Guest: Reta Jo Lewis

"It's not just about the the betterment of you and your family. It's about the betterment of the community."

That is one of the core values that helped guide Reta Jo Lewis through an eventful leadership journey, culminating in her current role as president and chair of the board of the Export Import Bank of the United States — the first African American to accomplish this. She is a passionate advocate for women in entrepreneurship and has a long history of working in politics and law.

In this episode, she shares more about her amazing leadership path (including time with Nelson Mandela), and how that can help you in your own career journey. 

Here's what Reta Jo and host Maureen Metcalf cover:

1. The importance of feeling you’re working for something bigger than just yourself;

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

- ShEquity: A Refugee’s Path to Empowering Women & Their Businesses – with Pauline Koelbl

- Empowering Women for the Prosperity of Nations – with Amanda Ellise & Augusto Lopez-Claros

- Winning in the Face of Adversity: Overcoming Challenge with Grace – with Joyce Beatty & Doug McCollough

For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, too!  

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RESOURCES:  

You can learn more about Reta Jo’s agency and her work there at www.exim.gov.

Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.

She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0.

Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:

• Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned by Walter Mosley

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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  

Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf

Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko

Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko

Their Podcast Journey Is Just Beginning: Luigi Morelli, Jenna Reik, & Connor Carson

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Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com

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About Our Guest:  

Ms. Lewis is a senior executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in international affairs, legal, public policy, business and regulatory affairs, and subnational diplomacy. 

On February 9, 2022, the U.S. Senate confirmed Reta Jo Lewis as EXIM’s President and Chair of the Board of Directors. Ms. Lewis was most recently a Senior Fellow and Director of Congressional Affairs at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Prior to her time at GMF, she served as the first-ever Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs under Secretary Hillary Clinton at the U.S. Department of State during the Obama-Biden Administration. As Special Representative, Lewis was the chief diplomat in charge of the international efforts to build and support strategic relationships between the federal government, state and local leaders, and their foreign counterparts. In 2013, she was awarded the Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award. 

Ms. Lewis was the first Black woman to serve as Vice President and Counselor to the President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She led the Chamber’s initiatives focused on fostering strategic alliances between small businesses, especially women- and minority-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and executives. She is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and former Member of the Board of the Leadership Council for Women in National Security. Ms. Lewis received a J.D. from Emory University School of Law, an M.S.A.J. from American University, and a B.A. from the University of Georgia. She is a native of Statesboro, Georgia.