Why Doing Good Is Good for Business: LaDondra Wilson on Social Impact

LaDondra Wilson, Vice President of Social Responsibility for the Dallas Wings, shares her path from South Oak Cliff to a WNBA front office. LaDondra reframes the "male-dominated industry" narrative as overrated, and explains what social responsibility actually looks like inside a pro sports franchise — including writing community pillars directly into corporate partner contracts so impact isn't optional. She talks about honoring Juneteenth and partnering with Dr. Opal Lee, the "grandmother of Juneteenth," leading with empathy and personal culture, and why she refused to be hired as a DEI checkbox. The conversation closes on building a legacy and the discipline of learning to say no.

Chapters:
0:00 The BS LaDondra pushed through
4:16 What social responsibility means inside the WNBA
7:08 Why "male-dominated industry" is overrated
10:14 Leading with empathy and personal culture
15:52 Honoring Juneteenth and Dr. Opal Lee
21:38 Why doing good is good business — community in the contract
27:44 Building a legacy and learning to say no

Be Better Than Your BS is an original talk show from Zerlo Network, hosted by Risha Grant. Streaming on Roku and Amazon Fire — search: Zerlo Network.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

What's up, y'all? This is way better than your PS with which the grants of people's children. No fluff, no filters, just real women with real receipts, talking leadership, life, pressure, purpose, and what it really costs to show up for. Whether you're climbing a corporate ladder or building something of your own. If you've ever felt too much for some rooms and not enough for others, pull up a chair. These conversations are free. This is Larlo Network, powered by people who make it possible. Today's guest is a woman who doesn't just talk impact. She builds it, she moves it, and she lives it. LaDondra Wilson is the vice president of social responsibility for the Dallas Wings, and she is out here making sure that the heart of this WNBA franchise beats far beyond the court. From championing community initiatives to creating pathways for young people to see themselves in spaces they never imagined, LaDondra is proof that purpose and power can live in the same job title. She's a strategist, a connector, a culture shifter, and a woman who leads with intention. And when you see the way she weaves community leadership and authenticity together, you realize she's playing on a completely different level. Y'all help me welcome the incredible, unstoppable community-driven force that is LaDondra Wilson. Thank you for being here. Thank you for having me. I'm so glad that you're here because I love basketball, I love the WMBA, and I'm really interested in getting to know you better. But before we get started, there is one thing that I start every conversation with because we all carry BS. So what is the BS that you had to push through to get to where you are today?

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Oh wow, so much, obviously. Tell us about it. Well, I'm just a young girl from South Oak Cliff, an urban neighborhood. Right. The hood. Right. So obviously, that comes with a lot of BS, uh, a lot of non-truths being told, a lot of obstacles, a lot of negative statistics. Uh South Oakliff uh to this day is the unhealthiest zip code. I come from 75216, and uh I'm a young 40-year-old. Uh, and for 40 years, for my 40 years and probably beyond that, it has again been the unhealthiest zip code. So so many um health disparities there, uninsured, underinsured. Um, it is unfortunately from the cradle to uh prison pipeline, so uh highest uh prison um statistics there. And so the BS there is just that there's not um really any success stories, and that is BS because you see me here. Um, how did you how did you push through it? Uh really because there that is BS. That is not the truth, and it's not just myself. Uh there are so many more of myself and people beyond me. Uh while I was there in O'Cliff, there were so many uh role models that were there that really you just were motivated. Uh it's not what you uh really see, it's what you can believe. Yeah. And so um that was the first level of BS that I had to push through. Uh and then just working in a male-dominated industry when people are telling you this is not where you need to be, and that too is BS. And so um, I came in this field after being laid off, and so after being discouraged and doors closed and obstacles. Uh, and so there's just so many levels of the BS that you just have to push through and have to believe in yourself.

SPEAKER_02 3:35

That's true. And when you talk about the disparate zip codes, that's something we live in one of those uh back home. And same thing about from birth to cradle and all of the things, and you're right, there are so many people from that community community that are out there killing it.

SPEAKER_01 3:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:50

That have been role models, continue to be role models, and continue to show that it doesn't matter where you grow up. It matters what you believe, what you're putting inside of yourself. Now, you have an interesting, um, interesting job title, social responsibility. Just break that down a little bit for us.

SPEAKER_01 4:07

Sure. Uh, so uh I have the great privilege of being the first person in this role. So I'm the inaugural executive director and vice president of social responsibility. And so when we decided to uh bring this role to the Dallas Wings, uh we kind of went back and forth on what the title would be. And so it could have been corporate social responsibility, it could have been uh community engagement, it could have been a lot of different things. And so initially we thought about corporate social responsibility, but it's not that. We wanted to make sure that people understood exactly what we would be doing. Uh, this uh department lived in our marketing department initially. And so when you think about marketing, it's about expanding the brand, it's about uh making sure that there's this footprint in the community where people know who we are. Uh and we wanted to make sure that it we went beyond just storytelling and above being just a brand and went into impact. And so we felt like we had a responsibility to do that. Right. And obviously to make social impact. And so we were very intentional about the title in itself. Right. And then obviously, uh my goal was to start our nonprofit, and so that's why the second part of my title is.

