 If you're in a welcome back so good to see you here, and if I have to remind people First woman to head a fortune 500 at 35 first female officer at 18 t you ran for Senate You were on stage for the GOP presidential debates We can talk to you about anything under the Sun at this point breast cancer survivor Let's start with the political arena though because it seems the most obvious when you look at DC What do you see these days? Well, I think I see what a lot of Americans see right now is Dysfunction honestly, but I think bigger than that I'm really becoming concerned that we have lost the ability to have a Civil discourse in this country. I think for so long politics and Democrats have been guilty here, but Politics has become about grievance resentment anger victimization and we so Rarely talk about the things that unify us the possibilities that every American should have I think So often our political discourse is poisoned honestly. We were just talking about the lack of civility It's name-calling now. It's insults. What happened? I remember as a kid You never addressed the president without saying president Reagan President we don't do that anymore. Well heck we call him by his first name. Yeah, what happened, you know I don't know, but I think part of what happened is and I said this as a candidate I said this last time I was on your show When a system becomes about self-preservation Professional politicians are about self-preservation doesn't make them bad people But the system is all about running and winning running and winning staying in office When a system becomes about self-preservation Rather than problem-solving, which is what voters hope for Then people do what's necessary to preserve the system and what's necessary to preserve the system. Unfortunately is raise money get the base out get people to the polls and Unfortunately, it's easier to raise money on name-calling and arguing and the media loves name-calling Let's be honest. The media loves a controversy. They love conflict. They love the personal insult. Hey, it's great TV, right? All right, and so between the need to get re-elected The media culture in general that highlights conflict and controversy We are losing the ability for civil discourse and unfortunately the people who expect problems to be solved Citizens are the ones that are getting most harmed by that because Good people don't want to be abused like that. Most people don't want to be abused like that So how do we get good people to step up? We know I think part of what we have to realize is That we as citizens need to actually understand our Responsibilities frankly, I think too often we put everything on to the politicians. I know that as a candidate people put everything on the candidate in our country Sovereignty rests in the citizen Not in the president not in Congress Sovereignty rests in the citizen and each of us as citizens each of us as people have Enormous potential and power more than we realize and more than most of us exercise And so I've spent all my life working with other people about their potential to make a difference They're potential to lead Leadership isn't about the title you hold or the position you're in It's about your willingness to challenge the status quo to actually solve problems and collaborate with others And I think we as citizens need to do more of that. Yes, we should elect people who are civil Yes, we should hold our politicians accountable, but yes, we need to do our part also But it's it's about going to the voting boxes then and doing what you're supposed to do Well, it's about going to the voting boxes, but it's about something even more than that I said that everybody can lead there are So many problems in our communities and as a conservative as a common-sense person I know that people most impacted by a problem are most likely to understand how to solve that problem And so there are people in communities and families and businesses who are trying to solve problems every single day and The problem doesn't get solved without leadership. And so one of the things I'm passionate about is lifting leaders up wherever they are Yes, go to the voting box, but also recognize that there's a problem sitting right in front of you that you actually can help solve You are a leader you are a leader and someone that we many people would love to see continue her political career There's plenty of talk about you running for Senate. What what are you going to do? Well, first, let me say I will stay engaged in politics I just came from Ohio where I did a lot of events for the Republican Party and I'm going to stay engaged in supporting candidates that I believe in and I Don't rule out a run for political office in the future But I've made a decision that I'm not going to run for the US Senate in Virginia this time around and one of the reasons I'm not is because I so Passionately believe that I can actually make a bigger impact not running for the US Senate, but a bigger impact Lifting up leaders wherever they are Training leaders developing leaders It's not a problem though then for the government for the country for people that smart people like you believe you can make a bigger Difference outside of Washington. Well, yes and no. I mean, I think all smart people all Citizens ought to be extremely politically engaged I think all citizens ought to hold their politicians accountable. We don't by the way We really don't we've let a system go on forever that isn't serving us. Well, and I also think that for someone like me who Has learned how to lift up leaders wherever they are because it's not about their position or their title For someone like me who's learned that who's developed a curriculum about it who can go into communities and help build