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Introduction
As a former elected official, including mayor of a border city in Arizona, I’ve served in various leadership capacities. Throughout my career, from Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce to Chief of Staff at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and now as CEO of Intermestic Partners, I've acquired valuable insights into effective leadership. Today, I’d like to share those lessons—ones that shaped my journey and helped me lead both in public office and in international business.
Key Leadership Lessons
Listening to Understand: In leadership, the first skill is listening. During my time as mayor, I learned that successful policy stems from understanding the concerns of citizens. By holding town halls and fostering open communication, I was able to address their worries effectively. The key? Listening to their perspectives and adjusting strategies accordingly.
Transparency Builds Trust: Transparency is critical in building trust. As mayor, I faced budget cuts that created public unrest. By openly communicating the reasons behind our decisions and showing how they aligned with public welfare, we built mutual understanding. Transparency, in any leadership role, ensures credibility.
Integrity as a Guiding Compass: True leadership means making the hard, ethical choices—even when they're unpopular. I’ve navigated many tough decisions that tested my moral compass, but standing by my principles earned respect and trust from my constituents.
Persistence Through Challenges: Success rarely comes without setbacks. One of my initiatives, though met with strong opposition, eventually passed due to persistence. Resilience, especially in leadership, is key to turning vision into reality.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: No leader succeeds alone. When leading ambitious projects, collaboration was essential. I’ve always encouraged a team-first approach, which was instrumental in achieving our shared goals.
Overcoming Challenges
Political leadership comes with its share of crises. One such moment was managing the emergency response to 9/11 as mayor. Coordinating teams, addressing public fears, and ensuring swift action taught me valuable lessons in crisis management, applicable in both public office and the corporate world.
Lessons Applied to Business
As CEO of Intermestic Partners, a cross-border advisory firm I founded in 2011, these leadership principles drive our mission. We specialize in cross-border trade, helping top companies navigate the complexities of international business development. Drawing on my experience from public service to commerce, our firm excels at delivering strategies that unlock the full potential of North American trade and growth opportunities.
Call-to-Action
Leadership is a journey of continuous learning. I invite you to connect with me and Intermestic Partners if you're interested in cross-border business opportunities or if you're seeking strategies to enhance your organization's leadership. Together, we can turn vision into action and build a stronger, more connected global economy.
Closing Thought
Leadership, whether in politics or business, is about making a difference. Every leader has the potential to drive positive change—let's unlock yours.
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