SPEAKER_02 5:21

So, what exactly is social responsibility though?

SPEAKER_01 5:24

It's having a responsibility to make social impact in our communities. Okay. And so as simple as that. And so when you see corporate social responsibility, it's our corporations that are doing the same thing, making an impact in our social. And it's so needed.

SPEAKER_02 5:38

And it is companies have to exist outside of what they do because they touch so many people. When you talk about something like the WNBA, I was that young girl sitting there playing basketball every day wishing for a professional basketball team. So my goal was to because I'm because I'm older, Gen X, my goal was to graduate, go to college, play D1, and then go overseas because that was the only option available to me. But then I would hear the stories of how first of all, long distance bills were ridiculous because and people were so lonely and all those things. So to have something like the WNBA exist was a dream come true. And I'll know a little bit about the wings because they came from Tulsa, which is where I'm where I live.

SPEAKER_00 6:17

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 6:17

And so they were the Tulsa shock. They moved to Dallas. Now we were pissed in Tulsa. I'm just gonna tell you.

unknown 6:22

Sorry.

SPEAKER_02 6:23

We were pissed in Tulsa. Because I had the opportunity to know a lot of the players and got to meet Cheryl Swoops because she played in Tulsa for a bit. Uh Mary Ann Jones played in Tulsa for a bit. And so I know a lot of the owners. So this team like kind of means something to me. Um, but what was the moment for you when you realized that this is a thing I'm meant to do? Like, I I want to do this, or was did you have that moment?

SPEAKER_01 6:45

Yeah, well, it wasn't on my bingo card. Yeah. I'm a social worker by trade. And so just making an impact. Uh, and then Dallas is my city. And so having an opportunity to give back in my city, and again, really for me, it was the responsibility of doing so. Um, I received so many different, I was the recipient of getting uh so many people pouring into me. And so that was always a dream. So being a social worker was, I believe, my calling. Uh and so again, I'm a fan of sports. I'm probably that obnoxious uh Cowboys fan that's saying we're going to the Super Bowl. Okay, we're sound like my daddy, yes. So I am a, you know, all uh Dallas teams, uh I'm a fan of them. Uh and so when the wings came, obviously I became a wings fan, and I'm a fan of all things uh women. I'm a feminist. Uh and then I've always been a fan of the WNBA. And so when it was the Houston Comics, that was my team. And so obviously, when they uh when there was no longer uh the Houston when we got Dallas Wings and they became my team. Uh and so I was always a fan, and I've always been a fan of the WNBA because it is the most progressive league. Uh and I used to always just say that, but then the statistics show that we are the only league for the last 18 years that have received an A plus rating on the TIS report. The TAS report is the report that grades uh all leagues on racial and gender equity. And so we are the only league that has received an A plus on that. And you have to think about it, with women, we have to advocate for ourselves. And so the WNBA is 80% African American women, and a a large majority also identify as uh being a part of the LGBTQ uh plus community. So we they have to advocate for themselves, and they've done an amazing job with that.

SPEAKER_02 8:33

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 8:33

So I was a fan of the W and then a fan of the Wings. And so um when I was laid off uh of my uh with my job, I knew that I wanted to find something that I could be authentically myself. And so uh when the Dallas Wings had this role, it was just a perfect match. And so again, wasn't on my bingo card. I didn't realize that this would be something that I would be doing, but it was just the perfect match.

SPEAKER_02 8:54

So you talked about empowerment, and so when I think about companies that really have represented through DEI, of course, the W is a big part of that. So, how has your own personal c culture evolved through that journey? When I say post personal culture, I'm talking about the impact that you create. I'm sorry, the vibe that you create when you walk in a room and the impact that you that you leave behind. How has yours evolved through just the visibility?

SPEAKER_01 9:18

Yeah, well, one, I can show up as myself, uh, and that's something that's really important to me. I don't have to co-switch. I'm gonna come as myself all the time. And uh one, it I can be relatable to the players. So uh when I started with the uh WNBA or with the Dallas Wings specifically, again, most of the players as a league, 80% of the players are African American, but most of our players were African American. But beyond that, again, we're all women. And so uh with now with the Dallas Wings, the majority of our staff are women. But when I started uh in our executive team, I will say or were majority women, but there were not any African American women on our executive team. And I think that it was important that they saw representation. Right. And so for me, being able to be there and they saw that there was a woman and a woman of color that they could relate to that was important to me. And so uh I wanted to be able for the players to see that, and I wanted the community to be able to see that there was a representation also that looked like them in our office. Uh our fan base is uh majority African American, and I wanted that to also be reflective there as well.

SPEAKER_02 10:29

So let's talk about mindset a little bit because that's really what this segment is about, and you talked about coming from from Oak Cliff, and I know I know just a little bit about Oak Cliff, so and what you said is is really all I know about it, which is ridiculous. But what is your mindset on a daily basis to stay in stay in the space of I can do this, I'm I'm enough, I'm you know, I'm that chick. Like what is what is the space? Resiliency. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:56

Uh yeah, I mean, there's uh so much hardship, and so to know that I've been able to overcome a lot, then there's not much that can stop me. So I I just go into every situation like that. And uh, you know, most people may say it's cockiness, but it's determination and and resiliency. I I love it.

