, Eugene Ludwig, to become Senior Deputy Comptroller for Capital Markets; and
- the sole attorney to negotiate the sale of 77 tons of gold to the government of Japan!
Douglas E. Harris is truly a Living Legend! I am so grateful for his shining example in the financial services industry and it was an absolute honor and pleasure to interview him for Strategic Wins (TM).
Transcribed
9 APR 2023 · After graduating from what some consider to be a “mediocre” law school, Judge Bernice B. Donald, in spite of the naysayers, went on to become:
- The “first” African American woman to hold the position of Judge in the State of Tennessee;
- The “first” African American woman to serve as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge in the history of the United States;
- The “first” African American woman to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee; and
- The “first” African American woman to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
This is a strong testament to the power of faith, perseverance, and self-determination. Having been the “first” in my own family and community to accomplish many career goals, and having been born and raised in Ohio, a jurisdiction under the purview of the Sixth Circuit, I am so grateful to have had the privilege of advising and clerking for this trailblazing woman and judge. Judge Donald is indeed a Living Legend and it was an honor to interview her for a podcast episode. Please excuse the way we laugh towards the end of the interview. We just couldn’t help ourselves! Laughter is so good for the soul—and we need so much more of it in this world.
Founded and hosted by lawyer, advisor, strategist, and educator LaFonda Willis, The Strategic Wins Podcast™ aims to equip individuals of all ages and stages with the information, insights, principles, and...
show more
Founded and hosted by lawyer, advisor, strategist, and educator LaFonda Willis, The Strategic Wins Podcast™ aims to equip individuals of all ages and stages with the information, insights, principles, and strategies they need to win in business, law, and life.
show less
Information
| Author | Strategic Wins ™ |
| Organization | Strategic Wins |
| Categories | Business , Careers , Education |
| Website | - |
| strategicwinspodcast@gmail.com |
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