Fruitful Where Planted - An Interview with Linda Reese
by kJ Shapiro (and LINDA)
It’s hard to believe that Linda Reese was only introduced (by longtime colleague and friend Raymund Mitchell) to the Triad Coaching Connection--and then joined-- in February of 2020. That’s because she quickly became a TCC Phenomenon, and seeing what she has contributed, in these past few years, to our organization is astonishing.
Linda has served as chairperson for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee for 2 years and currently sits on the TCC board of directors. She recently created a program to welcome, orient and connect new members to the TCC community. A guiding principle in her life has been to be fruitful where planted.
To that end, her leadership has guided DEI Committee members and TCC partners in the following successful TCC-DEI initiatives.
When No One Is Watching – Book Discussion – Gentrification 7/21
DEI Committee Social Gathering – Double Oaks B & B 7/21
Exclusion By Design - Video review and discussion – Redlining to Gentrification 09/21
DEI Sponsored Program – Useful Purposeful Play 01/22
13th Video review and discussion – Explores history of racial inequality 02/22
DEI Sponsored Program – If you have a brain, you have bias (unconscious) 3/24/22
DEI Committee Book Discussion – There, There. Tommy Orange – Exploration of Native peoples struggles with identity, authenticity and belonging, living in urban spaces. 04/22
DEI Sponsored program – Understanding Generational Differences 10/22
DEI sponsored Program – Coaching Effectively Across Generations 11/22
DEI Sponsored Program – The “I” in “ism 3/23
DEI Sponsored Event – Guilford College Underground Railroad Tour – Guided by professor and local historian, Max Carter.
Health concerns and family obligations have made it necessary to stall the launch of her LLC, BroadStrokes Consulting. Nevertheless, Linda continues to make “broad strokes” and positive connections as the author and sponsor of “Bridges”, TCC’s orientation process for new (and returning) members.
“Bridges “offers bonding opportunities leveraging “Ambassadors” (established members) who invest time, energy and experience to build trust, confidence and develop constructive, sustainable relationships within our organization. Since it started last year, 22 new members have had an opportunity to be ushered into the “TCC Experience” in this manner.
Linda continues to be… Fruitful Where Planted.
We asked her to answer some questions in her own words:
1) What is your life philosophy, your North Star?
I believe everything under the sun has a useful purpose and everyone has their own special talent. My father taught me a very valuable lesson… Don’t allow disappointment to move you from your path. Wherever you go, whatever you do, stay positive and make yourself useful and satisfied wherever you are until the opportunity presents itself to move further. Make a good name for yourself in this world and be fruitful wherever you are planted. His advice has never failed me.
2) What do you see as some of the strengths that you bring to organizations, teams and clients? What is your style?
I am passionate, considerate and mobilize others to adapt to change. I am organized and instinctively know how to break through barriers in communication which often thwart connectivity. I am faithful and faith-filled which inspires others to trust and follow me. I am enthusiastic even in the darkest times and offer hope and innovative solutions to situations which block purpose.
I am an original. An old-school authentic “Influencer”.
3) Can you tell us about your career path before coaching?
My career has taken many turns in 35 years. I’ve always stuck with what “Daddy” told me.
I’ve become a leader whose adaptive thinking, self-management, organization and interpersonal skills are sought after. A recommendation in 2001 placed me in a coveted business analyst position with American Express. I was in the first wave of high-stakes “Global Optimization” initiatives in India, Manila and Canada. I acted as site manager at global satellite locations from Jan 2001 through November 2008. It was my responsibility to start-up “operations” and to coach on-site leaders to train, coach and perform Q&A to established standards. I personally, trained, coached, mentored, hand-held and at times prayed for leaders and staff. In total I completed 16 trips to India, Manila and Canada. I still remember the hurdles, sights, sounds, smells, tastes but most of all the kindness, care and reverence they bestowed upon “Mama Linda”. I developed a deep respect for their
struggle against poverty and their desire to elevate themselves and their families through hard work and commitment. This work required boundless energy, open mindedness, and the ability to see beyond myself. I was forced to take off my privilege blinders and taste what it is like to have to navigate centuries old cultural/political and socioeconomic barriers.
From 2009 to 2018 I offered the same brand of authentic leadership to employees at “Spectrum”, aka Charter Communications (formerly Time Warner Cable).
I refined the training process to include 4 weeks of on-the-job training in a fish bowl work environment, which we referred to as “Nesting”. For 2.0 years I supervised all customer care new hires classes.
Under my stewardship “Nesting” was redefined as not only OJT but as a platform for career advancement where talented employees could showcase exceptional skills and be fast-tracked into leadership positions. I recruited associates to act as SME’s (subject matter experts) and to skill share with the new hires. My sphere of influence expanded from supervisor to coach, mentor, career counselor and friend. Like Carrie Washington in Scandal, I became known as “the Fixer”.
My drive, ingenuity, sense of purpose, strong values and gift of making people centric decisions in complicated situations resulted in my promotion to Customer Care Manager.
Where I remained until I retired in November 2018.
4) so What’s Next?
My immediate plan is to enjoy the time I have left with my mom. Her memory may have faded but the memories we’re building are precious gifts sent just for me.
More about KJ Shapiro
KJ Shapiro is an executive coach and psychologist, one of the original founders of TCC, and has been on the TCC Board since 2021. She is an "ambassador" for the Bridges program that Linda started.