My Great Aunt EDNA: The Golden Girl of Leadership

For those who know me personally, you know I am a private pilot. I fly. I like heights and the beauty of the earth from the viewpoint of the sky. It is a majestic feeling to soar, have control of your aircraft, and view the heavens and the earth simultaneously. I have met a brother who does the opposite. He dives; very deep. He dives in oceans and views the majesty of the earth from under deep waters, and has explained to me a similar feeling of euphoria. He is also a leader in his field, which is why My Great Aunt EDNA had to speak with him. Meet Jay Haigler, the master scuba diver and leader of an organization known as Diving With a Purpose. Shout out to our brother Dell Warren for making the connection. CLICK PLAY TO LISTEN TO MY CONVERSATION WITH JAY HAIGLER ABOUT LEADERSHIP, PURPOSE, AND DIVING. #mygreatauntedna #auntedna #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #excellence #dointthingstherightway #noshortcuts #accountability #author #books #podcast #macmcneil #My_Great_Aunt_EDNA #MacMcNeil

Is there a line in heaven for those who choose to be born an orphan? I am assuming that line would not exist, even if there were a desk for this category (I am picturing the Division of Motor Vehicles in my mind). As Grace Yung Foster told me during our leadership discussion pertaining to her lived experience of being an adoptee, then abandoned after adoption, resulting in the rest of her childhood being in foster care, being born an orphan means that you are literally born an outsider belonging nowhere. But Grace has overcome the beginning of her existence to become a leader in working with adoptees, foster children, and organizations to better maximize the full human potential. #mygreatauntedna #auntedna #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #excellence #dointthingstherightway #noshortcuts #accountability #author #books #books #podcast #macmcneil #youtube #youtubevideo #My_Great_Aunt_EDNA #MacMcNeil #leadership help #leadership_helping_others_to_succeed_quotes

Several studies have shown that creativity is much more prevalent in dreams than in actual life. Why, you ask? It is because the portion of the brain that manages logic and reason is largely restrained during the first 3 hours of sleep. This restraint of logic permits the free association connectivity of memories and ideas in a way that can produce novel combinations. The key to this being a benefit for your personal, leadership, or business life is the point at which you wake up in your sleep progression. I now automatically wake up after 3 hours, which allows me to vividly remember the novel combinations that were in my dreams. Typically, after the first 3 hours of sleep, it is harder for one to remember the vivid details of dreams if one sleeps a full 6 - 8 hours consecutively.

Rarely do you ever hear of a black female leading technology as a senior level executive for a major organization. Even more rare is learning that other C-suite executives seek her out to improve their overall performance, career plans, and general psychological well-being. Trina L. Hill, MBA, PMP, CBCP, CSM, ACC is rare, and she's a force on the move. I was blessed to have her state that she is a fan of the My Great Aunt EDNA leadership platform, and even more blessed to have her as a guest on the show to discuss her leadership philosophies she shares with other executives. After years of leading very complex technology strategies at large-scale, Trina is now sharing her talents and lessons. You'll want to get in on this movement.

One monkey, two monkeys, three monkeys, four On my back I can feel I have monkeys galore But when I look back only one monkey's found This troublesome monkey's been moving around In leadership, we often feel that we have several "monkeys on our backs," causing us stress related to trying to figure out how to get them off. However, when you actually reach for them, there are usually far fewer "monkeys" than what was first assumed.

As a leader, how do you plan to lead in a political Cold War? It does impact your team. Whether you openly admit, think about, or consider this to be true, the impacts to your success as a leader may depend on your ability to manage the variables and variance of team dynamics impacted by Election PTSD.

As a leader, how do you plan to lead in a political Cold War? It does impact your team. Whether you openly admit, think about, or consider this to be true, the impacts to your success as a leader may depend on your ability to manage the variables and variance of team dynamics impacted by Election PTSD.

