What does it take to reinvent yourself six times—and still lead with purpose?In this episode, Jeff sits down with Gina Tesla, a global tech executive and social impact leader whose journey has taken her from Queens to the Peace Corps to leading corporate social responsibility at IBM, Microsoft, and Coupa Software.Gina opens up about:💡 How her humble start and community college education shaped her global career🌎 Life lessons from two years in the Peace Corps in Panama🏢 Building IBM’s Corporate Service Corps, often called “the corporate Peace Corps”💬 What leadership, service, and listening really mean in a corporate world🔥 Reinvention in the age of AI—and how to thrive through every transition🫱 How volunteering and board service unlock unexpected opportunitiesThis is a powerful conversation on purpose-driven leadership, resilience, mentorship, and the art of staying adaptable in an ever-changing world.🎧 Tune in if you’re interested in leadership, sustainability, or how to build a meaningful career that still delivers business results.👉 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations about leadership, purpose, and reinventionChapters
00:00 Introduction to Gina Tesla
02:34 Navigating Different Worlds: Urban vs. Rural Life
05:28 The Value of Education and Community College
09:45 From Community College to the Peace Corps
13:08 Career Transitions: From Advertising to Corporate Citizenship
15:32 The Importance of Reinvention in a Changing World
18:19 Soft Skills: The Key to Effective Leadership
18:49 The Essence of Effective Leadership
20:04 Learning from Failure
22:32 Cultural Insights from the Peace Corps
28:06 Navigating Challenges in the Peace Corps
32:19 Transitioning to Corporate Social Responsibility
36:04 Building a Career in Corporate Responsibility
39:47 Global Impact Through Micro Projects
42:42 The Role of Nonprofits in Community Engagement
45:06 The Benefits of Volunteerism
46:54 Board Service and Career Progression
49:32 Transitioning to Microsoft
52:06 Navigating Corporate Social Responsibility During COVID
54:07 Building ESG Initiatives at Coupa
58:20 Driving Change Through the Equal Air Initiative
59:19 Air Quality Disparities and Community Impact
01:01:13 Collaborative Solutions for Air Inequality
01:02:39 Corporate Responsibility and Shareholder Interests
01:05:01 Risk Mitigation and Climate Strategies
01:07:51 The Importance of Mentorship
01:10:16 Finding and Cultivating Mentors
01:12:14 The Power of Vulnerability in Professional Relationships
01:15:10 Reflecting on Small Moments and Their Impact
#Leadership #WomenInTech #CorporateResponsibility #ESG #PeaceCorps #CareerReinvention #Fourfspodcast #Podcast
If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love this episode: The Diary of a CEO (Steven Bartlett), The Shawn Ryan Show, The Lex Fridman Podcast, Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman, How I Built This with Guy Raz, The Mel Robbins Podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show.