Finding the opportunities in any situation with Manatee Community Foundation’s Veronica Thames

Veronica was named executive director of the Manatee Community Foundation in August 2023. Prior to that role she was a senior vice president and COO of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. And before that she worked in human resources in health care, including managing 1,300 employees at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton.  

Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Veronica talked about some of her toughest leadership challenges under pressure — such as overseeing a nighttime hospital evacuation in a blackout. They talked about her best advice — namely, to fail forward and never wallow in what goes wrong. And they talked about how she immigrated with her family to the United States from Argentina when she was 19, initially a move she didn’t want to make.  

3 Takeaways:

1. (11:50) Hurricane Irma evacuation experience 
2. (16:35) Good leaders are inspirational, collaborative, and can cast and execute a vision
3. (20:00) Be who you are meant to be

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(00:25) Introducing Veronica Thames, Executive Director of Manatee Community Foundation

(04:20) Finding your footing in a new country

(07:20) Leadership experience at HCA

(10:45) Handling extreme pressure

(13:40) Joining the Manatee Community Foundation

(16:20) Leadership characteristics

(18:00) Leadership advice

(21:25) Setback that you learned from

(24:10) What is coming up for Manatee Community Foundation?

(26:45) Rapid fire questions

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