Lucinda Cross Of Activate Worldwide: Here Are The Things That Happened in My Childhood That Impact How I Lead Today
An Interview With Cynthia Corsetti
Vision and Strategy
Communication and Influence
Adaptability and Resilience
Empowerment and Delegation
Ethical and Authentic Behavior
In this introspective and reflective series, we would like to explore the intricate web of experiences that form the leaders of today. Childhood, being the foundational stage of our lives, undeniably has a profound impact on our development and the leadership styles we adopt as adults. Be it a lesson learned from a parent, a childhood hobby that cultivated discipline, an early failure that fostered resilience, or even a book that opened their minds to vast possibilities; leaders often have deep-seated childhood experiences that echo in their leadership narratives today. For this interview series, we are talking to seasoned leaders across various industries who share personal anecdotes and lessons from their childhood that have sculpted their leadership philosophies today. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Lucinda Cross.
Lucinda Cross, graces the illustrious Forbes Next 1000 2023 list, stands tall as Verizon’s Small Business Comeback Coach, and was honored with the lifetime achievement award by none other than our forever President, the remarkable Barack Obama. As the visionary Founder and CEO of Activate Worldwide, a forceful entity dedicated to women’s business empowerment, at-risk youth, and women reentry advocate. Lucinda is not only a beacon of inspiration but a true catalyst for transformation. Her voice resonates far and wide, having graced the stages of CNN, the Today Show, BET, and Essence, just to name a few. Lucinda Cross isn’t just a name; she’s a force, a presence, and a testament to what unyielding dedication and boundless passion can achieve.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about leadership, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
I ventured into this career as an entrepreneur, a master storyteller, and a public speaking coach fueled by my journey through the challenges of corporate America while raising my children. Struggling to find the balance and support needed, I decided I wanted to be present in their lives instead of watching them grow from afar, influenced by others and after-school programs. This drive arose from a deep desire to reclaim control of my life and truly embrace the precious moments with my children during their formative adolescent years, especially after my separation from their father.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
What sets our company apart is our dual commitment to empowering women in business and extending a supportive hand to those who have faced setbacks due to incarceration. We offer a unique mentorship program that facilitates career growth, bridging gaps and nurturing potential in all women, ensuring a more inclusive and diverse professional landscape.
You are a successful business leader. Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Resilience:
I had to learn to demonstrate resilience, bouncing back from as a team leader I had to assess the situation, learn from it, and make strategic changes to guide my company back to success.
Adaptability:
Adaptability is crucial in the ever-changing business world. As a leader, I really had to pivot marketing strategies during and post-pandemic swiftly based on market trends and unexpected financial decline. The demand in my market changed for thought leaders and public speakers I needed to adapt.
Empathy:
Empathy helps leaders like myself understand and connect with my team, clients, and my digital tribe. As a mentor and trainer, I must demonstrate empathy to build collaborations and partnerships.
Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader? I’m curious to understand how these challenges have shaped your leadership. A hard decision I had to make was letting go of my contract workers and team because of the loss of funding and opportunities. I then had to look into hiring interns and virtual assistants. My team ended up continued to work without pay with minimum hours because they believed in the vision.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Let’s start with a simple definition. How do you personally define “leadership?”
Leadership is service
Can you recall an experience from your childhood where you felt truly empowered? How does that moment inform your leadership style today?
My journey into empowerment ignited when my mother unveiled the profound potential of creative visualization. Witnessing my aspirations materialize from mere visions on my carefully crafted board was nothing short of transformative. In that moment, I absorbed a foundational leadership lesson — the art of manifesting dreams through focused determination and belief in oneself.
Were there any role models in your early years who left a lasting impression on you? How has their influence manifested in your approach to leadership?
My mother left a lasting impression on me, it’s just unfortunate that she passed away when my business started to flourish and thrive. Everything she taught me regarding manifestation came to fruition and I was able to use the skills she taught me to help my clients.
Many leaders find that their greatest strengths arise from overcoming adversity. Can you share an experience from your early life that was difficult at the time, but you find still lingers in your thoughts and informs your actions today?
Looking back at your childhood, are there particular ‘first-time’ experiences — like your first triumph, your initial setback, or your inaugural leadership responsibility — that you believe were pivotal in molding your leadership ethos?”
From your personal experiences and reflections, what are the ‘5 Pillars of Effective Leadership’ you believe in?
Vision and Strategy
Communication and Influence
Adaptability and Resilience
Empowerment and Delegation
Ethical and Authentic Behavior
In your role as a leader, what thoughts or concerns keep you awake at night? How do these reflections guide your decisions and leadership?
The concern that keeps me awake at night, is if I can retire from my business and still leave a legacy and financial freedom for my children.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would like to open a creative visualization school for women reentry youth in transition to learn life skills, mentorship, leadership and entrepreneurship.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. It’s been an honor to delve into the roots of your leadership journey, and we are grateful for the wisdom you’ve shared.
About the Interviewer: Cynthia Corsetti is an esteemed executive coach with over two decades in corporate leadership and 11 years in executive coaching. Author of the upcoming book, “Dark Drivers,” she guides high-performing professionals and Fortune 500 firms to recognize and manage underlying influences affecting their leadership. Beyond individual coaching, Cynthia offers a 6-month executive transition program and partners with organizations to nurture the next wave of leadership excellence.
Lucinda Cross Of Activate Worldwide: Here Are The Things That Happened in My Childhood That Impact… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.