Overcoming the Impossible - an Interview with Lena Wilson

How I Turned The Corner

What would you do if you were leading a team facing a multi-million dollar financial deficit?

In this episode, meet Lena Wilson, the CEO of Vista del Mar and Family Services in Los Angeles. Lena moved to California from Michigan to take over the CEO position in 2019. She was hired in order to provide a pathway toward sustainability to an organization that was losing an average of $3.2 million annually.

In March of 2020, the pandemic hit. Lena began her leadership journey by leading VDM with a staff of 500 in a time of chaos for which there was no blueprint. In two years, they had managed to not only decrease the deficit but produce a near break-even revenue stream by creating a culture of fiscal responsibility, education, and accountability. Lena managed to move the needle.

In tough times, it's crucial for business leaders to build a sustainable workforce culture. It’s like the glue holding everything together. Think of it as the secret that keeps employees motivated, engaged, and ready to tackle whatever curveballs come their way. When things are tough, a solid culture not only boosts morale but also sparks innovation and resilience. Plus, it's a magnet for top talent who want to be part of something bigger than just a job. So, while it might seem like a fluffy idea to some, investing in a solid culture is actually a smart move that pays off big time in the long run.

In this episode, Lena talks about:

• How she transformed the organization in a challenging financial environment, maintaining both employee morale and organizational stability.
• How her leadership style emphasizes collaboration and support, rallying the team to navigate financial challenges and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• How she aims to balance organizational growth with sustainability, focusing on pacing growth appropriately and restructuring for future success.
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  About Turning The Corner HR
  The world of work is more complicated than ever, and traditional HR has struggled to keep pace. When it comes to creating and sustaining healthy, thriving cultures, small businesses suffer the most.
  Turning the Corner is the remedy. Today’s high-tech, low-touch, cookie-cutter approaches simply don’t work for small businesses. Experience, judgment, and relationships have been replace