Home: Decatur, GA. Age: 54. Birthplace: Charlotte, NC. Profession: Executive. Organization: Mid Atlantic Advisory Group. Alma mater: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Hobbies: International travel, outdoor exercise, gardening and reading. Recent travel or adventure: Becoming an ordained minister online to marry two of my best friends at the Eiffel Tower, followed by four weeks traveling through France, Germany and Switzerland. Last book read: Becoming, by Michelle Obama. Recently viewed recommendation: Recent: Succession. Classic: Mad Men. Recent unique acquisition: A hand-painted scroll of the Gospel of John made on a Gutenberg printing press in Germany.
What is your greatest joy? Having a house full of guests during the holidays. What is your greatest fear? Being unable to remain independent and care for myself as I grow older. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Elementary school teachers. We reward so many professions more generously than the people entrusted with educating our children. How do you relieve stress? An ice-cold cocktail on the porch. What is your go-to workout? An early morning walk through the Emory University campus with my Boston terrier. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Room service.
What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Monopoly. What book have you repeatedly read? To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Out of Africa. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My best friend of 33 years. He and his family still live two and a half miles away. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Navigation apps. I have a terrible sense of direction. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? My parents’ unexpected and horrifically nasty divorce when I was ten. It made me grow up long before I was ready.
What change would you like to see in the world?
Universal healthcare.
What message do you want to send out into the world? We all make mistakes. Learn from them, forgive yourself and move on. What mega-trend most excites you? Sustainability and resource management as climate change and resource constraints reshape how we build, travel and consume. What mega-trend most concerns you? Algorithmic isolation—the erosion of organic human connection as algorithms increasingly mediate our jobs, news and social lives.
Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My beloved grandmother Emma, who passed away while I was in graduate school. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? A box of photos, notes and letters I have collected since kindergarten. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Preparing and hosting a large cocktail party at home for a curated group of family—both given and chosen. What advice would you give your younger self? Own your mistakes. Learn from them and keep moving forward.
Personal motto: If you raise your voice or curse, you’ve already lost. No matter what, be kind. Favorite quote: “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived” (frequently attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson).