leaders who are Trying to solve really pressing problems. That's I hope of huge value because Washington can't solve every problem We don't want them to solve every problem and when we just kick the can to them We get more problems usually you've said that leaders are made not born. Yes, and I love that line. It's true It's not a line, but I love and I have to admit have stolen it And I know I'll source it I've sourced it but that being said how do you make these people leaders? How do you get people out of their comfort zone because that's what it's about isn't it? Well, the first thing I think we have to do is unpack leadership what it is the first thing people have to realize is it's not about title It's not about position people get very confused about leadership and they think oh, I used to think this Oh so-and-so has a big office so-and-so has a big title They must be a leader right and then you get disillusioned when you realize oh, they're not leading So then we have to unpack what is leadership actually a leader Challenges the status quo. They don't accept the way things are they focus themselves on solving problems They serve others and most especially a leader understands that there are Possibilities of potential all around them particularly in the people all around them, but you're also correct A leader needs courage Because if you challenge the status quo and solve problems you get criticized a leader needs character It's character that tells us the difference between say a short-term win and a long-term impact a Leader needs to be able to collaborate which takes humility and empathy Something in short supply frequently But most of all leader needs to see possibilities and so all the way to your question it starts with people understanding Oh, I can lead I don't need a position or a title I can actually work with other people to solve problems I have that gift within me the qualities. I just thought about courage character Collaboration humility empathy Optimism those are human qualities. They are available to all of us and each of us actually Want to be those things and when we are courageous and collaborative and empathetic and we see possibilities We make things better and that's why you decided to start this foundation. Yes, so tell us about it. Well, I have spent literally 30 years focused on how to develop leaders because when you start as a secretary You figure out that real estate company in a real estate, right? You you see problems all around you and so for 30 years. I've Watched my own leadership capabilities develop, but more importantly. I've seen others develop and so what I now know is What that's about and so the unlocking potential foundation is based around a curriculum Where any individual? Can learn the behaviors the traits the characteristics and the tools that successful years used And we are focused on the nonprofit sector and the public sector Because people in the nonprofit world and the public sector are wrestling with really tough problems, right? And they don't always have access to the leadership development tools that say corporate America does mainly because I do a lot of Yes, mainly because of funding right I do a lot of work in corporate America as well But I think where we most need leadership now at all levels is in our citizenry But so this is pro bono work for you then yes, it is I Have funded much of the foundation, but we also have other donors. We have staffed our foundation. We've built the curriculum and my Time given in these partnerships with nonprofits and public sector. I give freely because I think The most fundamental problem we have now is a lack of leadership at every level And the way I think I can help make an impact in solving that problem is to lift leaders up Wherever they are and that starts with every person realizing you know what I can leave because everybody can it's called Unlocking potential the foundation will have a pilot program launched at the end of the year. Yes Yes, so that means you're gonna go into nonprofits and help them. Yes, we are invited into communities Where a group of nonprofits will come together and say we are wrestling with a set of problems It could be veterans. It could be opioid addiction. It could be poverty. It could be education we've talked with all of these kinds of foundations and When you're wrestling with tough problems boy, do you need a lot of leadership? And if you look at the nonprofit sector or the public sector Everyone involved in those sectors will say there's really not an opportunity to develop leadership Capacity we haven't invested enough in that and so we work with those partners. They understand the problems They're trying to solve I Understand leadership and how leaders are made and so I mean so that means you've stepped away from a Senate run To do this and devote your time to this. Well, actually I'm doing this and Concluded that I could have a bigger impact here than running for the Senate. I I still think that I'm at it's a tough place We are in as a yeah, and and so you have to ask yourself short-term long-term. Yeah Does one more senator in a group of a hundred in a let's face it pretty dysfunctional environment You have to weigh that difference versus Lifting up leaders in communities all across this country Highlighting the ones that are already there that we never talk about so one of the things I'm doing is working around the country with Community leaders and lifting them up so the rest of the country can see that because again we get so confused We think oh you got to be a senator or you got to be a president or you got to be a CEO to lead No, there are people leading all over this country. They need to be lifted up We need to celebrate them. It's just one of the many