Age: Young enough to keep you on your toes. Old enough to recognize a Rolodex. Profession: Problem solver at the intersection of business development, government and trade associations. Organization: Aetna, a CVS Health Company. Title: Vice President, State Strategies and Growth. Significant other: Amore mio, Steve (and Theo, my giant Bernadoodle). Alma mater: Southern Illinois University, (B.A.); Regis University (M.B.A., Healthcare Leadership).
Current project: Mastering the art of bread making. Recent recognition: “Lisa has a rock-solid moral compass with the courage to use it and to find the right solutions.” In a recommendation from a former CEO. Latest accomplishment: Managed a $30M budget, advised CSO on department structure and renegotiated $17M in contracts. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Leaving a steady pharma job to take consulting and advisory roles to C-Suite’s and Boards. Hobbies: Interior design and furniture restoration. Recent unique acquisition: A yellow mid-century modern couch. It’s phenomenal!
Personality profile: The Visionary ENTP (Extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving). Love to find new solutions and navigate challenging problems. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Vivacious. What is your secret superpower? Being a female ENTP. There are only 2% of us out there! Moral compass: The Bible. John Maxwell Leadership Bible is an excellent source for executives. What is your greatest joy? Watching my children thrive as young adults. What is your guilty pleasure? Sweets. What natural talent have you neglected? Being a designer. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Lifestyle and design hosts and authors. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? A day at the spa.
What was your first paying job? Working at a frozen yogurt stand. What book have you repeatedly read? Being Still with God: A 366 Daily Devotional, by Henry Blackaby. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My lifelong friend, Shelley. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Water ultimately finds its own level, so be purposeful when building your circle. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? Architectural Digest. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? Becoming a mother, which gave me the opportunity to love deeper than I ever thought possible.
What message do you want to send out into the world?
Seek advice from the wise, not the knowledgeable. For example, knowledge recognizes a tomato is a fruit, while wisdom recognizes it doesn’t belong in fruit salad!
What change would you like to see in the world? Respect and courtesy. What widely held belief do you reject? That you can only have one career in life. What mega-trend most excites you? Renewed attention to lifestyle since COVID, including cooking, traveling and not taking life for granted. What mega-trend most concerns you? The increase in violence, particularly in our youth.
What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Julia Louis-Dreyfus. We are both short, exuberant and we have the same hair. What celebrity do you most identify with? Lucille Ball. Remembered for hysterically funny situations, she was also an accomplished businesswoman. What book would you like to write? “Downwind of a Pig Farm”, a lighthearted book of Midwest sayings. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A respiratory therapist. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Writing letters to my children and loved ones so they will always know how much I loved them. What advice would you give your younger self? Being self-conscious will rob you of joy and memories. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? High school senior year.
Personal mission: To live my faith and make a positive impact in people’s lives. Personal motto: A boulder does not stop a river, it makes the path wider. Favorite quote: “Uphill goals cannot be achieved with downhill habits” (John Maxwell).