SPEAKER_02 11:16

LaDondra just dropped game on the mindset that will set you up for success. Up next, the major plays she implemented to take her life to that next level. Want more of what you're watching? Watch us on Roku, Amazon Fire, or listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio to name a few. We are back with Lodondra Wilson, Vice President of Social Responsibility at the Dallas Wings. Now that we know what shaped you, let's get into how you actually move. So this is the play where we break down your strategy, the role you play inside the Dallas Wings organization, and how you create real change while keeping personal culture intact. So tell me what social responsibility, I know what social responsibility, we know what it is now, but what does it look like in the WNBA exactly?

SPEAKER_01 12:09

Yeah, well, it's really exciting because the players have such a big role within it. Um, the players association, they actually drive what we do on a day-to-day, which is so important to me because I think that they need to have a hand in what we do. So before the season started, the player association they get to determine kind of what the pillars are for each season. So it doesn't stay the same because, as you know, the world evolved, right? The priorities change each year. So they get to determine kind of what the priorities are that each team uh will be able to implement in their markets because obviously in each market it is different. In the great state of Texas, we are very different than maybe some other states. And so each year, I'll I'll just say, for instance, um, one year we may be focused on civic engagement, which could be really important in a presidential uh election year. Um one year, uh particularly, like I believe year before last, we focused on women's health. And it really talked about um the rights of women's body and here in Texas. Again, uh very conservative. Right. Uh we we had a time for you to know that, uh, but we didn't back away from it. Um and then uh last year we did, we also focused on women's health, but it was more on um breast health awareness. And so I love that the players get to kind of determine that because we have their buy-in. But they we start at the players level and then on the league level, all of the team, my counterparts, we meet monthly. Okay. And then we talk about how we will implement that on our level. Okay. And we also talk about what the challenges are. And you know, if there are national nonprofits that we want to maybe partner with, uh, we have them on the calls, but each team can then decide how we want to implement that. I love it because we get to talk about my then my department, my team, we find the nonprofits that, just to be completely honest, that are serving those marginalized communities that don't have the resources, so then we can help with the resources that we have to ensure that they are able to move forward their uh pillars. Uh, we then have the commissioner's cup, which is internal in the season. There's a um a competition where the teams are basically playing for money for those nonprofits that we select. And so that's why we select the nonprofits that are serving marginalized communities that may not have large budgets. Okay. Uh so that's really exciting. But uh the work that we do is really important because again, these are issues that are impacting us worldwide. Uh, but then we get to work on them at a local level. Do you know what initiatives you are looking to uh to plan for for 2026? Well, we know what we're doing as an organization, uh, but not what the players have selected just yet. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 14:49

So the WNBA has always led the way when it comes to activism. I mean, uh from just even the t-shirts, I remember them just standing in in solidarity uh when we were during the Black Black Lives Matter movement and all of those things, and it it felt good as a woman, as a woman of color, all of the things to actually like see a team or an organization truly, truly step out that already was not making the money, right? Because a lot of people don't want to do it because it's gonna it might affect their paycheck. These women already weren't making the money, they already had a lot at stake and they still stepped up. So, how do you balance that legacy with the business side of the sport? Because again, my paycheck might, I mean, quite honestly, when I I told you I spoke for one of the NBA teams and the guys in the that were in the audience just a team. Yeah, and they didn't want to really have the conversation around DEI, and it was so funny because when we got out, one of the you know well-known stars he had me hemmed up in a corner telling me all this stuff, and I said, Why didn't you say it in there? And he said, Well, HR is in there. And I'm like, somebody at your level is is worried about your paycheck because you're making more money than you possibly would spend, right? How do you align? How what how do the women first of all find it within themselves, and then how's the WNBA deal with that on the business side?

SPEAKER_01 16:09

Yeah, well, I think I'm so very proud of our players, and I've been, I just completed my fifth season. Um, they're so bold. Uh I I've not ran into that yet. Uh, but what's important to me because they're they're so young as well, and so I don't know if it's because I mean this generation is just bold and out there crazy and I love it. Um but what's really important to me too, again, I'm a social worker, is that they're educated and informed. Right. Like, don't start talking about something you don't know. And so it's important to me. I'll use this as an example. Um, we play in the summer, and so we don't get to commemorate as a team uh Black History Month. Now, in offseason, we still activate. Uh so we commemorate Juneteenth, and as you know, we were able to make that a federal holiday. And we have the great privilege of having Dr. Opal Lee here in our home state. She's right here in Fort Worth. Okay. And so everyone, I'm just gonna be completely honest, want Dr. Opal Lee around um to maybe have her at a game, wait, and sit down. And and for me. Now tell us who Opal Lee is. Dr. Opalie is the grandmother of Juneteenth and was uh very in, well, she led and ensured that uh Juneteenth became a federal holiday. And uh President Biden ensured that that happened. Um and so, and she's right here in Fort Worth, Texas. And so most uh teams, no shade, they'll have her at games and she'll wave and sit down. And and it was very important to me because I understand that most of our players, the majority of our players, I think, at that time none of them were from Texas, but we did have one player that was from Texas. But if you're not from here, you may not know the history of Juneteenth, and it just became a federal holiday. Well, it was important to me, and I I tracked her down, uh, found her granddaughter, and I asked, could she come to a practice? And could she talk to them? I could have read it from a book. Right. And she did. She came and she spoke and she talked about the history of how her family celebrated Juneteenth, how her family's home was mobbed and it was actually burnt down. And again, how they celebrated Juneteenth, how she walked and uh went to DC and they were able to make it a federal holiday. And the the players were just in armored and was, I mean, there were tears, there were, and I interviewed her, like you're interviewing me, so she could talk about it. And then so she came to practice ahead of the Juneteenth game, and then she came to the game and we presented her with a jersey and all the things. But ahead of the game, she was there, and the players they were at shoot around, and they came, stopped, and you know, so now they know who she is, they don't have to talk about it. Uh, and she's come to every game since then, and she just turned a hundred years old this year, and she's still, I mean, she's probably more fit than me. It's crazy. Um, but it for me it's about education. So now you're not just out making posts, and you're not just wearing these shirts just because it's cool to be, you know, Black Lives Matter. Um, and so that's what we do at the Wings. It's not just about a phase because now it's cool to be uh to be an activist. Right. But now for me, it's about uh education as much as they would like to be educated. Um like you said before, we do the t-shirts, Black Lives Matter is on our court. Um, but I want them to be educated.