conversations that has to change in this country. Yes, right? I mean, there's a litany of them Well, but when you talk about leading and and the fact that you couldn't make a difference in Senate in the Senate Our term limits part a part of the problem there Well, I happen to think yes I happen to think yes, but I also think we have become consumed as a nation with the political game Great and a lot of it is the game and I also think that we were never intended to be a country We're absolutely every problem was supposed to be solved in Washington DC In fact the more problems we send to Washington DC the worst things get because that's what happens Money builds up around them bureaucracies build up around them Conflict and controversy builds up around them This is a country that was founded on the notion that as many problems as possible should be solved locally That's what our Constitution says and what I've learned over and over again in my life is the people most impacted by a problem Understand at best and so therefore if they have the tools the resources the support the leadership necessary They can solve it people don't always have the resources or the support, but actually we have to stop Fixating on Washington DC. Yes, it's a problem. Yes, it's dysfunctional But there's so many other things that we can make better all across this country It's funny. I looked up what Tom Jefferson wrote back in 1787 and he said exactly what he says go home go back to your farm So little and then go right serve a little and then go back to that's what serve a little and go back And yes term limits would help that I ran for president as you recall saying ours was intended to be a citizen government I think ours was and I think we need to return to that Which is why I'll always remain actively engaged in politics because politics is incredibly important But we have an opportunity each of us to make a difference besides sitting at home watching cable TV and Criticizing or cheering our politicians. I absolutely agree with you And but yet you get people that are stifled because of the need of tax reform Stifled because health cares a mess. Yes, that does come back to Congress. Yes, absolutely There are there are certain things that only Washington can do right only Washington can pass tax reform and I dearly hope they will because Tax reform is so vital to opportunity in this country and the most important thing that has always propelled this nation is Opportunity, but do you think it will happen? Oh, I sure hope so, but it's hard to predict now, isn't it? But I hope I hope That people will understand how vital this is and I think if they don't then the voters should make sure that folks understand The consequences of a failure to produce results and again that comes back to the voting booths, right? That's right, but everything seems to be stifling us these days all we hear again That's the media right but court the corporate tax rate is too high So as a result companies are sitting on their hands too. So that has to change It's like we're all waiting for these things to happen and nothing is happening and as a result productivities almost stalls Yes, and in the meantime, I guess one of the things I'm saying is we can't all wait for things to happen We need to make things happen in our communities and in our businesses and in our states Yes, the corporate tax rate is ridiculous the highest in the world. It's counterproductive For a decade at least Democrats and Republicans have been saying there's bipartisan support for tax reform. Well, let's see, right? Let's see because there sure should be and there's not What about things like North Korea? Does any of that keep you up at night? Do you worry about that? Of course we should be what we should we be doing with North Korea? Well I'll tell you what I would be doing please I wouldn't be saying a whole lot right now. I certainly would not be tweeting I'm not trying to be critical of the president, but diplomacy should not be conducted in 144 characters It just shouldn't be it's counterproductive, but what I would be doing very quietly is Giving the go-ahead to South Korea to for example build up their arsenals giving the go-ahead to Japan providing Australia some of the capabilities They've been asking us for for a long time We have to make sure That our allies in the region have the capability necessary to defend themselves. Yes I think an oil embargo against North Korea is a good idea. Yes. I applaud the administration and Ambassador Nikki Haley for getting unanimous agreement on sanctions But I also think that we need to equip our allies More robustly than they are today While we're on the geopolitical topic, are there other parts of the world that you worry about we talked about Kuwait a little bit earlier Well Look Russia continues to be a bad actor. They're not a good actor. They're a bad actor They're not going to change they're a bad actor and they are a bad actor in the Middle East So what we have developing Continuing to develop in the Middle East is an unholy alliance between Syria Iran and Russia That's a bad thing and it is why we cannot cede our leadership position From the Middle East. It's why actually I applaud President Trump and his Afghanistan strategy I know some of his supporters are disappointed because it's different than what he said on the campaign trail But we can't simply cut and run right we have to give up nation-building as he said right and focus on fighting terrorism But we cannot cede our leadership position anywhere in the world not in Eastern Europe Not in the Middle East Because Russia is our enemy North Korea is a problem China is in it for themselves So the only way they will deal with us is if we change their calculation of their