TLP034: Reframing Your Life Story Can Make You A Better Leader

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Lana Holmes. Lana served as a proof-of-concept CEO for 6 companies, and an investor/advisor to over 30 technical startups in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the founder of four companies, she has deep expertise in the complete entrepreneurial journey. Sensing the marketplace needed more than business expertise, Lana invested in her personal practice with an eight-year journey in earth wisdom and oral indigenous traditions. Listen in to learn more about how to be inquisitive, find passion, and navigate your journey so as to pass down wisdom for generations to come.   Key Takeaways [3:21] Lana’s early career was an executive path, starting at Xerox, where she learned to ask questions. She was also one of the first employees at WebLogic as Director of Operations.  [6:56] Looking for passion in her life, Lana went on a year-long walkabout, spending time in nature. She found teachers who were students of indigenous oral traditions, and she asked to study with them.  [11:39] Lana discusses the hero’s journey. She cites Brian Johnson, who is launching Hero Training 101, after a life of leadership and being a hero in his own right.  [14:42] Jim notes consistent similarities shared by the various leader-focused guests on the podcast: asking questions, telling stories, being curious, concern for legacy, listening. Jan cites a TED Radio Hour podcast on “The Hero’s Journey,” and the crucibles heroes experience. Lana talks about timeless earth wisdom.  [17:32] Earth wisdom provided Lana with the essential elements for navigation. Her organizational development work has been influenced by earth wisdom teachings, and medicine wheels, in relationship with nature. She takes clients into nature, diving deep with them to make a quantum leap toward understanding their life’s purpose. [19:29] Lana notes that Crucibles impact people by the power of the earth. She provides people with tools, or custom questions, built on the energies of a medicine wheel, to navigate their lives. [26:02] Lana urges aligning business with our values.  Disruption creates superstorm systems, that are complicated and challenging to fix. [29:54] Jim considers cycles to be critical. Ancient wisdom teaches balance, and give and take.  [35:45] Leadership is one of the highest forms of service. We must first come into right relationship with ourselves, in order to be extraordinary leaders. Service begins at self-care. Lana asks questions to reveal the brilliance that is already within people [39:32] The first step is listening to our own voice, which requires asking ourselves the right questions, and listening deeply to what’s moving within us, and then having dialog with people, about those questions and findings.     Bio Drawing upon the combined resources of a 28+ year executive career in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lana Holmes served as a proof of concept CEO for 6 companies and is or has been an investor or advisor to over 30 technical startups in the San Francisco Bay Area.  As a founder of four companies (2 consultancies, 1 service, 1 product), she has a deep expertise in the complete entrepreneurial journey.  More specifically, a refined knowing of the inner and outer structures needed for successful implementation in the current market place.  Sensing that the marketplace needed more than business expertise, Lana invested in her personal practice with an eight-year journey in earth wisdom and oral indigenous traditions.  Lana has developed skills uniquely suited for the opportunities and challenges of our current world community and serves as an advisor and guide to high impact individuals and couples.  Always listening and connected to a deep conviction that the feminine voice holds healing and wholeness for what is needed to restore balance and order among all humans, Lana accepted the role of Vice Chair and Chair of the Nominating Committee on the World Pulse Board  and continues to invest her energies toward all that serves and sustains life.   LinkedIn: Instagram: Website: Email: