Today, we all face major global challenges—geopolitical unrest, economic stagnation, rising anxiety, abrupt technological change, and societal fragmentation. However, many thought leaders working on these colossal issues are doing a lot of talking but only a little solving. Lisa Gable understands the necessity of offering reliable solutions.

Lisa is a five-time award-winning Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author and is recognized as an innovative global businesswoman who leads with discipline and diplomacy. In addition to her multiple corporate and philanthropic roles, Lisa has served four US Presidents and two Governors, as well as a US Ambassador, CEO, and UN Delegate. She has a published book, Turnaround: How to Change Course When Things Are Going South. Through her writing, board service, and public speaking, she aims to help drive a resurgence in business, government, and philanthropy in a post-Covid world marked by uncertainty and heightened anxiety. She defines her brand as ‘smart, credible, and diligent,’ focusing on data, challenging assumptions, and hard work. She offers insights to help people understand the direction they should be moving in and maintain a strategic perspective to achieve results that align with broader goals. This is critical when the future is unpredictable and remaining focused on larger goals becomes more challenging. She has observed how a big-picture approach can be transformative and have a positive impact on organizations and individuals. She reckons that having a clear vision of where one is headed is vital for success. “Without it, teams can become disoriented and lose sight of their objectives,” she adds. Her work centers on the belief that focusing on strategic goals can bring about substantial, long-lasting change, even in times of ambiguity and uncertainty.

Smart, Credible, and Diligent

Right after her retirement as a serial turnaround CEO in January 2021, she decided to dedicate her life to helping professionals attain their goals. She aims to support the next generation of leaders and organizations in solving the world’s biggest problems. She serves as Chairperson of the Diplomatic Courier’s futuristic think tank world in 2050, a Distinguished Fellow at the Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity at the SMU Lyle School of Engineering in Dallas, Texas, an advisory board member of the Women’s Democracy Network, and Unveiled: Bridging the Gap to Sponsorship. In addition to that, she is also an opinion editorial writer for the Washington Times, CEOWORLD Magazine, and the Diplomatic Courier. Unlike other thought leaders who talk about solutions that cannot be implemented, her ‘Diagnostic Diplomacy’ process identifies the seven most common problems that are the underlying cause of every challenge. From health care and technology to geopolitical discord, understanding these seven root causes enables one to map a faster path to the solution in any arena. 

Lisa not only solves problems but goes above and beyond to do so. She gave an example of how she oversaw the US operation as US Ambassador to the World Expo to secure billions of dollars in direct foreign investments in the US, helped build Intel’s brand management system as the company eventually achieved a 73% share of the global semiconductor market, and addressed obesity by eliminating 6.4 trillion calories from the American diet. “This is why world leaders and Fortune 500 CEOs bring me in to solve their greatest challenges,” she claims. 

As an opportunist by nature, Lisa maintains that tremendous opportunities have consistently come her way. At the age of 19, she went to work for the Reagan Administration, and she worked at the White House and the Pentagon. At the age of 24, she was recruited to Intel Corporation by the man who would become CEO and Chairman. At 30, she had the honorary rank of a 3-star general when she was Vice Chairperson of the Defense Advisory Board on Women in the Services, helping women become better integrated into the military and giving them more leadership opportunities. At the age of 40, she became a USA ambassador. However, she is not leading the charge anytime soon but supporting others as they define their visions, a critical step to reaching the desired outcome. “When people are most vulnerable and our organizations and democracy require full engagement, mentorship becomes a vital stabilizing force for success,” Lisa highlights.

An Odd Girl Out 

Early in Lisa’s career, she found herself in situations where she was the ‘odd girl out,’ often navigating through male-dominated spaces. As a young Reagan appointee at the Pentagon during the Cold War, she confronted a challenging environment where national security and combat discussions were the norm. Despite being outnumbered and often underestimated, she quickly learned to adapt to and thrive in these environments. She realized that her strength lay in her data-driven approach and determination. She always did her homework before she entered a discussion and identified the key point she wanted to make. She waited for the right moment to contribute, often seizing the opportunity during a lull in discussions. She became adept at addressing the ‘elephant in the room,’ using advanced preparation and critical facts to steer the conversation in the direction she felt was necessary. By doing so, she challenged stereotypes, remained authentic to her style, and contributed meaningfully to the discussions despite the odds stacked against her.

Lisa believes in making success a team sport. She reckons that embracing collaboration and working with others are necessary to achieve the goals. “No one succeeds alone,” she mentions. Her father, a significant influence in Lisa’s life, exemplified building an academic institution from the ground up with grace and heart. He taught her to envision the future and persevere. One of his most important lessons was to always be dependable, which means making promises and following through. Upon his demise, people remembered not the institution he built but his impact on their lives. Two stories illustrate this: In the 1970s, a woman faced financial difficulties paying for college. Her father helped her fill the financial gap and designed a six-year plan, balancing school and part-time work. Today, she is an executive at a large corporation. In the 1980s, her father intervened when a journalism student was denied support due to gender bias, securing her an internship that led to a successful career as a news anchor. “Both women credit my father for their achievements,” she adds. 

Reflecting on his legacy, she curiously asks herself, “How do you want to be remembered?” According to her, we have control over our behavior and how we treat other people. “Mentorship, partnership, opening doors, and cheering others on—all these roles contribute to a lasting legacy,” she concludes.