SPEAKER_02 19:23

Yeah, it's it's really important. I think that's something um athletes really from education from every standpoint, right, especially financial literacy, because I think we see too many of our athletes end up without any any money, you know, any way to take care of themselves. Because I I can honestly say you put it all on the line and your body will give out. Right. And that's why I didn't realize that dream is, you know, I I told you coming up here, I have my fifth knee surgery. And so I think it's super important that um that education, and I love that sports teams are really taking that serious now. Um is making as far as making sure that their players are educated in in every area. So, what does it take for you to actually get buy-in from the corporate sponsors, the community partners that really is not just about good PR, but that impact?

SPEAKER_01 20:12

Uh well, for us, you know, doing good is good for business. And I'll say this, you know, when I started in 2020, it was uh after George Floyd was murdered, and everybody wanted to do something good to show that, you know, we're good people. Right. Just being honest. Uh I wanted to even ensure that I wasn't being hired as uh a DEI hired, just to be completely honest, because everybody wanted to be, you know, now people are moving away from DEI, but back then everybody wanted to have a person of color and wanted to make sure that they were doing the right thing. Right. Just to be completely honest. And so now, you know, it's it's good to do good, right? It's it's just good business. Um, but when we work with our corporate partners, we have a foundation, we have five pillars. We do put community elements in our uh corporate partners' contracts, and you can't just do whatever you want to do. These are our five pillars, these are the community elements that we're activating. You want to do these? If you don't, we can't be a partner. We can, but we we won't be doing just whatever you want to do. Exactly. I got you. Okay, you know, we can put your name in some lights, but these are our community elements. And so it's a marketing agreement, or these are the community elements.

SPEAKER_02 21:29

So you mentioned I want to be a DEI hire, and that is so near and dear to my heart because I spent 27 years in DEI. I built the first firm in the state of Oklahoma. And I would tell clients all the time people do not want to be hired, first of all, based on their their skin color, their their affiliation with LGBT plus or any of those things. People want to be hired because they can actually do the job. Right. I said, I personally don't know any people of color that just want a job. I said, I'm sure there are some out there, right? Right, but that really just want A job simply because they're a black woman. Right. You know, because at some point you're gonna have to perform that job. You can't just get it for that reason. So I I appreciate you saying that. Like I really wanted, I didn't want to just be this. Right. And I really think that's a lot of the misconception that is out there. Um, you know, you hear these these um these one-liners about being a DEI hire, and it it goes through me. But I know that the people, at least I've worked with the biggest corporations in in the world. And I know that these people deserve to be where they are. Um, again, not saying that there aren't people out there that might have taken advantage of the situation, but um, but I love that you went in like, no, I'm not gonna just be this. It has to be this, and I I think that's so important for people to hear. So, LaDondra, before we move on, where can people go to connect with you and learn more about you and what you do?

SPEAKER_01 22:55

Yeah, LinkedIn is probably where I thrive most. Uh uh, that's where I love to connect with people. I think that there's so many different industries, and so I like to cross uh uh sectors and industries. So, LinkedIn. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 23:08

Y'all heard it, LinkedIn, LaDondra Wilson. All right, that was powerful, but now it's time to get into what the people can take home and use. Up next is the postgame. This is a part of the show where we're gonna turn your experience into practical plays that our audience can start running today. Awesome. Want more of what you're watching? Watch us on Roku, Amazon Fire, or listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio to name a few.

SPEAKER_01 23:57

I think uh empathy, I mean, it's not something that you can frankly start doing overnight. I think if you're not an empathetic, compassionate person, it's gonna be really difficult.

SPEAKER_02 24:08

But can you learn it? Can you can you learn empathy?

SPEAKER_01 24:11

No. I'm just gonna keep it. I'm gonna keep it real. No, I think you can learn how to uh be there for others and and you can learn how uh to show up. Uh but You think it's something you just gotta have in you. I do. But what if someone's you can learn how to show up.

