Beyond The Ledger

Jimmy J. Tran is an investor, M&A advisor, and civic leader who has spent his career helping businesses grow, scale, and sell. He founded Oak Lawn Group in 2010, an investment firm focused on real estate and other income-producing assets. He also serves as an M&A Advisor at Optima Mergers & Acquisitions, guiding middle-market business owners through the sale of their companies, and he's active in the startup world as both an investor and advisor.

Before that, Jimmy led Corporate Strategy and M&A for a $10B+ business segment at CBRE, the world's largest commercial real estate services company. There he drove $2B+ in acquisitions and helped triple earnings over eight years. He started his career as a management consultant at Bain & Company in Dallas, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and holds four degrees from SMU and two from Harvard.

Jimmy is also deeply invested in Dallas. He is Vice-Chair of the City of Dallas Economic Development Corporation, where he was part of the inaugural board. He has served on boards including the SMU Simmons School of Education and the Harvard Business School Club of Dallas, and he is a DBJ 40 Under 40 honoree.

Jimmy enjoys planning extensive family vacations (both domestic and abroad), working out and spending time with his wife, 3 kids and rescue dog.

“What You’ll Learn”

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:43 – What You Won't Find on His LinkedIn

01:46 – A Refugee Family's Story & Growing Up a Twin

04:38 – Was Management Consulting the Plan?

05:34 – "A Jungle Gym, Not a Ladder"

07:04 – The Mustard Seed: How Bain Got in His Head

08:08 – Inside Bain: The Ultimate Training Ground

09:51 – Getting the Call: A Case in Hawaii

11:39 – Working Abroad at Bain Singapore & Hong Kong

12:52 – What Bain Taught Him About Solving Problems

13:33 – Going In-House: Corporate Strategy & M&A at CBRE

15:55 – Leaving Corporate America at 40

16:04 – Pursuing FIRE: Financial Independence, Retire Early

19:19 – Why You Must Verbalize Your Goals

21:00 – The Accountability That Made It Real

22:07 – Selling His Own Business & Joining Optima M&A

23:39 – The Middle-Market Deal Space Explained

24:55 – Negotiating Against Sophisticated PE Buyers

25:25 – What Most Owners Get Wrong About Selling

27:01 – Beyond the Number: The Terms That Matter

28:55 – The "Silver Tsunami" Driving the Deal Wave

29:29 – What to Do Today to Prepare for an Exit

33:20 – The Final Three

33:22 – One Decision That Accelerated His Career

34:26 – The Fastest Way to Stand Out: Humble & Hungry

35:52 – What Jimmy's Excited About: The World Cup in Dallas

39:11 – Where to Find Jimmy & His Business Roundtable

Links:

Troy Ashby on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyashby

Jimmy Tran on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmytran

Optima Mergers & Acquisitions on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-optima-team

Optima Mergers & Acquisitions Website:

https://www.theoptimateam.com

The Deal Table Podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/@thedealtablepodcast

Guest Bio:

Suresh Narayanan is an entrepreneur, investor, and aviation executive with deep roots in the aerospace industry and a strong belief in putting people first. His passion for aviation started early, growing up around the repair station his parents opened after his father’s career as a Concorde mechanic.

A pilot himself, Suresh has built an impressive career across aerospace engineering, MRO, aviation operations, and mergers and acquisitions. Before founding Jets MRO, he worked alongside his brother at Aerospace Quality Research & Development, helping grow the aerospace engineering, repair station, and military jet modification business. He later served as COO of JSX and has continued to play a key role in aviation growth and leadership.

Following Jets MRO’s acquisition by FlyHouse, Suresh now leads FlyHouse’s maintenance operations across the country. He is also a member of YPO and serves on the board of the Frontiers of Flight Museum.

Suresh holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. Outside of work, aviation remains a passion, both professionally and personally—as he continues to look for ways to raise the bar for the industry and the people who make it possible.

