It's the third episode of the 2025 Gobal Leadership Summit Recap Series on Stories from the River! In today's episode, CEO Charlie Malouf welcomes Meagan Guzman, the newly hired Associate Director of People Operations. Just two months into her journey at Broad River Retail, Meagan reflects on her cross-country move from San Diego, her early experiences at the company, and the energizing environment of the Global Leadership Summit. This conversation highlights the value of attending the Summit with fellow leaders from Broad River and other community members, emphasizing the power of collective learning and networking, including a memorable instance of connecting with a potential future Memory Maker.

The heart of the episode centers on insights from the keynote by Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of TIAA. Charlie and Meagan delve into Duckett's inspiring rise from humble beginnings as a "first generation integration" leader to overseeing $1.6 trillion in assets. They discuss her powerful lessons about consistent excellence, gratitude for those behind the scenes, and her refreshingly honest take on work-life balance as a "diversified portfolio," where giving oneself grace is essential.

Meagan relates personally to Duckett's advice, especially when navigating tough personal moments as a new leader. The episode also celebrates Duckett's mentorship style—her use of "coffee and tea" conversations to break down barriers, gather feedback from diverse groups, and uplift the next generation of leaders.

Watch the first two episodes in our GLS 25 Recap series:

Consistency Over Charisma: Takeaways from Craig Groeschel's Opening Keynote at the 2025 Global Leadership Summit - https://youtu.be/cwNiyzyD-go

Unlocking Potential and Conquering Goals: Takeaways from Jon Acuff's Closing Keynote at the Global Leadership Summit - https://youtu.be/TxtGAFeenSo

Additional resources:

Success Is in Your Reach by Jada Grandy-Mock - https://www.amazon.com/Success-Your-Reach-Leadership-Circumstances/dp/B0C4MWNQHS

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TxtGAFeenSo

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

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