Is it really over? Is this the end? Has the summation of all events been concluded at this distinct point of reality? Only if you say so. Fascinating is the hidden wisdom in language and words. The slight manipulation of letters can reveal lessons of life that can help one be motivated or demotivated. You choose. THE END sounds finite. But isn’t there always a sequel? Take the “E” off THE and the “D” off END. What is left? TH…EN. THEN is the story you get to write after THE END. I like to think of the “E” and “D” as messages as well. Could they be representation of Expected Disappointments that you take off THE END? Could they represent Everyone’s Doubt? Or could they represent Euphoric Dissolution? I am sure that you can easily define what the “E” and “D” mean for you. THEN can be better or worse than THE END. As leaders, we can influence THEN for our teams and ourselves. How, might you ask? My Great Aunt EDNA teaches that Excellence, Doing Things The Right Way, No Shortcuts, and Accountability can influence what happens after THE END. As an example, a failed business endeavor can be THE END for some leaders, but it can also lead to, THEN I decided to listen to other’s advice, because I left off Egocentric Decision-making. A successful THE END to a construction project can become, THEN we decided to scale even larger because we left off Eensy-weensy Dreaming. So, for you and your teams, is it really THE END? Likely not. THEN, what are you going to do about it?

From humble beginnings in the Bronx, NY as the child of a single black woman, to becoming the only Black woman to ever fly the U-2 Spy Plane for the United States Air Force at 70,000 feet, Ret. Colonel Merryl Tengesdal has never had a problem of directly owning the spirit of the woman she was intended to be! As an inductee into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, Merryl has applied her love for science, math, and the Spirit of Excellence adopted by My Great Aunt EDNA to soar to heights only known to a few. Click below to watch or listen to the Season 2 kickoff of the acclaimed My Great Aunt EDNA Leadership Podcast by Mac McNeil with special guest, Ret. Col Merryl Tengesdal!

Assets - Liabilities = Net Worth. That was one of the first equations that I learned in accounting many years ago. It is a very simple and direct equation to commit to memory, but somehow we fail to consider the equation void of numerical ramifications. Assets are items of value that we possess due to acquisition or wealth transfer. Assets can be physical, intellectual, or even "realized," meaning that we recognize the value of something that others may not in a traditional sense. One common realized asset is emotional possession acquired via acquisition or transference. Anger can be a catalyst for acquisition. Anger can also be a catalyst for liabilities. Liabilities can be defined as short or long-term debt, or something that we owe a value to another. If you've been in leadership for any length of time, you understand that anger is a common emotion that is expressed or internalized very frequently. Some would argue anger has no place in organizational leadership, but I beg to differ. It is the expression of anger that can be a problem, not anger itself. Let us think in terms of assets created by anger. Anger can cause one to build resilience, eliminate procrastination, encourage learning and knowledge acquisition, learn a new skill, geographically relocate, enter a new industry, or even forge new relationships. As a catalyst, anger can be one of the strongest emotions that we possess to create assets of value. My Great Aunt EDNA once told me that besides love, anger can be attributed to creating some of the most beautiful outcomes. She also stated that one's purpose is often found in the one thing that provides you with the greatest anger. It is that, in which you were born to solve. Inversely, anger can also be a catalyst for liabilities. Liabilities are typically created by anger in the lack of controlled expression. Do you control your anger, or are you controlled by anger? The variance in outcomes can be drastic if one cannot control their anger. Let us think in terms of liabilities caused by anger. Anger can cause personal image damage, communication barriers, job loss, financial distress, legal entanglements, damaged relationships, and even death. Since liabilities are debt, can these liabilities be paid off and neutralized? Some can, and others are finite. Anger as an emotion expressed in leadership can get an unfair label at times. In a fairy tale version of leadership, the leader is always happy, wise, and free of stress. Can I call bullshit on this one? The real version of leadership is laced with pride, happiness, stress, accomplishment, intuition, learning, intellect, and yes, anger. Real leadership, has moments of real anger. The real trick is creating a positive net worth as a result of the anger. The assets you gain from anger must surpass your liabilities caused by your anger. This effort, a word used intentionally, requires a conscious cognitive awareness of your anger, and the ability to channel your anger into positive outcomes. This will not be a 100% occurrence, as anger is not 100% controllable in the human experience. But this does not mean that anger cannot be dominated in most instances. Find an immediate outlet for your anger. For some leaders, writing is an immediate outlet. For others, exercise is an immediate outlet. Others depend on talking to a mentor, reading literature, meditating, or other diversions that force a redirection of the energy created by anger. The worst case scenario is for a leader to not have an immediate plan for an outlet, and allowing the anger to replay the scenarios in a looping pattern. The results are then typically on the liability side of the net worth equation.