own self-interest And Syrian Iran are going to continue to be as big a problem as North Korea And that you hear all this people hear this and it stifles them And so how do you get them out of their own way? Yes, although I have to say Tracy You say it stifles them and maybe it does North Korea has been a problem for a long time fair enough Russia was a bigger problem two decades ago when they were the Soviet Union The Middle East has been a problem for a long time people forget the horrific terrorist attacks that took out 244 American service people in Beirut I mean these hot spots have been hot spots for a very long time. It's not new Perhaps the technology is new perhaps the tactics are new But the people who are our friends have stayed the same the people who are our adversaries have stayed the same And so we need to be realistic about the fact. That's why American leadership is so important It doesn't mean rushing off to war. It does mean being clear Who are our allies? Who are our adversaries and treating each? Accordingly and do you think the president is articulating that properly not always no Sometimes yes, sometimes yes, and again. I was delighted when he took the stand. He did in Afghanistan I think he did absolutely the right thing in Syria when he responded to Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons attack I think he has done so far forget the tweets for a moment I think he's done so far the right things with North Korea And I think as a result he has for the first time Unanimous world opinion about the need to sanction North Korea. So yes, I think he has done things here at home He has taken a lot of credit for our stock market being up It's about up about 10% year to date should he be taking credit for that? Well, it's what presidents do I don't I don't begrudge him that I don't begrudge him that at all And I think the stock markets up why the stock markets up because corporate profits are way up The stock markets up because unemployment's way down But to your earlier question the stock markets also up because they're baking in tax reform They sure are stock markets up because they baked in regulatory reform which Trump is delivering per his campaign promise He's doing far more than Bush did in terms of regulatory reform So some of these things are absolutely legitimate and you should take credit for them Of course the question is what happens and I hope Democrats and Republicans will think about this What happens to the stock market if tax reform doesn't happen right because it is baked in right The world and the business community is a very different place from when you were CEO for 10 years back in the 1999 Yeah, we're putting Activism is so hot. I feel like every day we hear a new story just today Nelson Pelt submitted 93 pages about why proctor and gamble should be different. How do you feel about activism? Does it help or hurt or damage? Well, I think there are a couple things that are different number one Unfortunately, most shareholders are now short-term holders, right? Less than 90 days is the average Holding of stock today. The second thing that's different is we have all these algorithms on Wall Street So it's not clear people are trading on corporate fundamentals and the third thing that's different obviously is social media and the ability to bring enormous pressure on to these CEOs and these companies so What do you do in a situation like that? Lead you can't be buffeted about by the pressure What do you stand for? What do you believe in are you focused on a short-term 30-day gain or you focused on producing real Sustainable value for customers for employees and yes for shareholders and sometimes you're going to get criticized for that So I do think that in politics in business We're getting buffeted by all this short-term pressure that social media creates and sometimes I think People have to take a deep breath and understand. What do we believe? What do we stand for and stick to it? You come from such a unique perspective because you've done both. Yeah Well, is one arguably harder than the other? No, I don't think one's harder than the other I think they're different in some ways. I think they're similar in other ways. For example Leadership is the same no matter where you are whether you're a political leader as opposed to a politician or a business leader as opposed to simply a CEO Leadership is always the same. It always takes courage and character. It always takes collaboration It always takes the ability to innovate and see possibilities There are other things that I think business Could teach politics and vice versa Yeah Being president isn't like being a CEO, but in business you have to focus on results You have to produce results talk is not enough and politics has become a game of talk Not producing results not solving problems On the other hand, I also think that most businesses do not enough Communication about ideas and purpose and why are we here and perhaps that's something they could learn from the best about politics and yet we can't get these great business leaders to Commit some time to Washington because that would make a difference. I think overall. Well, I have to push back a little bit I think CEOs spend a lot of time in Washington actually They are trying to know I think in general CEOs. I spent a lot of time I think CEOs spend a lot of time in Washington They don't necessarily do it in front of the camera fair enough But they're spending a lot of time in Washington because they're trying to influence the process, right? I think that's legitimate on the other hand I think the danger in all of that is Washington now is built for the big not the small It's built for the wealthy and the well-connected not the small and anonymous and that's