Episode 11: | Trailblazer Series w/ Melvin F. Williams, Jr.

Episode 12: | Access to Capital Series w/ Robert Pitre

Today we begin our Access to Capital Series with Robert Pitre, an Independent Businessman, Entrepreneur, Inventor, Real Estate Developer, and Community Leader from Dallas, Texas who has been self-employed for 53 years and counting.   Robert started his career with $300.  Yes - $300!  He used $272 to buy a car and parlayed the remaining $28 dollars of operating capital into a successful multi-million dollar enterprise.    Robert Pitre grew up in a Beaumont Texas Housing Project but is now the owner of Skyline Ranch, which boasts an event center and ballroom, a swimming pool, a natural spring, 2 volleyball courts, 2 basketball courts, horses, and a full view of the Dallas Skyline. Robert is one of the largest Black landowners in Dallas, Texas and is said to own more land in Dallas, Texas than Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones combined.   One of Robert’s chief goals is to empower and create opportunities for urban youth, a passion we both share. In this episode, Robert talks about mindset and money, economic embargoes, the role that banks (and governments) can play in community development, the need for access to capital for Black Americans, how he overcame setbacks to become a multi-millionaire, and how he and his then 94-year-old grandmother Marie Forward helped create legislation in the State of Texas in the year 2005.    And one of the most valuable lessons Robert shares in this podcast interview is from his mother, who told him at 12 years old that “if you can define yourself, nothing can stop you.”  Thank you, Robert, for showing all of us how true this is! You can also listen to The Strategic Wins Podcast™ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.   The views expressed on The Strategic Wins Podcast™ are those of the podcaster, host, and interviewees.

Episode 11: | Trailblazer Series w/ Melvin F. Williams, Jr.

Today, during Black History Month, the Strategic Wins Podcast ™ presents Mr. Melvin F. Williams, Jr., an extraordinarily accomplished individual, principled leader, and C-Suite Executive in the financial services industry. Melvin is currently the Chief Legal Officer at the Chicago Trading Company, a leading proprietary trading firm and market maker providing liquidity in all major exchanges. Melvin is also a two-time Presidential appointee by (two-term) President Barack Obama. Over the course of his brilliant career, Melvin has also served as: * General Counsel for the U.S. Small Business Administration; * General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for the Millenium Challenge Corporation; and * Director and Counsel at Citi, one of the largest consumer banks in the world. Like me, Melvin started his legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk for a United States District Court Judge. Melvin has a tremendous amount of widsom to share with aspiring and current professionals, including lawyers, entrepreneurs, and C-Suite executives. Below are five nuggets of wisdom he shared during his dynamic interview with the Strategic Wins Podcast ™. Remember: 1. Everyone is deserving of your kindness; 2. Speak up on behalf of others who want and are prepared for opportunity, especially when you are the only "one" in the room; 3. Choose a job that values you, is worthy of your time, and makes you better; 4. You do not need to check all boxes when applying for opportunities. Take a chance on yourself (!); 5. Do not discount your power! Many thanks to Melvin for his outstanding contribution to the Strategic Wins Podcast™ and for being a shining example of leadership and success in the legal profession and financial services industry. You can listen to his inspiring and thought-provoking podcast interview here on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spodify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Happy Black History 365!! The views expressed on the Strategic Wins Podcast™ are those of the podcaster, host, and interviewees.

Episode 10: | Trailblazer Series w/ Carmen M. Lineberger

Today, Strategic wins ™ returns to our Trailblazer Series, featuring the phenomenal Carmen M. Lineberger, a Managing AUSA for the Southern District of Florida, who has been a prosecutor her entire career. In the interview, Carmen talks about: * Becoming a Managing AUSU for the Southern District of Florida; * George Floyd*; * Doing the right thing; * How prosecutors can use their discretion; * Her DEI + mentoring work in the world of prosecution; and * Challenges she faced and how she overcame them to get to where she is today. Carmen also talks about the legacy of her father and the gravitas and inspiration that comes from being a daddy’s girl (which I can fully appreciate because my father was also my little league coach). You can listen to Carmen's informative and thought-provoking podcast interview here. You can also listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, or wherever your listen to your favorite shows. The views expressed on Strategic wins ™ are those of the podcasters and interviewees.

Episode 9: | Trailblazer Series w/ Elizabeth Lan Davis

This September 11th, the Strategic Wins Podcast ™ brings you another dose of inspiration and optimism through our Trailblazer Series! Today, we feature, Elizabeth Lan Davis, Co-Chair of the National Financial Services Practice Group at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, and one of the only women and women of color to ascend to the position of Chair and President of a financial services firm in these United States! Liz has nearly two decades of federal government experience between her roles at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. In her practice, she advocates before the CFTC, DOJ, IRS, SEC, NFA, and exchanges such as the CME Group and ICE. And her practice covers a wide variety of assets and financial products, including agricultural and energy commodities, digital assets, swaps, forex, precious metals, and Treasuries. Liz is also a former fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, a former Diversity Committee Co-Chair of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, and a fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, in the legal profession and financial services industry. In her podcast interview, Liz talks about her litigation experience, her time as a regulator, and becoming Chair and President of McGonigle, P.C. (a preeminent financial services boutique that combined with DWT in 2022). She also shares advice on how to achieve her incredible level of success! Liz is a real gem in the legal profession and financial services industry, and you can listen to her podcast here!

Episode 8: | Trailblazer Series w/ Bruce A. McMullen

This week, the Strategic Wins Podcast ™ brings to you trailblazer and attorney extraordinaire, Bruce Anthony McMullen, the first Black person to ever become Managing Shareholder of the Memphis Office of the law firm Baker Donelson. Indeed, Bruce has done remarkable things during his legal career! In 2022, he orchestrated a strategic and covert operation to remove confederate monuments from Memphis Parks; and Bruce is the only person in Memphis history to have ever served a four year term as the Chief Legal Officer for the City of Memphis while simultaneously maintaining his active legal practice at Baker Donelson! So it comes as no surprise that Bruce is a past recipient of the Memphis Bar Association's Judge Jerome Turner Lawyer's Lawyer Award as well as the MLK Luminary Award, which recognizes attorneys who champion civil rights in Memphis. Bruce is a minority powerbroker and was named to the Memphis Business Journal's Power 100 in 2022 and 2023. One of the ways he shares his wealth of knowledge and experience is by giving advice on how law firms can increase diversity in their partner ranks. Bruce advises law firms to “include diverse associates in high-profile engagements with institutional clients.” And to “include diverse associates at all levels of engagement, from the client strategy meetings to actual court involvement.” Bruce strongly believes that "the practice of law is an apprenticeship occupation" and that "[t]o elevate to a successful partner, an associate must be developed, trained, and exposed." Well said, Bruce. And thank you so much for your strategic thinking, community involvement, and dynamic leadership style! We are grateful to have you as a stellar example in the legal profession and we are so proud of your trailblazing work!