Emotional Quotient (EQ), or Emotional Intelligence for the everyday usage, is formally defined as the ability to understand, use, and manage your emotions in positive ways. It has been a very hot topic in leadership circles for the last decade, or so. Although the definition specifically calls out one's own understanding of one's own emotions, the definition has evolved to include a leader's ability to understand the individual and aggregate emotions of their team, in real-time, to drive organizational success. Leaders naturally desire all of their team members to be happy while performing tasks and to be happy about the overall vision of the organization. This is not a realistic expectation to have the entire team happy, but it is one that is discussed in senior leadership meetings. "How can we communicate the vision of the organization in a manner in which it is positively adopted by the team?" "How can we change the culture of our organization to one that makes the team happy to come to work everyday?" Sadly, the American culture in particular, has become one ingrained in cynicism, doubt, and unhappiness. Don't believe me? I challenge you to ask 10 people about the first three daily tasks they perform everyday. For many, one of those tasks include looking at their phones for messages and social media posts that have already been influenced by algorithms that display messages they really only want to see in the first place. Or, they watch or read news, which is no longer an honest and objective method for obtaining information. Most people are unhappy before they even login into their computers or leave their homes for work. My blood type is B+, and I have always considered that a sign from God that being positive is my natural disposition I operate in most days. However, being happy around unhappy people can cause conflict. And in leadership, being happy can seem superficial, unnatural, and a bit suspect to many. So, am I offering a solution that a leader should be unhappy? Of course not! Absolutely not! I am not offering a solution at all. In fact, the purpose of this communication is simply to remind leaders that as you dive into your emotional intelligence bag to create strategies to move your teams forward, do so with the understanding that some people are just happy being unhappy, and there is not much you can do to change their disposition. The ability to lead multiple personality types and behavioral dispositions is usually the hardest challenge for new leaders, and also the reason why some choose to avoid leadership by any means necessary. Excellence requires a cohesive unit moving in the same direction, but contrary to popular belief, not all of the individual pieces of the unit need to be happy about the direction the team is moving. One can be unhappy, yet effective, and as leaders, we should be happy about that.

Silos; cliques; good ole' boy networks; and workplace posse. How do you know that you are in one? The easiest way to identify that you have been gang initiated is by referring to the rest of the organization's structures as "they," or "them." It starts out very subtly. The test question of the self-appointed "recruitment officer," of this particular gang hits you with the question, "Sooooo, what do you think of (fill in the blank)?" You'll notice that the curvature of their eyes change as they eagerly anticipate your answer. You'll also notice that post-answer, a smile or a nonchalant shrug will follow, depending upon how you respond to their inquisitive inquiry. This is inevitable in every functioning organization. But the "they and them," epidemic does not have to permeate and infect the rest of your organization. Appropriate leadership response to observed silos can turn "they and them," into "we and us." As My Great Aunt EDNA teaches, Accountability is a characteristic of a great leadership culture. Accountability is a 3-way street. Picture London; those intersections are confusing as hell. There should accountability from a leader to a follower. There should be accountability from a follower to their leader. And, there should be accountability from the team to the organization. Leaders should be held accountable to consciously create a culture of one team, subliminally and overtly, in everyday communication and speech. Leaders should also be held accountable to spot correct other team members when utilizing separatist verbiage that create walls of obstruction to Excellence. An example would look like this: "Mac, they have not delivered their portion of the project, so my team is unable to move forward." I would simply respond with, "I think you meant to say we have not been able to completely gather all portions of the project deliverables, but I have already scheduled time to coordinate with my peer and offer assistance so we meet our deadline, correct?" These type of subtle corrections need to occur often, in private, and on all-team settings so the culture of "we and us," takes root. Silos, cliques, good ole' boy networks, and work posse are expensive problems to have for any organization; all of which cause delays, unnecessary conflict, and sometimes outright stupid drama. Save the drama for reality TV. It works better there.