SPEAKER_02 24:30

You can learn how to show up. You can learn how to care, show care. You can say, Dandra, how's your day going today? Um, anything going on with you that I can do to make your life easier? Or I mean, and I think, I mean, yes, it's rehearsed.

SPEAKER_01 24:44

Yes, it may not be from the heart, but you're trying to learn how to show up and you can learn how to be there. But if you're not an empathetic person, because these are real problems that people have. And if you don't really care, like sincerely care, that's gonna be a concern. Because you're gonna be judgmental, you're gonna be we are all biased for sure. Like I have my own biases. Right. But if you're not an empathetic person, that's gonna be a challenge for you.

SPEAKER_02 25:07

So let's talk about that for a second. Uh what can leaders do who say, I'm not very empathetic, but I would like to be a better leader.

SPEAKER_01 25:17

I think that just learning and starting where people are. And I think that that, I mean, and I know it sounds really cliche volunteering and things like that, but I think when you really want to learn how people got where they are, because I think that there's this um misconception that people have about people that have challenges. I mean, some people are just one paycheck away. I mean, think about the pandemic and think about even the economy now. I mean, we are all in challenging times, but some people just have misconceptions um and privileges uh that removes them away from reality. Right. And so I I think if you just put yourself in position, and that can be as simple as volunteering, again, it sounds like cliche. But and then I think that maybe that empathy can come, but if you're not going to remove the biases and the misconceptions, then it is gonna be really challenging.

SPEAKER_02 26:10

And for sure, I think that if you can engage with people, because and you say volunteering sounds cliche, but it is truly how you to me you can experience the way that somebody else is living and experiencing the world, and to get into their world, I almost think you have to be a sociopath, not to be able to feel something for uh for when people are going through things that it's not social responsibility.

SPEAKER_01 26:33

I mean, you can show up in other ways. Right, for sure. But but this work, I mean, it it is almost um it's it's a lot. You have to put a lot in, it takes a lot away from you. But you can always do other things to be a leader, uh, and it doesn't have to be social responsibility.

SPEAKER_02 26:50

But if I'm a company and I say, you know what, it really I I'm listening to her, it makes sense for us to start a uh social responsibility office. What's that what's that first thing that I should think about?

SPEAKER_01 27:00

And and that's the other thing. I mean, you can give back in other ways. Uh I like to tell people, if people are already doing the work, help them do the work.

SPEAKER_02 27:10

You don't have to re-re-create the will, reinvent the will.

SPEAKER_01 27:14

Because everyone wants to give and do these things, but there are so many organizations that are already doing the work, contribute and support them. Yeah if you have the same values and interests.

SPEAKER_02 27:24

It's so much less work to do, absolutely. Because I'm telling you, starting a nonprofit is a whole different world, a whole different animal.

SPEAKER_01 27:30

It's too many.

SPEAKER_02 27:31

And quite honestly, and we were talking about this in in another interview a little bit, what makes you a good volunteer or a good um good corporate social responsibility person does not make you a good person to go and start that organization.

SPEAKER_01 27:46

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 27:46

You know, because there are so many other things happening around that that you're not familiar with. Now, for someone who feels like their voice doesn't matter, what's your advice for finding power and and purpose in the spaces that they're in?

SPEAKER_01 27:58

Yeah, I think that again, it always started with uh giving yourself uh the permission to understand one, why you feel like you don't have the power. Sometimes it's for me at least, I had to go back and think about the little girl in me. Like what were those things, those um that when I felt powerless, those things that were whispered to me or told to me that I had to unhear, right? Yeah or that I had to speak to myself. Uh so sometimes it's the the reassurance. Uh, but then again, sometimes it's just speaking life into yourself. Yes. You gotta do that a lot. A lot. Because even in in today's time, like there are gonna be people even now as confident as I am now that are gonna say, you can't do that, or why are you doing that, or you doing too much. Yes. Uh so you always have to reassure yourself, frankly. Right. Um, and then I think being around positive people is who you surround yourself around. Um, frankly, sometimes is, you know, if people are always telling you, girl, you're doing too much, okay, well, you're not doing enough. So it's about another girl. One, you know, speaking life into yourself and then evaluating who you're around as well. Um, and then doing the work, you know, because it's it's really hard to to be positive when I'll I'll just tell you sometimes that that little pity party. Yeah. Yeah, it feels good for a second. That little pity party. You know, you and and it's gonna be hard days for sure. Right. But then after after you give yourself that little time to be like, okay, why me? Get on up and do the work. Dust yourself off. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:44

But how do you because some people don't know how to speak uh life into themselves, they don't know how to speak positivity into themselves, and they may not have that crew that's gonna uplift them. But what can they do? How can they access those things?

SPEAKER_01 30:00

I think and it took me a long time to really do this because I think I was the person always pouring, and you can't pour from an empty cup. And so uh I I would advise getting a mentor. And sometimes that is hard finding the right person, so that does take some work. Uh, but I do think that it is advantageous to have that person that is going to, that person that is maybe doing something that you want to do that you haven't been able to figure out how to do, uh, to have someone that is going to, when you're down, to lift you up because you don't know what you don't know. Exactly. And so I do think having a coach, uh, a sponsor, a mentor is gonna be encouraging because I was that person that I was like, okay, once I've gotten to that level, then how do I move forward? And it took me a long time, like very recently to realize like, okay, I need someone to nav help me navigate the spaces that I haven't been. And that's that's super important.