“What You’ll Learn”

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:46 – What You Won't Find by Searching Him

01:58 – Why Family Comes First

02:26 – The Company Policy Inspired by Summer Camp

05:15 – How He Ended Up in Aviation

06:14 – Falling in Love With the Industry

07:12 – The Aviation Maintenance Talent Shortage

07:43 – Why Aviation Was Failing Its People

09:12 – Using Numbers as a Scoreboard

10:08 – Full Transparency & the Growth Plan

10:37 – Why Work-Life Balance Matters

12:03 – Professionalizing the Maintenance Organization

12:31 – How He Drove Turnover to Almost Zero

14:54 – The Value of Peer Groups Like YPO

15:50 – Building a Company to Sell

17:47 – The Successful Exit

18:44 – The Accounting Behind a Clean Exit

20:12 – Building With the End in Mind

25:02 – Why Most Companies Aren't Transparent

26:32 – Showing People How to Get Paid More

30:29 – Learning to Let Go as a Leader

31:26 – How to Stand Out on His Team

32:55 – What's Next

Links:

Troy Ashby on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyashby/

Suresh Narayanan on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/suresh-narayanan-78ba3330/

FlyHouse on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/flyhouse/

FlyHouse Website:

https://www.goflyhouse.com/

Guest Bio:

Aaron Garcia is an experienced business operator who has spent more than 17 years helping entrepreneurial companies grow and scale. As an Integrator, he helped one organization grow its revenue fivefold in five years by bringing greater discipline, clarity, and accountability to the business.

His experience also spans the hospitality and nonprofit sectors, giving him a unique perspective on leadership across different types of organizations. A major turning point in Aaron’s career came when he discovered EOS® through Get a Grip. After implementing the system, he saw firsthand how the right tools could reduce frustration, improve operations, and bring renewed focus and energy to a leadership team.

Today, Aaron is passionate about helping leaders turn ambitious ideas into practical execution and build businesses that can grow without losing clarity or accountability.

“What You’ll Learn”

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:46 – What You Won't Find on His LinkedIn

01:58 – The Acting Dream That Didn't Pan Out

02:13 – Realizing It Wasn't Working

04:55 – Discovering EOS & Becoming an Integrator

05:48 – Visionary vs. Integrator: What's the Difference?

06:41 – Why Founders Get Stuck

07:07 – How He Coaches Leadership Teams

07:33 – Why the Simple Tools Are the Hardest

08:27 – The 32,000 Companies Running on EOS

10:40 – Why Businesses Hit a Ceiling

11:08 – How Big You Need to Be for This to Work

12:00 – Getting the Right People in the Right Seats

13:44 – Do They Get It, Want It, and Have the Capacity?

14:39 – What One Wrong Hire Really Costs

16:01 – "Hire Slow, Fire Fast" Explained

16:29 – Why Your Team Sees More of You Than Your Family

21:23 – Why He Loves This Work

21:49 – The Light-Bulb Moments With Founders

23:36 – Taking His Own Leap

25:48 – Why He Hired His Own Coach

26:18 – What He's Most Excited About

Links:

Troy Ashby on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyashby/

Aaron Garcia on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-garcia-eos/

Aaron Garcia Website:

https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/aaron-garcia/

Schuyler Floyd is a Certified Public Accountant with a background in public accounting and a passion for building businesses that make a difference. He spent eight years in audit and financial due diligence, working with middle-market companies in manufacturing, distribution, and real estate before transitioning into industry.

Today, Schuyler serves at LensLock, a technology company providing body camera and dash camera solutions for public safety agencies across the country. He enjoys combining financial leadership with innovative technology that helps strengthen and support local communities.

Outside of work, Schuyler and his wife have been married for eight years and recently welcomed their first daughter. He’s an avid home cook, a self-proclaimed coffee snob, and loves traveling to new places whenever he gets the chance.