Mic check, one-two, one-two. Can you hear me? If you can't hear me, I am SURE you will be able to hear Linzy Elizabeth and her UNMUTED life! Linzy Elizabeth is a top-level Executive Coach who helps CEOs reduce stress and win at life, and she is the voice on the popular podcast, UNMUTED. Click play to hear how Linzy shares her story with Mac McNeil on the leadership podcast My Great Aunt EDNA! My Great Aunt EDNA is an exciting new show on leadership culture of EXCELLENCE, DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, NO SHORTCUTS, & ACCOUNTABILITY! Host, Mac McNeil, author of the book, "My Great Aunt EDNA: The Golden Girl of Leadership," interviews top leaders from around the world to share bite-sized nuggets of leadership wisdom to help you in your own journey. Mac McNeil has been a leader in the financial industry for 18 years in various leadership roles. Most recently, he was the Senior Vice President of Operations for the Community Reinvestment Fund, USA where he led Enterprise Operations which includes Asset Management, Customer Engagement, Data Management & Analytics, Fund Administration, Learning & Development, Loan Servicing Operations, Process Governance, Risk & Controls, Technology/Automation, Underwriting & Closing, and Vendor Relations. He had leadership responsibility for a data architectural and data science team relationship in Chennai, India. He began his career with JPMorgan Chase in Arizona in Branch Banking, and spent four years as 1st Vice President, District Manager in Southern California. He finished in the top 5% of performance in the country and was recognized two consecutive years as a Top Performing District Manager. He accepted a role with Bank of America as a Vice President, Consumer Market Manager in the Los Angeles East Market in 2014, where he managed 13 financial centers in the East San Gabriel area. He was then offered the position of Vice President, Operations Market Manager, where he managed 60 financial centers and finished 2015 #2 in performance in the country and was recognized as Pinnacle Club Performer top 1%. He also managed 27 financial centers in the San Diego North Market. Mac became Vice President of Operations Optimization for Synchrony where he was responsible for leading IRA and Trust call center operations, all bank letters and correspondence, as well as lead optimization initiatives for the Consumer Bank to include robotic process automation, digital transformation, process mapping, and product development with operations in Charlotte, NC, Merriam, KS, Hyderabad, India, and Manila, Philippines. Mac has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, and Doctorate (ABD) in Management and Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Mac spent four years in the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst in Psychological Operations, Special Operations Command (Airborne), and he is a Desert Storm Veteran. He has served on the Board of Directors for Feeding America of Greater Riverside, Inspire Life Skills Training, Inc, The Christian Adoption Service, The Black Professional Group of Bank of America, The Black Organization for Leadership Development for JPMorgan Chase, and The Minority Supplier Development Service.

David Glover, PsyD, MAIO, PMP is the founding visionary of Ennoblement, LLC, a consulting company for executive coaching and organizational development. He also is the creator of the initiative “I Like Me”, and Spiritual Fine Arts. David’s 20-year career background spans non-profit, religious, and corporate organizations, and he has also been a featured international presenter and speaker. He is the author of an award-winning book, “Building and Maintaining Organizations.” His sophomore release, a transformational memoir titled, “Born Out of Pain,” has afforded him the opportunity to be a TEDx Speaker in South Africa and facilitated round table discussions in Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. His academic research work has been featured in the Journal of Religion and has allowed him to present at conferences from Santiago, South America to Columbia, Spain. CLICK to watch the My Great Aunt EDNA leadership interview with Dr. Glover and host, Mac McNeil, and hear about David's career journey, to include his philosophical perception on being a complex human of multiple dimensions in corporate settings. My Great Aunt EDNA is an exciting new show on leadership culture of EXCELLENCE, DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, NO SHORTCUTS, & ACCOUNTABILITY! Host, Mac McNeil, author of the book, "My Great Aunt EDNA: The Golden Girl of Leadership," interviews top leaders from around the world to share bite-sized nuggets of leadership wisdom to help you in your own journey. Mac McNeil has been a leader in the financial industry for 18 years in various leadership roles. Most recently, he was the Senior Vice President of Operations for the Community Reinvestment Fund, USA where he led Enterprise Operations which includes Asset Management, Customer Engagement, Data Management & Analytics, Fund Administration, Learning & Development, Loan Servicing Operations, Process Governance, Risk & Controls, Technology/Automation, Underwriting & Closing, and Vendor Relations. He had leadership responsibility for a data architectural and data science team relationship in Chennai, India. He began his career with JPMorgan Chase in Arizona in Branch Banking, and spent four years as 1st Vice President, District Manager in Southern California. He finished in the top 5% of performance in the country and was recognized two consecutive years as a Top Performing District Manager. He accepted a role with Bank of America as a Vice President, Consumer Market Manager in the Los Angeles East Market in 2014, where he managed 13 financial centers in the East San Gabriel area. He was then offered the position of Vice President, Operations Market Manager, where he managed 60 financial centers and finished 2015 #2 in performance in the country and was recognized as Pinnacle Club Performer top 1%. He also managed 27 financial centers in the San Diego North Market. Mac became Vice President of Operations Optimization for Synchrony where he was responsible for leading IRA and Trust call center operations, all bank letters and correspondence, as well as lead optimization initiatives for the Consumer Bank to include robotic process automation, digital transformation, process mapping, and product development with operations in Charlotte, NC, Merriam, KS, Hyderabad, India, and Manila, Philippines. Mac has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, and Doctorate (ABD) in Management and Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Mac spent four years in the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst in Psychological Operations, Special Operations Command (Airborne), and he is a Desert Storm Veteran.

