#28: Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s CEO—Tackle the Tough Assignments
Learn how to stand out at work for all the right reasons – by jumping in to take the assignments other people shy away from. Plus, hear hard-won wisdom from one of our country’s few Black Fortune 500 CEOs about how companies can help fight systemic racism at work and in society as a whole.
How Leaders Lead with David Novak · David Novak
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Show Notes
Today’s guest is Marvin Ellison, CEO of Lowe’s.
Have you ever taken over in a position after the previous person left under bad circumstances?
If you have, then you know – those are some of the toughest situations to walk into.
Marvin is amazing for a lot of reasons … but check this out: in EVERY new role during his 25-year career, he has taken over for someone who’s been fired or forced out.
Now, that is a man who is not afraid of a tough assignment!
Marvin was born as the son of sharecroppers and got his start as an hourly retail worker. He has risen through the ranks over the years with a ton of courage, taking the jobs other people didn’t want because he knew it was how he could prove his abilities.
Marvin is also one of the few Black Fortune 500 CEOs in our country, and it’s an honor to have him here to teach us that incredible things can happen when we are brave enough to tackle the tough assignments.
You’ll also learn:
- A valuable point of view if you ever find yourself working for a competitor
- One practical way you can avoid the leadership bubble and ensure you actually hear directly from your front line team members
- A priceless piece of wisdom for what to do when you don’t feel like you fit into your work culture
- One surprising element of work-life balance that doesn’t get talked about a lot
Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:
The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go
Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day
Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.