“What You’ll Learn”

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:24 – What You Won't Find on His LinkedIn

01:37 – The Value of Middle-Market Public Accounting

02:56 – The Career Detour That Didn't Work Out

03:46 – Why Going Back to Audit Was the Best Decision

05:01 – Making the Jump From Public to Industry

05:15 – Why "One Team" Beats the Big-Firm Grind

05:49 – What LensLock Does in Public Safety Tech

06:14 – The Hardware + Software Behind the Business

07:03 – Why Finance Is Tied to Sales

07:58 – How COVID Reshaped His Career

08:54 – Learning by Watching Your Manager

09:20 – Adapting to a Remote Environment

10:13 – Flexibility & the Post-COVID Workplace

11:52 – What Accounting Programs Should Teach Next

13:59 – Balancing Career and Being a Working Parent

19:03 – Skills Over Being a "Walking Encyclopedia"

19:54 – Why He's Staying at LensLock

Links:

Troy Ashby on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyashby/

Schuylar Floyd on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/schuyler-floyd-16a16212b/

LensLock LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/lenslock

LensLock Website:

https://www.lenslock.com/

Thomas Kerkaert is a CPA and Chief Financial Officer with more than 20 years of experience leading finance organizations across manufacturing, construction, and service industries. He has held executive leadership roles in both Nasdaq-listed and private equity-backed companies, helping organizations grow through acquisitions, improve operations, and uncover meaningful cost savings without sacrificing performance.

Known for his practical approach to finance and his passion for working alongside entrepreneurs, Thomas enjoys solving complex business challenges and building strategies that create long-term value. His career has been shaped by continuous learning, including the early growing pains of public accounting that helped define his leadership style.

Outside of work, Thomas is married, the proud father of four, and one of nine siblings. When he’s not leading finance teams, you’ll find him coaching youth baseball, skiing, working on the ranch, or enjoying time on one of his two boats—both of which, he jokes, are probably one too many.

“What You’ll Learn”

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:13 – What You Won't Find on His LinkedIn

01:38 – "Grace Under Pressure" — Lessons From His First Mentor

03:03 – How He Approaches Feedback

03:26 – Learning the Craft on the Starwood Audit

04:54 – Deciding Public Accounting Wasn't for Him

06:25 – Leaving E&Y When the Timing Was Right

06:44 – How Do You Define Success?

07:06 – Becoming a CFO at 38 — and Asking "Now What?"

09:13 – Making Yourself Valuable

09:37 – Moving Into Industry & FP&A

10:26 – The Realities of PE-Backed Finance Work

14:59 – Why Communication Makes or Breaks a CFO

16:33 – Explaining Numbers to Non-Financial People

17:19 – What's Next: Becoming an Entrepreneur

18:50 – Choosing to Be Responsive & Proactive

21:12 – Advice for the Aspiring CFO

Links:

Troy Ashby on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyashby/

Tom Kerkaert on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomkerkaert-cpa

Double B Foods LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/double-b-foods/

Double B Foods Website:

http://www.doubleb.com

Raquel Hardy, Senior Director of Accounting Operations at Parkland Health, did not set out to spend three decades in accounting. She enrolled at LSU to become a veterinarian, changed course in her junior year, and landed in accounting because, as she put it on a recent episode of Beyond the Ledger, it was easy and she loved math. That accidental starting point eventually led to a career spanning external audit, government investigations, physician contracting, and full-scope financial operations at one of the largest public hospital systems in Texas.

The throughline across every role has been a deliberate commitment to mastering whatever was in front of her. Hardy described her approach plainly: 'No matter what you do, make sure you are learning and pulling nuggets from everything so that you can draw upon them.' That philosophy guided roughly thirteen years in audit, where she worked across vendor contracts, hospital financials, operational reviews, and even investigations through the Louisiana Inspector General's office. Rather than staying in one lane, she used each assignment to build industry knowledge that compounded over time.

From auditor to process architect

Hardy's pivot out of audit was not a clean break. She began to recognize that her real interest was not just in identifying problems, but in fixing them. 'I wanna go a step further. I wanna help them put the fixes in place,' she told host Troy Ashby. That realization pushed her toward physician contracting, an operationally complex area where hospitals face significant regulatory exposure. The skills she had built as an auditor, understanding rules, measuring compliance, communicating findings without creating defensiveness, translated directly into designing the controls and processes those environments required.

