leadership Archives - Summer Owens S.O. What!

Transformative Leadership and Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Rose Flenorl

Summer Owens — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:00:18 +0000

What Does It Take to Break Barriers? Rose Flenorl’s story is a powerful example of transformative leadership in action. Growing up in Clarksdale, Mississippi, as the oldest of four, Rose was determined to make her mark. Her ambitious goal? To become the first African American woman inducted into the Ole Miss Student Hall of Fame. […]

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A Life of Service, Faith, and Purpose: Cary E. Vaughn’s Inspiring Journey

Summer Owens — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:30:50 +0000

A Story of Faith-Centered Leadership and Community Service Growing up in North Memphis, Cary Vaughn faced adversity early in life. Raised in the shadow of his father’s alcoholism and the pain of losing him at a young age, Cary could have allowed these challenges to define his life. But instead, they became the driving force […]

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Leading With Faith and Responsibility: A Leadership Journey That Redefines Success

Summer Owens — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:45 +0000

A Conversation That Makes You Think Some conversations leave you thinking, and that is exactly what happened during my recent S.O. What! Success Stories conversation with Mickell Lowery. Yes, he has the titles. Yes, he has built a strong and credible career across corporate America and public service. But what stood out to me most […]

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Choosing Purpose and Resilience with Laurie Powell

Summer Owens — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:28 +0000

Some conversations stay with me because they press on something I know many of us are working through, even if we don’t always say it out loud. My recent S.O. What! Success Stories conversation with Laurie Powell was one of those moments. It made me think about what leadership really looks like when things feel […]

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Leading When the Spotlight Is Unforgiving: What Steve Mulroy Shared About Resilience

Summer Owens — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 05:00:11 +0000

Some leadership lessons are learned quietly. Others are learned with the entire world watching. My conversation with Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy reminded me how often leadership is misunderstood. Many people see the title before they ever see the person. What stood out to me was not the position Steve holds, but the consistency […]

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Choosing Resilience After Tragedy: What Tiran Jackson Taught Me About Moving Forward

Summer Owens — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 05:00:07 +0000

Some stories stay with you long after the conversation ends. Not because of dramatic moments or timelines, but because of the depth of truth behind the words. That is what I experienced in my conversation with Tiran Jackson. Tiran is a leader, speaker, and resiliency expert, but more than that, he is someone who understands […]

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Where There’s a Will: Will Richardson Journey of Resilience and Purpose

Summer Owens — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 06:00:07 +0000

Life often throws labels and limitations our way, but what we choose to do with them defines who we become. Will Richardson’s story is a reminder that resilience, faith, and determination can turn doubt into destiny. Growing up in Memphis, Will was called the “black sheep” of his family and almost didn’t graduate high school. […]

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Finding an Excuse to Win: Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner Journey of Resilience and Leadership

Summer Owens — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:00:38 +0000

Life will always test us. Some challenges break us, while others push us to rise higher than we ever imagined. Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner story is proof that no matter how heavy the obstacles, we can still choose resilience, faith, and purpose. Growing up without his father and later losing his mother, Chief Deputy Anthony […]

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From South Memphis to Success: Meka Egwuekwe Story

Summer Owens — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 14:00:38 +0000

Growing up in South Memphis without his father, Meka Egwuekwe could have let his circumstances hold him back. Instead, he leaned on education, community, and faith to write a different story. From teaching himself programming as a kid to earning degrees from Morehouse and Duke, Meka proved that where you start doesn’t determine where you […]

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