Lisa Cain, Ph.D.

Leading with Awareness, Compassion, and Authenticity

Dr. Lisa Cain encourages early career leaders to keep learning, staying abreast of topics like AI and sustainability and how they fit into the larger picture of the industry.  She believes emotional intelligence can be honed through awareness, by learning to read people and stepping away from the cell phone to actually engage.  Lisa views public speaking as a craft built through practice, emulating strong speakers, and getting feedback, while making sure your personality shines through.

Lisa emphasizes reading not just the cultural environment of an organization, but the temperature of the room on a given day.  She notes that knowing what drives and demotivates you helps you decide if staying the course is worthwhile.  She also speaks to the tightrope female leaders walk, hoping the broken rung where women can’t ascend past mid-level management gets fixed.

Notable Quotes/Highlights

• ‍“Competence leads to confidence, and the more you know, the easier it is to grow.”
• “Having nerves is the body’s way of saying: ‘I care about this, and I really want to do well.’”
• “Technical skills . . . get you in the door . . . it’s the critical leadership skills that set you apart from the rest.”
• “Success is not linear, and the path from point A to point B is rarely, if ever, a straight line . . . Embrace the curves as experiences.”
• “I would not be where I am today if somebody didn’t give back to me . . . it’s equally as important to be a Mentor.”

Closing Reflection

Lisa’s insights remind us of the value of constantly learning.  She encourages us to stay curious, whether through reading trade publications, taking a continuing education course, or pursuing a hobby that makes us happy.  She also urges us to stay active, because a moving body cultivates a sharp mind.  Above all, trust the process, know yourself, and stay true to your core values.