How do you define your culture?

By Luma Wealth on July 28, 2020

When Trust Means Everything

As Teresa Lindsey tells her story, you begin to understand why her philosophy is “you are only one decision away from a totally different life.”

Teresa is the President and COO of Channel Products, a manufacturer of component systems for the gas appliance industry, headquartered in Solon, Ohio. She is also an inspirational Luminary Leader who spoke with Luma Wealth clients via webinar in late June.

Teresa’s highly unusual path and perspective provide a lesson in the importance of confidence, morale and trust, and what it means to be a strong leader. She grew up poverty-stricken in a home with no running water and left school by the tenth grade, mixing mortar on a construction site, then waitressing at Friendly’s to earn money. But she was determined not to be a victim of circumstance and was not afraid to work hard. In 2010, after earning her Bachelors in Business Administration and spending some time in the corporate world, she joined Channel Products as a Quality Specialist.

Lessons Learned from a Luminary Leader:

Teresa saw what needed to be fixed and had the gumption to say she could do it. After serving as a consultant to the firm for several months, Teresa identified the challenges Channel faced and figured out how to address them. When the firm’s leadership indicated it was time to search for a new President, she asked them to trust in her and said, “Give it to me, I can do this.”

She understood the first goal was to improve employee satisfaction and motivation. Because morale at the company was extremely low, Teresa knew her top priority was to transform the corporate culture. Using an innovative and highly effective series of peer group exercises, she began to move the firm away from a culture of fear and intimidation to one of trust and transparency and steadily righted the ship.

Within a culture of trust, they now can focus on delighting customers. Teresa believes in being open with employees when it comes to decision-making and stresses the importance of making a difference in the world. She leads the company in their communal obsession with thrilling customers and doing good for the community.

There is always room for improvement. Teresa shared her pledge to always continue learning and explained that, although she mentors young women, she is also a mentee because she wants to remain teachable. She also continues her learning journey by reading. In addition to the Bible, (which has been her rudder during times of storms) she recommends reading:

• Never Split the Difference, by former FBI hostage negotiator, Chris Voss, which offers principles for becoming a stronger negotiator.

  

• How Not to Die, by Dr. Michael Greger, a New York Times bestseller with information about how a plant-based diet can help reverse disease and prevent premature death.

  

Although current circumstances may keep us physically apart, at Luma Wealth we’ll never be socially distanced. Our goal remains to learn, connect and celebrate together, even if that means doing so remotely. Until we can meet in person once again, please visit our website for our schedule of upcoming virtual events. And to view the Teresa Lindsey Luminary Leader event, click here.