SPEAKER_02 30:55

Um, I've never been big on therapy, but I know like it's a lot of people. It should be something that if you can incorporate it into your life, you should incorporate it into your life. Um, and that's something that I have recently within the past few years started to believe because I've just like, I gotta go do it. I don't even have time for it, right? I gotta I gotta go do it. But I really want to say to our audience, find ways to to feed yourself, to figure out who you are and what you need. And sometimes you gotta push your own damn self like this. Let's be real.

SPEAKER_01 31:24

You don't have to be depressed or, you know, in a sunken state for uh for therapy. And I think especially in our community. Sunken state, thank you. Yes, I think that we, you know, have this um this thought of what a person, like you gotta be on the couch and depressed, and I no. Uh sometimes it's preventative, yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_02 31:45

Um I just I always thought, especially because I'm I'm well known in the city that I'm from, I always thought now people are gonna be out there telling my business, and you know, and that was that was something real for me, even if it was my perception, even if it wasn't real, it was real for me, and it took a lot to get through that. So, what is one lesson that you think sports can teach everybody?

SPEAKER_01 32:06

Oh man, I learned so many lessons in sports. I I was telling this last time uh I spoke. I was like, I think now that I'm in sports, I talk like everything I say is like in sports. Sports related. So obnoxious, actually. Uh, but it's because it's so many lessons in sports, right? Right. Um because obviously, like I just talked about, like having that right crew that speaks, you know, to teamwork. Like you really can't, I mean, peep, I know that you have to like depend on yourself, but like you, there's not really you don't have to do everything by yourself. Like having that team, uh, you know, even if it's their core five, like that's important. Um, you know, the resiliency that it takes. So practice makes perfect. Uh, that's something that I've learned. Like, you you don't have to be perfect, but the more you work on something, uh, so the, you know, when I see the work that our uh ladies put in day in and day out, what you don't see, yeah. You know, you see what they do uh at the games, but it's what they do uh behind uh the scenes, the hours that they put in. And so that's something that I really have uh started to work like on my craft. Like people see, you know, the awards that I get or you know, when I'm out speaking, but it's really what I do when no one is around. Right. And so that's something that I think about in sports, it's the practice and the hours that they put in. Um and so that's something that I've thought a l a lot about. But more than anything, I think it's the teamwork. And so that's why I like to say when I think about uh the starting five, I I really do. I, you know, I I think about having that mentor, I think about, you know, you have that bestie, I have someone that pushed me, I have someone that I listened to. And so I really relate a lot of my life to sports.

SPEAKER_02 33:47

Yeah, and it's crazy when you talk about teamwork, I'm just in a challenging part of my my life. And so I know I as I was talking about it to someone, I'm like, my foundation is a little cracked. Because the people in my, in that, in my on my team that have been all the people that pushed me and all these things, there are certain things that they're going through that has truly cracked the foundation. So my team is like on the bench. So I'm out here, I'm I feel like I'm out here running the complete length of the court, catching, shooting, rebounding like by myself. It's like the person that used to pass me the ball can't pass the ball right now. And so you're you're just you're making me think about that because it is so important to have that team. Sometimes that team is one person. Yeah, but for me, it's it was my family. And so as my parents are aging and as things are are starting to happen, I'm like, Yeah, ain't nobody passing the ball. I'm out here by myself doing an alley oop and trying to make the shot. So it it feels it feels so isolated. And so thank you for saying that. Well, coming up next, LaDondra just gave y'all the playbook for success, so we are gonna get to know her a little bit better during the overtime. Want more of what you're watching? Watch us on Roku, Amazon Fire, or listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio to name a few. All right, y'all, it's time for the lightning round. Let's learn a little more, a little more about LaDondra outside of work. All right, what's the best advice you've ever received?

SPEAKER_01 35:27

Oh, wow. I received so um so much great advice. I think really uh just nice and simple, just show up as yourself and no one else.

SPEAKER_02 35:39

Okay. So is there a mantra that you live by? Something that just dances around in your head?

SPEAKER_01 35:44

This is so crazy because this is like all the way back from elementary school. They used to make us say, uh, good, better, best, never let it rest until you're good is your better, and your better is your best. And I forgot about that.

SPEAKER_02 35:56

Yeah, and now I think about it all the time. And it's actually a good thing to have in your head, but yeah, as a as a kid, I had not heard that in forever. Elementary school, seriously. See, that's why they put those things in this. Okay. What do you think is uh one thing that people get wrong about working in sports?

SPEAKER_01 36:16

Oh, that it's fun and that it's like, oh my gosh, I wish I worked in sports. Yeah, no. And I have to be there like at 10 o'clock and the game is like at eight. No, uh, I won't be. I want to show up with y'all.

SPEAKER_02 36:29

Yes, and there are things about every profession. Everybody thinks this is like everything, and the person doing it's like it's it's a little bit of that. Yeah, and it is fun.