Have you ever met someone that has so many gifts pouring out of them that it seems that it will take 4 lifetimes to get all of the gifts out of them and into the world? Well, that is Micole Williams, MFA. Micole is the CEO of Eclectically You Experience, a film producer, author of four books, an educator, and a speaker. How in the world does one person do all of this, you ask? Adaptability at its finest is how I describe her. Many people struggle with purpose and seasons in their lifetime, and Micole has found the ability to adapt in quickly changing seasons and fulfill several purposes for her existence. Click PLAY to listen to the My Great Aunt EDNA leadership interview with Micole Williams, MFA and host Mac McNeil to learn how Micole uses the recognition of seasons to direct her attention, passions, and gifts. My Great Aunt EDNA is an exciting new show on leadership culture of EXCELLENCE, DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, NO SHORTCUTS, & ACCOUNTABILITY! Host, Mac McNeil, author of the book, "My Great Aunt EDNA: The Golden Girl of Leadership," interviews top leaders from around the world to share bite-sized nuggets of leadership wisdom to help you in your own journey. Mac McNeil has been a leader in the financial industry for 18 years in various leadership roles. Most recently, he was the Senior Vice President of Operations for the Community Reinvestment Fund, USA where he led Enterprise Operations which includes Asset Management, Customer Engagement, Data Management & Analytics, Fund Administration, Learning & Development, Loan Servicing Operations, Process Governance, Risk & Controls, Technology/Automation, Underwriting & Closing, and Vendor Relations. He had leadership responsibility for a data architectural and data science team relationship in Chennai, India. He began his career with JPMorgan Chase in Arizona in Branch Banking, and spent four years as 1st Vice President, District Manager in Southern California. He finished in the top 5% of performance in the country and was recognized two consecutive years as a Top Performing District Manager. He accepted a role with Bank of America as a Vice President, Consumer Market Manager in the Los Angeles East Market in 2014, where he managed 13 financial centers in the East San Gabriel area. He was then offered the position of Vice President, Operations Market Manager, where he managed 60 financial centers and finished 2015 #2 in performance in the country and was recognized as Pinnacle Club Performer top 1%. He also managed 27 financial centers in the San Diego North Market. Mac became Vice President of Operations Optimization for Synchrony where he was responsible for leading IRA and Trust call center operations, all bank letters and correspondence, as well as lead optimization initiatives for the Consumer Bank to include robotic process automation, digital transformation, process mapping, and product development with operations in Charlotte, NC, Merriam, KS, Hyderabad, India, and Manila, Philippines. Mac has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, and Doctorate (ABD) in Management and Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Mac spent four years in the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst in Psychological Operations, Special Operations Command (Airborne), and he is a Desert Storm Veteran. He has served on the Board of Directors for Feeding America of Greater Riverside, Inspire Life Skills Training, Inc, The Christian Adoption Service, The Black Professional Group of Bank of America, The Black Organization for Leadership Development for JPMorgan Chase, and The Minority Supplier Development Service. He has been married for 28 years, has four children and one grandchild, and enjoys golf, travel, and being the Captain of his boat in his spare time.