A sixteen-year tenure at Baylor gave her the stability to move laterally across unfamiliar functions without starting over externally. She credited the organization's willingness to take internal chances on people, while also acknowledging that internal mobility still requires active self-advocacy. When she eventually faced a layoff after those sixteen years, she reframed her job search around capability rather than title. She applied for a role she considered a step down, argued the case for her fit based on what she could deliver, and was offered a higher-level position instead.

Leading through change at Parkland Health

Today, Hardy oversees accounting operations at Parkland Health, a county hospital system that required her to learn governmental accounting alongside a new organization and a tenured team accustomed to doing things a particular way. Her scope covers corporate and hospital accounting, consolidation of affiliates, accounts payable, and payroll. The role also placed her over staff who had been in their positions for over a decade, which meant her instinct to move quickly on process improvement had to be tempered by the need to build buy-in first.

She drew a direct line from her audit days to the communication skills she now uses to lead change. As an auditor, she learned how to tell someone their process was broken and get them to fix it without triggering resistance. She applies the same logic to operational improvements: sell the outcome, acknowledge the discomfort of transition, and give people a reason to move. 'With any process improvement, there is an uncomfortable period where you will not know what you're doing,' she said. 'But once you get past that point, you will be more efficient.'

When asked what she would tell someone earlier in their career, Hardy kept the advice direct: do not put yourself in a box. The auditor identity she held tightly for over a decade was real and hard-earned, but it was also limiting until she allowed herself to transfer the underlying skills into new contexts. For accounting professionals weighing a move outside their defined lane, her career offers a concrete example of what happens when technical depth gets paired with the willingness to apply it somewhere unexpected.

Guest Bio:

Raquel Hardy is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 30 years of experience in accounting, financial reporting, internal audit, SOX compliance, and process improvement. She currently serves as Senior Director of Accounting Operations at Parkland Health, where she focuses on strengthening financial operations, improving internal controls, and building high-performing teams.

Before joining Parkland, Raquel spent several years at Baylor Scott & White, taking on a variety of leadership roles across audit, physician contracting, and corporate accounting. Those diverse experiences shaped her collaborative leadership style and broad understanding of finance operations.

Passionate about developing people as much as improving processes, Raquel is dedicated to creating efficient, accurate financial organizations while mentoring the next generation of accounting and audit professionals.

“What You’ll Learn”

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:20 – What You Won't Find on Her Resume

02:32 – "I'm an Operations Gal" — Defining Her Identity

03:41 – Seeing Life as Process Flows

04:07 – Starting Out in Audit

04:30 – Moving From Audit Into Operations

04:36 – Getting Into Physician Contracting

06:28 – When People Take a Chance on You

09:01 – Surrounding Yourself With Believers

10:12 – Why Self-Advocacy Is Hard for Accountants

11:02 – Learning Hospital Accounting

15:12 – Surviving a Layoff — and a Fast Comeback

17:15 – The Feeling of Worthlessness in Transition

18:02 – Why Getting Let Go Doesn't Make You a Bad Apple

20:34 – Leading Accounting Operations at Parkland

20:59 – Learning Governmental Accounting

22:17 – Selling Change to a Team

24:46 – Take Chances: Advice to Her Younger Self

Links:

Troy Ashby on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyashby/

Raquel Hardy on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquel-hardy-cpa/

Parkland Health LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/parkland-hospital

Parkland Health Website:

https://www.parklandhealth.org/

Jed Gifford has built a career around one simple belief: everyone has a unique "Sizzle Factor"® that sets them apart. Known for his ability to spot talent, build relationships, and help people reach their potential, Jed has spent his career connecting opportunity with people.

A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, Jed began his professional journey in television news and sports, covering everything from major sporting events and severe weather to human-interest stories. He later transitioned into talent acquisition and leadership development, spending years helping organizations identify, attract, and develop top talent across industries including commercial real estate, automotive retail, and HVAC.

Today, Jed is recognized for his extensive network, coaching mindset, and ability to bring out the best in teams and individuals. Whether he's building relationships, mentoring professionals, or helping organizations grow, his focus remains the same: creating meaningful connections and lasting impact.