why as part of tax reform Lowering the rates is critically important, but simplifying the tax code is Almost perhaps even more important It's what I said on the campaign trail and I still believe it because all this complexity that we built into our political system It always favors the big CEO of the big company you can jet in and have an audience and influence the process But the small business owner in Cleveland, Ohio where I just was last night They don't have the opportunity to influence. Well, it's a it's a book of favors It's a political book of favors the tax code. It is yes created by the business Participates in that believe you make right. They're not staying out of Washington. So you're right about that So so what do I mean? You're not gonna jump they're not gonna junk it and start over which would be the ideal Yes, well that I think so right I do too, but it's not an ideal three pages, right and then go from there See, I think we need and this is a place where I hope Voices outside the process have actually more freedom and therefore perhaps more influence and voices inside the process We need a total change of mindset. No one inside the process is ever going to be able to say Instead of leaving all the loopholes alone and arguing about whether or not one should disappear Let's get rid of them all and argue about whether one should reappear, right? We need a total shift in mindset. You're right. That conversation will never happen inside the system, but I think as Active citizens people who are politically engaged. We better stand up and start talking about simplification over and over and over demand Instead, I think these are getting more complicated. Yes, they are and they've gotten more complicated under Republicans and Democrats alike Why because the system is geared towards self-preservation, right? It doesn't make people bad by the way The status quo is a very powerful force It always is because the people who are making it in the status quo want to keep what they have, right? It doesn't make them bad people. It makes them human. So that's why leadership takes courage Because to challenge that system Is really tough. I don't think the challenge to the system is going to come from inside the system Honestly, I think we've proven that over and over and over again I think the challenge to the system is going to come from outside and the only place that comes is Citizens in this country and leaders in this country and because as we were talking before we started filming innovation is Happening all around us People are disrupting left and right and so as a result. It's almost like Washington is behind the eight ball on so many things Almost on all things on all things. Yes Innovation happens far faster than regulation, right now regulation can retard innovation and frequently it does Or regulators can stick their hands and heads in the sand and think oh, it's not gonna happen like Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Oh, it's not gonna happen. It is gonna happen But innovation is the lifeblood of this nation and Washington will always be behind the eight ball as long as Washington and our citizens believe that it is Washington that should solve every problem right a big bureaucracy can never keep ahead So we have to be limited in the problems we give Washington Which is what our founders actually said in the first place Washington should only do certain things in everything else should be done outside of Washington And we have come so far from that and they said spend a small time and go back to your That's right spend a small time so that you know what real life is like you mentioned these cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin And I mean that's a great example of something happening under their feet. Isn't it? That's right But see here's here's back to the system and the status quo It's not just the regulators who are saying ooh, I don't want to deal with this Please make it go away banks are having that reaction to Banks want it to go away big banks this town wants it to go away I'll tell you I had a conversation with former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan. We were doing a a Panel discussion together. This was maybe six years ago and the subject of Bitcoin came up and Chairman Greenspan said well, it's a it's a flash in the pan. It's gonna go away and he's a brilliant man But I said mr. Chairman you're wrong in the year 2000. I gave a speech and said every single industry will be disrupted by Everything going digital right coming mobile becoming virtual becoming personal music books movies Groceries you name it. It's happening and it's going to happen. It is happening to the banking industry They don't want to deal with it because it's it's competition Regulators don't want to deal with it because they don't understand it right, but it is happening and it will continue to happen. I Mean it's it's the currency of Illegal transactions of choice right now. They have to get on top. Yes, but it also is I just had a I won't reveal the Specifics I'm not at liberty to but right before I came to see you I was having a business meeting with a very legitimate business and they are talking about the possibility of taking some of their assets and Putting them into cryptocurrencies. It's going to happen. Why do you think that's happening? Is it there's no faith in the dollar? Is it it's just an easy trade because it's 24-7. I think it's happening Well, I don't think it's because there's no faith in the dollar. I do think What are the two watchwords of innovation? Disrupt and disintermediate So crypto currencies not only are disruptive, but they disintermediate all this process that's been put in place And so it's faster easier cheaper to