Norma Hollis, PhD is not your average speaker. With her fearless spirit and unwavering belief in her product, she has embarked on a roller coaster journey in the professional development industry, leading to her fourth successful business. Dr. Norma Hollis is a change agent who impacts the world in multiple ways. She writes programs for human development, around the theme of ‘Authenticity’, and turns them into training processes to deepen self-awareness and expand consciousness. Her programs are based on 30 years of research in human nature from personal, professional, and lifestyle perspectives. Click to listen to the My Great Aunt EDNA interview featuring Norma Hollis, PhD and host Mac McNeil and hear how one of her books, Blueprint for Engagement: Authentic Leadership has positioned her programs to be catalysts for people and organizations open to gaining new perspectives about authentic paths to self, life, and living. My Great Aunt EDNA is an exciting new show on leadership culture of EXCELLENCE, DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, NO SHORTCUTS, & ACCOUNTABILITY! Host, Mac McNeil, author of the book, "My Great Aunt EDNA: The Golden Girl of Leadership," interviews top leaders from around the world to share bite-sized nuggets of leadership wisdom to help you in your own journey. Mac McNeil has been a leader in the financial industry for 18 years in various leadership roles. Most recently, he was the Senior Vice President of Operations for the Community Reinvestment Fund, USA where he led Enterprise Operations which includes Asset Management, Customer Engagement, Data Management & Analytics, Fund Administration, Learning & Development, Loan Servicing Operations, Process Governance, Risk & Controls, Technology/Automation, Underwriting & Closing, and Vendor Relations. He had leadership responsibility for a data architectural and data science team relationship in Chennai, India. He began his career with JPMorgan Chase in Arizona in Branch Banking, and spent four years as 1st Vice President, District Manager in Southern California. He finished in the top 5% of performance in the country and was recognized two consecutive years as a Top Performing District Manager. He accepted a role with Bank of America as a Vice President, Consumer Market Manager in the Los Angeles East Market in 2014, where he managed 13 financial centers in the East San Gabriel area. He was then offered the position of Vice President, Operations Market Manager, where he managed 60 financial centers and finished 2015 #2 in performance in the country and was recognized as Pinnacle Club Performer top 1%. He also managed 27 financial centers in the San Diego North Market. Mac became Vice President of Operations Optimization for Synchrony where he was responsible for leading IRA and Trust call center operations, all bank letters and correspondence, as well as lead optimization initiatives for the Consumer Bank to include robotic process automation, digital transformation, process mapping, and product development with operations in Charlotte, NC, Merriam, KS, Hyderabad, India, and Manila, Philippines.Mac has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, and Doctorate (ABD) in Management and Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Mac spent four years in the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst in Psychological Operations, Special Operations Command (Airborne), and he is a Desert Storm Veteran.

Phebe is a girl's name of Greek origin. It is a diminutive of Phoebe, meaning "bright and radiant." Her name is perfect for who this spirit is. Phebe Fuqua simultaneously dealt with multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, and a divorce, while raising three kids. For most, this would be a darkness that would engulf your spirit, and strike out all semblance of hope and light. For Phebe, none of these posing realities put out her light. Instead, this light just grew brighter and began to light up the world with her business savvy. Click to watch the My Great Aunt EDNA YouTube leadership interview, or listen to the audio podcast of Phebe Fuqua with host Mac McNeil, and learn how this light overcame darkness to become the CEO of Elite Eagle Developments, Inc.My Great Aunt EDNA is an exciting new show on leadership culture of EXCELLENCE, DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, NO SHORTCUTS, & ACCOUNTABILITY! Host, Mac McNeil, author of the book, "My Great Aunt EDNA: The Golden Girl of Leadership," interviews top leaders from around the world to share bite-sized nuggets of leadership wisdom to help you in your own journey. Mac McNeil has been a leader in the financial industry for 18 years in various leadership roles. Most recently, he was the Senior Vice President of Operations for the Community Reinvestment Fund, USA where he led Enterprise Operations which includes Asset Management, Customer Engagement, Data Management & Analytics, Fund Administration, Learning & Development, Loan Servicing Operations, Process Governance, Risk & Controls, Technology/Automation, Underwriting & Closing, and Vendor Relations. He had leadership responsibility for a data architectural and data science team relationship in Chennai, India. He began his career with JPMorgan Chase in Arizona in Branch Banking, and spent four years as 1st Vice President, District Manager in Southern California. He finished in the top 5% of performance in the country and was recognized two consecutive years as a Top Performing District Manager. He accepted a role with Bank of America as a Vice President, Consumer Market Manager in the Los Angeles East Market in 2014, where he managed 13 financial centers in the East San Gabriel area. He was then offered the position of Vice President, Operations Market Manager, where he managed 60 financial centers and finished 2015 #2 in performance in the country and was recognized as Pinnacle Club Performer top 1%. He also managed 27 financial centers in the San Diego North Market. Mac became Vice President of Operations Optimization for Synchrony where he was responsible for leading IRA and Trust call center operations, all bank letters and correspondence, as well as lead optimization initiatives for the Consumer Bank to include robotic process automation, digital transformation, process mapping, and product development with operations in Charlotte, NC, Merriam, KS, Hyderabad, India, and Manila, Philippines. Mac has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, and Doctorate (ABD) in Management and Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Mac spent four years in the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst in Psychological Operations, Special Operations Command (Airborne), and he is a Desert Storm Veteran. He has served on the Board of Directors for Feeding America of Greater Riverside, Inspire Life Skills Training, Inc, The Christian Adoption Service, The Black Professional Group of Bank of America, The Black Organization for Leadership Development for JPMorgan Chase, and The Minority Supplier Development Service. He has been married for 28 years, has four children and one grandchild, and enjoys golf, travel, and being the Captain of his boat in his spare time.