Jed lives in Dallas with his wife, Cherie, and daughter, Avery. He's a passionate sports fan, proud Longhorn, and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity.

“What You’ll Learn”

00:00 – The "Sizzle Factor" — A Preview

00:49 – Intro & Welcome

03:34 – From Broadcast Journalism to the Camera

04:26 – The Pivot Into Corporate America

06:15 – Finding Talent Dynamics & a New Career

10:19 – From Media to Talent Acquisition

12:22 – Defining the "Sizzle Factor"

16:11 – Why "Humbly Confident" Wins

21:06 – Spotting Authenticity (and Faking It)

23:15 – Standing Out in the Age of AI Resumes

24:16 – The Over-Engineering Problem

28:45 – The Case for Career Coaching

34:15 – Be Coachable: Advocating for Yourself

34:34 – Books That Shaped His Thinking

36:59 – What Schools Should Teach

39:48 – His Own Career Path & Coming Back to Lennox

40:57 – Why He Chose Talent Acquisition

44:07 – What Gets Him Up in the Morning

Links:

Troy Ashby on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyashby/

Jed Gifford on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jedgifford/

Lennox LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/lennox/

Lennox Website:

https://www.lennox.com/

In a workplace still shaped by hybrid schedules, remote communication and shifting expectations around professional growth, relationships have become more than a soft skill — they are a career advantage. Gallup’s latest workplace reporting shows that global employee engagement has fallen to 20%, reflecting a broader challenge for organizations trying to keep people connected, motivated and invested in their work. For accounting and finance professionals, the stakes are especially high: technical ability may open the door, but relationships often determine who earns trust, gains opportunity and builds lasting influence.

How can professionals build the relationships, trust and visibility that turn technical skill into long-term career growth?

On this episode of Beyond the Ledger, host Troy Ashby sits down with Felix Lozano, retired Chief Growth Officer and former Director of Audit at Whitley Penn, for a conversation about the relationships that shaped Lozano’s career and the purpose that now defines his retirement. Their discussion spans Lozano’s early lessons in communication, his decades in public accounting, the importance of proximity in a post-COVID workplace and the personal turning point that redirected his time toward philanthropy, family, faith and service.

What you’ll learn…

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:56 – What LinkedIn Doesn’t Show About Felix

02:54 – 31 Years with the YMCA

04:32 – How Relationships Shaped His Career

07:27 – First-Generation College & Learning to Communicate

10:28 – The Accident That Changed Everything

11:39 – Serving South Dallas During COVID

15:22 – Philanthropy: Uganda, Guatemala & Peru

17:18 – Advice for the Post-COVID Generation

19:59 – Presence, Proximity & Saying Yes

22:55 – Two Years into Retirement

24:13 – Becoming the “CEO of Me”

28:48 – What Gets You Noticed and Promoted

30:25 – What Felix Is Excited About Next

Felix Lozano is a retired Chief Growth Officer and former Director of Audit at Whitley Penn, where he spent 27 years helping businesses grow, developing professionals, and building lasting relationships. Across a 37-year career in public accounting, Felix became known not just for his technical expertise, but for his people-first philosophy: always give more than you receive.

Since retiring in 2023, Felix has focused on a purpose-driven chapter centered around family, mentorship, philanthropy, and investing in both businesses and people. He actively supports organizations focused on education, leadership, and community impact, including the YMCA, State Fair of Texas, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Engage Hope, Christian Hands in Action, and Hope Farm.

Grounded in faith and driven by service, Felix is passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders and believes true success is measured by the impact we leave on others.

Work doesn’t feel the way it used to. Between new tech, changing expectations, and the constant pressure to keep up, a lot of people—even those who look successful on paper—are quietly wondering what’s next. In fact, recent workforce studies suggest a large share of employees feel disengaged or uncertain about their next move, despite appearing to have it all together. It’s not uncommon to feel stuck or unsure about your direction right now. And that tension matters: stay where you are too long, and you risk outgrowing your role; move too quickly, and you might step into something that doesn’t fit either.

