Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Beth Lentini Walker.
Hi Lisa Beth, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
When I was a young girl, I always told people that I wanted to grow up to be an international business woman. At the time, I’m not sure that I had any real clue about what that meant other than traveling in planes and seeing the world. I knew that I wanted to make the world a better place as I went about making my career, but I had no idea how all of that would work together. Fast forward to 2001, I was working in Washington, DC at the US Securities and Exchange Commission after getting my law degree and masters in business administration. The world suddenly changed and as a federal employee I knew that my role was to be part of the rebuilding of the financial markets in the US to support the sustainability of our capital markets. As market titans like Enron, WorldCom and Arthur Anderson fell, I also soon discovered that my own sense of values and doing what was right was sorely needed as part of the governance of organizations.
Today, after almost two decades of working inside companies, I am the CEO of Lumen Worldwide Endeavors, a compliance, ethics and corporate governance consulting firm where we help organizations put values into actions. Every day we get the opportunity to syndicate best practices and connect purpose with profit in support of people.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No great story is ever free of challenges. Along the way, I have had to make tough choices about what opportunities to embrace and when to say no. As a mother to four children, balance can sometimes be elusive and needs to be a consistent priority. At one point in my career, I saw so much burnout in those in my profession that I decided to pursue a certification as a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach. For me, this meant that I opted to diversify risk in my life by running my own business and taking charge of my destiny. Now, I routinely speak on well-being in the guardian professions (those professions responsible for integrity, reliability and accountability within organizations). We know that people who aren’t feeling at their best don’t make the best decisions. For the guardians of organizational integrity, well-being needs to be in greater focus.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Lumen Worldwide Endeavors?
Lumen Worldwide Endeavors was founded on the principle that the illumination of risk allows for better decision-making. We believe that in a complex world, it’s easy to be distracted by the latest crisis and that there are many voices vying for attention. The core of Lumen is helping good people make better decisions through clear and concise articulation of risk. We are a proudly certified women-owned small business and we believe in the importance of giving back in our community. We have been a sponsor of events for groups like Team Women and professional organizations in compliance, ethics and risk.
Lumen Worldwide Endeavors is known for our deep expertise in areas such as compliance, privacy, ESG (environmental, social and governance) and our people-centered approach to communications and training.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My early mentors include my mother and father who were steadfast in their support, their belief that I was capable of anything and that values are always at the center of decision-making. My bosses at Best Buy and CWT were huge influences in my career as well. Todd Hartman, the current General Counsel at Best Buy, hired me into my first corporate role and brought me to Minnesota. His positive impact and the things I learned from him continue to this day. The former General Counsel at CWT, Jerry Hogan, is the boss I would have walked through fire for. His support and encouragement were so critical to my success. He always knew how to get the best out of his team.
I am also so thankful to the countless mentors and business icons in my life who are there for me at every turn. There are so many that I can’t even begin to name everyone. The community of women entrepreneurs in Minnesota are absolutely amazing.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@lumen-we.com
- Website: www.lumen-we.com
- Instagram: @lumen_we
- Twitter: @lisabethl
Image Credits
Paul Vincent Rachel Seifert and the Merry Hour