Create assets in that kind of virtual world. Are there problems with it? Of course of course But this isn't going to go away. It's going to keep going And so I would advise not that necessarily they would take my advice But I would advise the big banks in New York and the regulators in Washington DC pay attention It's coming to a business near you To take that warning speaking of disruption. This is what you're doing in the world of leadership. I hope so How do we spot? How do we teach this then at like the young levels because don't we need to start? We need to start with our kids. Yes. How do we do this? Well, I think it starts honestly by Saying something to young kids that my mother said to me What you are is God's gift to you what you make of yourself is your gift to God We are all gifted by God. I could tell you a thousand stories The point is Everyone has more potential than they realize and people need to hear that and believe it Over and over and over and then we have to start with the young. We cannot cast a Single life aside. We can't say to a 45 year old man who's homeless or who's Sitting on assistance. You have no potential. You have no gifts. You're worthless. We can't do that to anybody because Literally, everyone has potential so we have to start with that and then I think we have to re-educate people as to what leadership is Again, people get confused by it. They hear the word leader and they think oh CEO President fancy car These are leaders. No, a lot of those people are not leaders at all. They are perfectly happy in the status quo We have to re-educate people that it's not about position and title. It is about problem-solving It is about serving others. It is about seeing possibilities. It is about courage and character and Collaboration and I know for a fact after 30 plus years of experience all over the world Everyone is capable of that kind of leadership and yet Women in particular hold themselves back Sometimes yes, I'll tell you a funny story. I was talking to a woman and and She was saying well, you know What about the fear of failure and I said as long as Perfection is the goal. Mm-hmm. You will always fail And I think sometimes women expect ourselves to be perfect No one's perfect or sometimes I think we think we can't make a mistake. Of course, you're gonna make a mistake You cannot lead unless you take a risk You cannot innovate unless you take a risk, but if you take a risk, you're gonna make a mistake You're not gonna be perfect and the goal in life. Of course. I think It's just don't make the same mistake twice But keep going, you know that that movie Finding Dory just keep swimming just keep swimming Sometimes we gotta just keep swimming True we said earlier the dialogue has to change I think the dialogue around women has to change, you know, I have to tell you I was listening to a bunch of your older interviews and The first question out of the gate was how did you handle the failures? Yeah, and They would never say that to a man. Well in this and beyond that. Yes absolutely beyond that my answer always was I didn't fail did I make mistakes did I make mistakes? Absolutely, but running for president is not failing heck now and so Look women you're right. We need a different mindset. Are some women victims? Yes, absolutely It's also true that we now have a generation of most highly educated empowered women in human history women Are half the potential of this nation? half the human capital of this nation half the brain power and the heart of this nation it's Malpractice To leave that much talent on the sidelines and I think companies and businesses are slowly understanding that I Sometimes think that it's the women that are holding themselves back I think corporate America gets we need diversity at the table and it's sometimes That data don't have the talent pool. Well, sometimes yes, sometimes no look. I do think that You have to be able to accept That not everybody's gonna be like you not everybody's gonna think like you you and I had a conversation about the corporate boardroom Why are there so few women in the corporate boardroom? It's not there aren't qualified women out there, right? But it takes men in the boardroom to say I don't know her She's different than me. She thinks differently than me. She might challenge me, but we need her We have to learn to collaborate with people different than ourselves And I think one of the problems in our political discourse is returning each other into a pack of tribes Yeah, you know, you're not like me. So I don't like you that that's never going to work. So Sometimes corporate America thinks of women as a diversity issue. It's not a diversity issue. It's not an inclusion issue It's a self-preservation issue. Don't leave talent on the sidelines if you want to compete and succeed in this world And I think women to your point have to pull themselves up and say, you know what? I'm gonna take a risk I'm gonna make a mistake. I'm gonna get criticized. I'm not gonna be perfect. That's okay. That's life. Get over it Is that part of the conversation that has to change though this notion that there's women's groups? Inclusion my daughter is 15 and she made a blanket statement that she can't stand feminists and What I think she meant was I don't get like she doesn't get why you're singling out women Well, and she sees it as everybody's the same. Yes. Well, everybody isn't the same and we're all gifted We all have potential. We all have the opportunity to contribute celebrate our differences I do think feminism unfortunately is a term that's been captured by the political left, right? And so in our political dialogue, I think we've got two polar opposites right now Neither of which are helpful to women on the one hand You have the liberal