So what should you actually do when you feel stuck? Is it about making a bold leap, or refining your direction with intention and strategy?

On this episode of Beyond the Ledger, hosted by Troy Ashby, the conversation dives deep into that very question. Joined by Andrea Carter, founder of Carter Growth, the episode explores how professionals can navigate career inflection points, align purpose with opportunity, and build momentum when progress feels stalled.

What You’ll Learn…

• The 25-Year Career Question That Changed Everything
• Building a Career at EY
• Why Andrea Didn’t Plan to Become a Partner
• Taking Risks and Changing Career Paths
• The Inflection Point After 25 Years
• Starting Carter Growth from Scratch
• The Reality of Building a Business
• Networking That Actually Works
• Common Organizational Challenges
• Why Strategy Fails Without Execution
• AI: From Ideas to Action
• Finding Purpose in Nonprofits
• Joining the Center for Nonprofit Management
• Advice for Career Transitions

Andrea Carter is a growth-focused executive and operator with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations turn vision into execution. She’s the founder of Carter Growth and has spent her career driving business transformation, operational efficiency, and scalable growth across private, nonprofit, and middle-market organizations.

Andrea previously served as a Partner at EY, where she led high-impact initiatives across industries and helped generate over $50 million in new consulting revenue. She’s also taken on leadership roles as a fractional COO and now serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Nonprofit Management, continuing her work supporting mission-driven organizations and community impact.

Known for her ability to step into complex environments and create clarity, Andrea is passionate about building organizations that grow with purpose. Outside of work, she’s a proud mom of four, a dedicated St. Louis Cardinals fan, and makes time for a few trips to Napa each year.

Stepping into a leadership role today isn’t just a step up—it’s a shift into constant visibility, where expectations arrive immediately and the margin for error narrows. As organizations flatten structures and demand faster decisions, newly promoted leaders are expected to deliver impact from the outset, often without the space to fully adjust. According to leadership development research, 60% of new managers fail within their first two years, largely due to the gap between prior performance and the new demands of leadership. The stakes are clear: this transition can either accelerate long-term career growth or quietly derail it before momentum has a chance to build.

What, then, does it really take to succeed after getting promoted—when the shift isn’t just in title, but in mindset, expectations, and the way decisions are made under pressure?

Welcome to Beyond the Ledger, hosted by Troy Ashby. In the latest episode, Ashby sits down with Derek Alonzo, Controller at Valor Companies, to unpack the realities of rapid career progression. The conversation explores Derek’s journey from public accounting to a controller seat, and the mindset shifts, mentorship strategies, and leadership principles that shaped his path.

What You’ll Learn…

00:00 – From Public Accounting to Controller

02:30 – The Role Mentorship Played in Career Decisions

06:00 – Lessons from Public Accounting

09:15 – Failing as a First-Time Senior

12:30 – Transitioning to Koch Industries

16:00 – Understanding Principle-Based Management (PBM)

20:10 – Taking a Leap into a High-Growth Company

24:00 – The Learning Curve of Becoming a Controller

27:30 – Why Slowing Down Matters in Leadership

30:00 – System Implementation & Scaling Challenges

33:30 – Turning Failures into “Tuition Payments”

36:00 – Advice for Future Controllers & Leaders

Derek Alonzo is the Controller at Valor Companies LLC, where he focuses on building scalable financial processes that support long-term growth. He began his career in public accounting, developing a strong foundation in financial analysis, controls, and compliance before transitioning into industry to take on a more strategic role.

A key part of Derek’s approach comes from his time at Koch Industries, where he was introduced to principle-based management, shaping how he thinks about leadership, incentives, and long-term value creation. Today, he partners closely with operations and leadership teams to deliver insights, improve clarity, and help drive better decision-making across the business.

Derek is passionate about building strong teams and believes finance should be an enabler, not just a reporting function. He’s especially focused on developing people, fostering collaboration, and creating environments where individuals feel empowered to ask questions, grow, and contribute.