SPEAKER_01 36:37

Yeah, and it is entertaining, but like I was like, why we have to be here all day? It's work. And it is stuff to do that requires you to be there all day, which is why it's not fun. Well, it's it's putting on a big event. It is like a production, yeah, all the time.

SPEAKER_02 36:52

I mean, and I'm not like I'm that event person that will forget the fork spoons, all the stuff, right? So my head is always spinning. So when you think about a game and all the entertainment that goes into that, it's a full production.

SPEAKER_01 37:02

Yes, and I just want to come watch the game like y'all. Or that I have tickets for every single sports event in the city. Even if I have tickets, I don't have tickets for you. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 37:14

Yeah, every you're getting the text from all your friends, like family. All right. What's that morning routine or night owl magic you do when you do your best thinking?

SPEAKER_01 37:25

Uh, you know, headed to work, I'm likely listening to a podcast uh every day. I'm I don't listen to radio or and I'm not a big TV watcher, so I think that I'm I always say that my car is my classroom.

SPEAKER_02 37:42

Okay, so what are you listening to? What kind of podcast?

SPEAKER_01 37:44

Every time I'm well, I it just it I switch a lot. Uh it's funny, I actually text my friend on the way here. Uh she I I always try to support my friends. So if they're on a podcast or if they have something going on, because I asked them to do the same thing. So whenever you send me this link, I'm gonna send it to someone and I want them to give me positive. And put us in your rotation. And I want them to support you. Uh so my friend had sent me uh a podcast that she was on, and so I listened to her podcast on the way here. Uh, and so I really try to switch it up. I try to listen to obviously self-help and leadership podcasts a lot, but I always try to support uh my friends, so it just depends. All right.

SPEAKER_02 38:25

So, what who is one woman in sports or leadership that you love to have lunch with? Of course, Scent. Like I love Scent. Scent Marshall. Yeah, okay uh yeah, she just always. I mean, the fact that you just said Scent and I knew who it was.

SPEAKER_01 38:40

Like she is somebody I want to have lunch with too.

SPEAKER_02 38:45

She's not there anymore?

SPEAKER_01 38:46

No, no, no.

SPEAKER_02 38:47

You never have another CEO?

SPEAKER_01 38:48

I no, didn't know. Okay. A CEO and a president, actually, now.

SPEAKER_02 38:52

Yeah. I did not know. Okay, we'll have time. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 38:54

Yeah, but Sin is my heart. I love her, and we just well, she's busy, way busier than me. Not like I'm too busy for her. Right. You know, I'm not busy, it's too busy for you, girl.

SPEAKER_02 39:05

Okay, if you weren't in social responsibility, what would you be doing?

SPEAKER_01 39:08

Well, like I said, I'm a social worker by trade. So um, obviously, social work, but uh as I I told you this, I love to talk. So maybe, girl, I'll come over here and be in the house. Come on with you.

SPEAKER_02 39:20

Come on over here. Come on over. Okay, the hype song for a big day or big event.

SPEAKER_01 39:28

Appropriate song.

SPEAKER_02 39:29

You don't have no, it does not have to be appropriate because I'm T Y motivation all day.

SPEAKER_01 39:35

That's one of them, actually. Um, but uh I'm from Oakliff, so Oak Cliff, Bowleg is always gonna be like something that's just gonna really Is it a local? Yeah, Bowleg is another woman song. So Oak Cliff, that's my hood. It's just called Oak Cliff, but Oak Cliff is gonna always be a song that's just gonna get me hype. Okay. All right. Biggest lesson sports has taught you about life. You know, I think it's really overrated the whole, like, this is a male-dominated industry, because I think really, seriously, like with the Dallas Wings, our uh executive team is uh predominantly women. Uh our staff is over 50% women. Um and so I just think that like from true anymore.

SPEAKER_02 40:20

Yeah, it's it's but from a coaching perspective, like that's something that I'm paying attention to because that's so lame.

SPEAKER_01 40:26

Yes, I think it is I hate to say that.

SPEAKER_02 40:28

No, it is really lame. But you don't you have really no female coaches in men's sports, but you have a lot of men's coaches in women's sports, and I think we need to level that out.

SPEAKER_01 40:37

And I know it's like, you know, who's the most talented, but that's not even, and I hate to say this, but that's not even, it's like they're not even giving the women a chance.

SPEAKER_02 40:44

No, they're not, and we could do a whole show on that, so I'm not gonna keep it.

SPEAKER_01 40:48

But I do want to know how you went from your job.

SPEAKER_02 40:50

Please keep your job. Don't do not lose it here. No, I say anything, so I do want to know how you went from uh from social work to social responsibility.

SPEAKER_01 40:59

I have a jigsaw uh puzzle of a career, so traditional social worker. So I've done everything from at-risk youth to domestic violence survivor. Most of my career was working with unsheltered uh individuals. Uh and then, like I said, I was laid off. And honestly, though, my my goal, well, well, I went from social work to leadership development, and that was because I've done everything in nonprofit work. I had just got my master's in social work, and and honestly, I feel like nonprofits do amazing work, um, but they work really hard and not smart. And I did I I if I could have, I would have probably gone back and got my business degree, but I had just got a master's and I didn't want any more loans. Um and so I was like, I need a shortcut in in business. And so I started working for the Dallas Regional Chamber, which works with every major corporation and nonprofit and sports teams. And so uh that was my crash course in business, and so I did leadership development there and worked with every major sports team, and then insert the pandemic, and I got my role was eliminated, so I got laid off. And then um the Dallas Wings, I had worked with the Dallas Wings leadership team literally one year to the date of when uh they needed someone to come and start their uh foundation. So they needed, I like to say a unicorn, they needed someone that had uh business experience and nonprofit experience. Right, right. And um the role had not been posted, and they were kind of, you know, when they say it doesn't matter what you know, who you know, they were actually was looking for someone else and she was no longer in marketing and found me.