progressives who want to see women as victims always women are always victims of something, right? And on the other hand you have Republicans who say there's no problem here Both are wrong. There are problems and not every woman is a victim and so let's depoliticize Feminism women's issues and start talking about women as half the talent pool of this country with an enormous amount of leadership capacity and brainpower to contribute and if we don't start to tap All our brain power. We're not ever Gonna keep winning There are a ton of women in nonprofit. Yes, right? Yes tons of women I mean just it's just the way it is, but it seems to be overpowered by females Matt you can tap that. Yes, of course and and one of the reasons I think that a lot of women leave the corporate world Is because they feel that there is no tolerance for difference I Established a real meritocracy a real meritocracy at Hewlett-Packard. It's very hard to do takes a lot of work And yet less than a year after I left half of my direct reports who are women had left Why because they could feel the climate had changed it is each of us are best When we can bring all that we are to the table Each of us are at our best We can contribute the most when we can be completely and totally ourselves And so when women are anyone who's different feels like I got to kind of keep it Keep my real personality buried in order to fit in That environment becomes less innovative and productive than it could be so just gender parody solve that if we you know if Corporations take a stand and companies and businesses say we're going for gender parody. We want 50-50. Does that solve the problem? See, I don't even know what that means gender parody. That's a number. That's just says Yeah, we're gonna have no that doesn't solve the problem because you could make the numbers work and Still have an environment in which people are not bringing everything they have to the table because they don't feel as though What they contribute Including what makes them different is valued It's so much about culture and environment Which is why a big part of our leadership curriculum in the foundation is all around How do you build a meritocracy? How do you actually build a culture where people are free to be themselves? But who also know that they have to contribute their maximum every day How can people find this you you should be rocking and rolling by 2018? Yes, we're rocking and rolling by 2018 We're gonna have a formal and more official launch. You're getting the the Tip of the hat because I so enjoy talking with you, but for now they can go on to carlyfearina.com and we will be launching officially just in the next couple weeks here I think that Changing the mindset can change so many things if you could change one thing politically, what would it be? I Would I have to pick two go I? Would ask our public service to focus on problem-solving not self-preservation And I would ask them to engage in a debate about ideas and policies and results Not personalities and conflicts and controversy If you could change one thing about our economic situation right now, what would you change tax reform? It's vital. We need tax reform and that means lower rates and it means a simpler tax code We have to get that done. We have such powerful underlying Economic engine here, but we have got to get the tax code right and on a personal level You just said this is the first summer you've had in years if you could change one thing, what would it be? you know I have a wonderful life. I have been really blessed and that doesn't mean my life has been perfect I've had struggles. You mentioned a breast cancer survivor. We lost a daughter to addiction Life hasn't always been a bed of roses, but I always think about life life is an adventure. I Measure every day in Impact am I making a positive contribution? Am I making a difference? Am I staying true to myself? Am I happy and I can answer yes to all those questions? That's a good life more people should ask themselves that question every day and I don't think they do Can I ask you about you brought up the addiction issue? We have an opioid epidemic in this country. Yes, we do How do we solve that? Well, first of all, we have an addiction Agreed and and I say that because addiction is a disease the substance varies the disease is the same So whether it's addiction to alcohol addiction to prescription drugs addition addiction to illegal opioids We just had a gambling issue. Yeah gambling. I mean addiction is a disease And so we have to begin to recognize it as a disease secondly like all other problems the addiction problem the Prevention of addiction the treatment of an addict the rehabilitation of an addict those things best happen Locally in a community so that an addict is reintegrated back into a community and a family However, there is a role that the federal government can play Criminal justice reform is important to treat the disease of addiction only the federal government can do that HIPAA reform is important to solve the disease of addiction And we need to send resources to programs that work. Don't keep it in Washington All right, send it into communities where they know what to do with it. I Could sit here and talk to you all day, but I have to ask you before you go Will you run again for anything? Yeah, maybe I would certainly not rule it out I would certainly not rule out. Can we see you on the presidential debate stage again? Well, we'll see you never know You don't I'll stay politically active. Well, I think what the viewer and the listener now knows is that that you have You just are changing ever-changing and your career is ever-changing and I think that's inspiring for a lot of people Thank you. Always great to be with you Tracy