Come Rain or Shine Podcast with Dan Cockerell, featuring Mac McNeil. In this episode, you will: Uncover the leadership lessons gleaned from both military and banking sectors Discover how psychological operations mold human behavior in military environments Delve into the exceptional leadership principles embodied by Mac McNeil’s Great Aunt Edna Realize the vital role of accountability and clear expectations in leadership dynamics Learn about fostering a culture of excellence, responsibility, and integrity He emphasizes the value of holding others accountable and addressing performance issues directly, even though it may be uncomfortable for young leaders. This episode is perfect for current and aspiring leaders that want to gain insights on fostering a culture of accountability and improving leadership effectiveness.Connect with MacMac’s LinkedInGet the Book My Great Aunt EDNAConnect with Dan:www.dancockerell.comAbout Dan – https://dancockerell.com/about/Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/dancockerell/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dancockerell/Facebook – www.facebook.com/dancockerellspeakerEpisode Highlights00:00:44 – Mac’s Background00:02:05 – Memorable Moments from Desert Storm00:04:06 – Psychological Operations in the Army00:08:22 – My Great Aunt Edna, the Golden Girl of Leadership00:12:20 – Importance of Accountability and Credibility00:13:55 – Clear Expectations and Planning Work00:15:41 – Being Accountable as a Leader00:16:59 – Creating a Safe Environment for Feedback00:19:11 – Miles Davis and Leadership00:24:11 – Herbie Hancock’s “Rocket”00:24:23 – Book Recommendation – “My Great Aunt EDNA: The Golden Girl of Leadership”,

Bishop Dr. Claude T. Williams is a leader with multiple disciplines of leadership experience in clergy, education, and as a practitioner of business. He has degrees from HBCU and Ivy League schools, and his wisdom springs forth in this episode of My Great Aunt EDNA with host Mac McNeil. This is a great episode for leaders who are not defined by one discipline of leadership, but who are challenged with leadership on multiple fronts. My Great Aunt EDNA is an exciting new show on leadership culture of EXCELLENCE, DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, NO SHORTCUTS, & ACCOUNTABILITY! Host, Mac McNeil, author of the book My Great Aunt EDNA: The Golden Girl of Leadership, interviews top leaders from around the world to share bite-sized nuggets of leadership wisdom to help you in your own journey. Mac was named as a Top 10 Black Corporate Leader to Watch in 2023 by CIO Views Magazine and has been a leader in the financial industry for 18 years in various leadership roles. He was most recently the Senior Vice President of Operations leading Enterprise Operations which includes Asset Management, Customer Engagement, Data Management & Analytics, Fund Administration, Learning & Development, Loan Servicing Operations, Process Governance, Risk & Controls, Technology/Automation, Underwriting & Closing, and Vendor Relations. He had leadership responsibility for a data architectural and data science team relationship in Chennai, India. Mac is the author of My Great Aunt EDNA weekly newsletter that highlights the leadership topics of Excellence, Doing Things the Right Way, No Shortcuts, and Accountability. He has a book titled, "My Great Aunt EDNA: The Golden Girl of Leadership," that illuminates the leadership philosophy that he created, along with contributions from another top business leaders. He began his career with JPMorgan Chase in Arizona in Branch Banking, and spent four years as a 1 st Vice President, District Manager in Southern California. He finished in the top 5% of performance in the country and was recognized two consecutive years as a Top Performing District Manager. He accepted a role with Bank of America as a Vice President, Consumer Market Manager in the Los Angeles East Market in 2014, where he managed 13 financial centers in the East San Gabriel area. He was then offered the position of Vice President, Operations Market Manager, where he managed 60 financial centers and finished 2015 #2 in performance in the country and was recognized as Pinnacle Club Performer top 1%. He also managed 27 financial centers in the San Diego North Market. Mac became Vice President of Operations Optimization for Synchrony where he was responsible for leading IRA and Trust call center operations, all bank letters and correspondence, as well as lead optimization initiatives for the Consumer Bank to include robotic process automation, digital transformation, process mapping, and product development with operations in Charlotte, NC, Merriam, KS, Hyderabad, India, and Manila, Philippines.#auntedna #mygreatauntedna #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #doingthingstherightway #excellence #noshortcuts #accountability #author #books #books #podcast #macmcneil #youtube #youtubevideo #My_Great_Aunt_EDNA #MacMcNeil #mac_mcneil #ClaudeTWilliams #bishop #clergy #church #churchleadership #educator #mygreatauntednabookledershipusa #leadershiphelp

