Creative Leadership: Bridging Art, Strategy, and Identity | EP4

Lee Anna Will and Lisa Jones discuss how the creative process of distilling complexity in art mirrors the high-level strategy required for C-suite leadership.Lee Anna started as a high school art teacher in Baltimore and today advises C-suite executives on large-scale transformation initiatives. But here’s what makes her journey so compelling, she never left the art behind. She brought it with her into every boardroom, every strategy session, every leadership moment.Lee Anna shares how the same process she uses to create a painting is exactly what she uses to lead transformation projects. She reveals what teaching 38 teenagers taught her about executive leadership, the story behind her painting “Follow Your Heart Home,” and why she gave herself permission to bring her whole self to work.If you’ve ever felt like you had to choose between different parts of yourself to be an effective leader, this conversation will change how you think about your leadership journey.Key Topics We Explore:The Art of TranslationHow distilling complex ideas into clear form connects artistic creation and strategic business transformation and why this matters for your leadership.From Classroom to C-SuiteWhat teaching 38 teenagers in Baltimore taught Lee Anna about leading executives, building credibility, and showing up authentically in high-stakes situations.Permission to Be WholeWhy bringing your entire self to work - the creative AND the analytical, the personal AND the professional - isn’t just okay, it’s your competitive advantage.Redefining Creativity in LeadershipHow analytics can be just as creative as art, why curiosity drives both innovation and strategy, and what creative skills you’re not giving yourself credit for.The Anchor and Compass PhilosophyThe story behind Lee Anna’s painting “Follow Your Heart Home” and how the people who ground us and the direction that guides us are both necessary for the leadership journey.Chapters00:00 Bridging Art and Strategy11:53 The Journey from Teaching to Business22:10 Fostering Creativity in Leadership31:16 - Authenticity and Collaboration in LeadershipJoin the Community!Website: leadershipstory.substack.comEmail: [email protected] with Lee Anna:Instagram: @WillPowerDesignsEtsy: WillPowerDesigns - Check out “Follow Your Heart Home” and more of Lee Anna’s artworkLinkedIn: Lee Anna Will - Transformation PMPConnect with Lisa JonesLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-jones This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipstory.substack.com