How do you build a legacy of leadership that blends kindness, hard work, and gratitude? In this powerful episode, Ben Wiggins ’07 ’18 sits down with Devina Rankin ’98 — Mays accounting graduate, former CFO of WM (Waste Management), cancer survivor, philanthropist, and visiting lecturer at Mays Business School — to explore her extraordinary journey. From her military family roots and her first job at Arthur Andersen in the age of the Enron scandal to becoming WM’s first female CFO, overcoming personal adversity, and giving back to the next generation, Devina shares career-shaping moments and the core values that have defined her life. Tune in for actionable lessons on integrity, resilience, and what it truly means to “bloom where you’re planted.”

00:00 Intro: Meet Devina Rankin

01:00 Finding Home at Texas A&M University

03:16 Academic Foundations & Early Influences

05:56 Integrity Under Fire: Lessons from Arthur Andersen & Enron

11:37 Transitioning from Workhorse to a Leader in Training

17:03 Bloom Where You’re Planted: Thriving in the Face of Adversity

18:18 Cancer, Resilience, and the Power of Positive Energy

23:38 Giving Back: Teaching, Philanthropy & the Next Generation

26:34 Leadership Lessons for Life