SPEAKER_02 42:34

So your favorite uh uh WNBA player Cheryl swoops. Okay. Love her. Love Cheryl. Right.

SPEAKER_01 42:42

How do you define winning in life? Uh I think it is about defining, you know, your own legacy, building a legacy. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 42:52

Yeah. Coffee, tea, or energy drink, or something stronger.

SPEAKER_01 42:58

Okay, uh during business hours is gonna be tea. Right. After hours is gonna be a French 75 with tequila instead of gin.

SPEAKER_02 43:05

Okay. French 75 with tequila instead of gin. I don't even know what a French 75 is.

SPEAKER_01 43:10

So it is, it's really, so traditionally it's gin, champagne, simple syrup, and lemon. That sounds so good. It is. So when I worked in corporate America, uh, instead of me going in and be like, you know, give me something strong, I, you know, most people were doing wine or beer, and I was like, I really, I mean, I drink wine, but I was like, give me something strong. But I want it to look really fancy. Okay. And so, and I love champagne actually, but I needed something strong. And so they introduced me to the French 75. So it's basically a hard liquor with champagne. And because some people would do it with um like Hennessy or like with a cognac. Um, but traditionally it's with champagne.

SPEAKER_02 43:53

Okay, when I come back to Dallas, we're going to have a drink. You're gonna introduce me to the French 75 and take me to the spot where they make the best ones. Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_01 43:59

Well, whenever I go. Somewhere I want to um I want a French 75 and I I judge them on their French 75. So we can go anywhere. Okay, gotcha. All right.

SPEAKER_02 44:07

What's one thing that you're currently learning or unlearning?

SPEAKER_01 44:10

You know what? I am learning how to say no because I'm the person that will help everybody, and I have not focused on my own career. And by my own career, like I've done a lot, uh, but I've not done enough. And people like, I mean, I, you know, I just won the iconic sports culture award for the city of Dallas. Thank you. Uh, on Friday, Thursday. Uh I I've won a lot of awards, and awards don't really move me anymore. So I've accomplished a lot in the eyes of people, but I've not done what LD wants to do. And I'm trying to decide what LD wanna do. Create a legacy. I'm defining what that looks like. Okay. Uh and so I've done a lot for a lot of people, but not a lot for LD. And so I'm trying to say um more no's unless it is um what I want to do. Like things like this.

SPEAKER_02 45:10

Okay, love that.

SPEAKER_01 45:11

Love that. And so finish. Which is helping people, but is if like I can help people create their legacy or help people learn what they want to do, like hopefully this will help someone. And so I'm I'm trying to do more of that.

SPEAKER_02 45:24

I love that. And the world's going to love that, and we need more of it. So finish this sentence for me. Being better than my BS means.

SPEAKER_01 45:33

Being better than my BS means uh doing what makes me happy. Okay. That was simple and easy.

SPEAKER_02 45:41

Last thing here, a few seconds left. What's one thing you do for self-care that is non-negotiable? You know what? My spy days. Okay. Yeah. Those are so important.

SPEAKER_01 45:50

Those are so important. I'd be like, I gotta do at least one minute.

SPEAKER_02 45:54

Okay, tell us, tell us where people can find out more about you and your work.

SPEAKER_01 45:58

Um, again, LinkedIn is where I tell people all my business. Okay. Um, but I'll say this uh once a week now on Wednesdays, I've started to do what I call midweek mirror. Okay. And what it is, is a reflective post each Wednesday for leaders. Uh to and it's a leadership uh post for leaders to take time to reflect and is uh to give advice to leaders, and it's simple stuff. Okay. Uh for leaders to just take time um to reflect.

SPEAKER_02 46:28

All right, there you have it. LaDondra, thank you for pulling up and dropping game the way only you can. You're out here proving that social responsibility isn't a department, it's a decision. It's how you show up, how you lead, and how you use your platform for something bigger than yourself. And to everybody watching, here's your takeaway. Impact doesn't start with a title, it starts with your personal culture. You don't have to run a WNBA franchise to change your community. You just have to make the choice to stop sitting on the sidelines of your own influence. Run your play, move with intention, and always be better than your BS.

SPEAKER_00 47:06

What's the truth in your soul? What's the life to suppress? Feel the layers back, onion of success. Gotta shut that over spin. No time to regress. From the bullroom table to the block finesse. Richard breaking things, working thought, no less.

SPEAKER_02 47:18

Want more of what you're watching? Watch us on Roku, Amazon Fire, or listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio tonight with a beautiful break through the stress of no limits.

SPEAKER_00 47:31

Of the cultural humanity lifestyle, but that's the bust.