Shawnta Hooks, CPA, MBA is the CEO of Mindful Culture Creators and an expert as a Growth Mindset Enthusiast. She has spent a successful career as a results-driven leader, with 16+ years' experience in Governance, Compliance, Internal/ External Audit, QA, Operations, Accounting, and Finance. She has worked to bridge the gap on the concepts of mindfulness and logical application, and is now a keynote speaker and mindfulness coach to corporations, teams, and individuals. Click below to watch or listen to the interview with host Mac McNeil of the My Great Aunt EDNA leadership platform as Shawnta shares her journey from a successful corporate leader to an expert and innovator in the field of mindfulness. You can reach Shawnta for consultation and speaking engagements at this link https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnta-hooks-cpa-mba-35894510 My Great Aunt EDNA is an exciting new show on leadership culture of EXCELLENCE, DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, NO SHORTCUTS, & ACCOUNTABILITY! Host, Mac McNeil, author of the book My Great Aunt EDNA: The Golden Girl of Leadership, interviews top leaders from around the world to share bite-sized nuggets of leadership wisdom to help you in your own journey. Mac was named as a Top 10 Black Corporate Leader to Watch in 2023 by CIO Views Magazine and has been a leader in the financial industry for 18 years in various leadership roles. He is currently the Senior Vice President of Operations leading Enterprise Operations which includes Asset Management, Customer Engagement, Data Management & Analytics, Fund Administration, Learning & Development, Loan Servicing Operations, Process Governance, Risk & Controls, Technology/Automation, Underwriting & Closing, and Vendor Relations. He has leadership responsibility for a data architectural and data science team relationship in Chennai, India. Mac is the author of My Great Aunt EDNA weekly newsletter that highlights the leadership topics of Excellence, Doing Things the Right Way, No Shortcuts, and Accountability. He has a the soon-to-be-published book titled: My Great Aunt EDNA – The Golden Girl of Leadership that illuminates the leadership philosophy that he created, along with contributions from another top business leaders. He began his career with JPMorgan Chase in Arizona in Branch Banking, and spent four years as a 1 st Vice President, District Manager in Southern California. He finished in the top 5% of performance in the country and was recognized two consecutive years as a Top Performing District Manager. He accepted a role with Bank of America as a Vice President, Consumer Market Manager in the Los Angeles East Market in 2014, where he managed 13 financial centers in the East San Gabriel area. He was then offered the position of Vice President, Operations Market Manager, where he managed 60 financial centers and finished 2015 #2 in performance in the country and was recognized as Pinnacle Club Performer top 1%. He also managed 27 financial centers in the San Diego North Market. Mac became Vice President of Operations Optimization for Synchrony where he was responsible for leading IRA and Trust call center operations, all bank letters and correspondence, as well as lead optimization initiatives for the Consumer Bank to include robotic process automation, digital transformation, process mapping, and product development with operations in Charlotte, NC, Merriam, KS, Hyderabad, India, and Manila, Philippines.#auntedna #mygreatauntedna #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #doingthingstherightway #excellence #noshortcuts #accountability #author #books #books #podcast #macmcneil #youtube #youtubevideo #My_Great_Aunt_EDNA #MacMcNeil #mac_mcneil #ShawntaHooks #mindfulness #meditation #mygreatauntednabookledershipusa #leadershiphelp