A Call To Lead

Our new episode of A Call to Lead is my interview with Stacey Cunningham. Stacey started at the New York Stock Exchange as an intern, quit to go to culinary school, did a stint at rival NASDAQ, returned—and rose through the ranks to become the NYSE’s first-ever female president. That’s an unconventional path to the top job (yes, “president” is the top position at the NYSE), and Stacey is leading the 227-year-old company in unconventional and new ways. She’s full of career advice and leadership wisdom. Here are five things that Stacey said and my team and I found particularly valuable: Leadership and management are not the same thing. So being able to contribute to the path forward doesn't mean I have to have X number of people reporting in to me, so my organization is bigger. 16:43   Be yourself. If I can do my job in my own skin, that’s much easier. I think society is becoming a little more welcoming to that. 20:20   Never waste a hire. Always hire the best player you can get—and someone better than you