THE AMBER WEITZER PODCAST SILHOUETTES OF SUCCESS
LAURA DOWNEY HILL| EPISODE 86 | SHOW NOTES
FEATURED GUEST
Our V.I.P. Featured Guest author, Laura Downey Hill has a wealth of leadership experience, is a recipient of numerous business and philanthropic awards. She is a two-time recipient of the Southlake Chamber Citizen of the Year Award. Laura was a 4-term city councilwoman and the first female mayor of Southlake, Texas. While mayor, Laura was a stalwart supporter of the police, fire departments, and a champion for school safety initiatives that positioned school resource officers on every campus.
Laura is an accomplished businesswoman who knows what is required to not only create jobs but also sustain and grow jobs. Laura is the co-owner of three successful companies, Downey Publishing, Glen Coe Enterprises and Texas Ice Cream. Downey Publishing, established by her father in 1986; is an independent directory company serving over 10,000 small businesses throughout rural Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Texas Ice Cream is a mobile fleet of ice cream trucks, founded by Laura’s husband, Joe, in 2008. Her newest venture, Glen Coe is developing retail commercial property in Justin, Texas.
Laura’s passion for youth and their education motivated her to become the founder and co-founder of several youth-focused organizations. S.P.A.R.K. (Students and Parents Against Risks to our Kids), SASO (Scholars and Athletes Serving Others), and S.K.I.L. (Southlake Kids Interested in Leadership) all of which are geared towards empowering students to reach their full potential as they mature into next generation leaders.
Laura is married to Joe McSweeny and is the proud mother of three grown children, Maggie, Preston, and Trent, all of whom live in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. With a philanthropic heart, Laura founded the Downey Art for Education program, which has donated more than $1.5 million to rural school art programs. She has served on several boards, including the Recovery Resource Council of Tarrant County, Frost Bank Advisory Board, the Association of Directory Publishers and is a mentor at the University of Texas at Austin, LBJ Woman’s Campaign School.
CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS
Firsts: What makes a great leader…she does! This Silhouette has set the stage for many to follow in her Sunday shoes footsteps. She has earnestly put in the hustle and heart for many firsts. Laura was the 1st (an only to date) female Mayor of Southlake, Texas, she has recently released her 1st book titled Walking in My Shoes, written in memoir style and shares her journey of living an American Dream. This book allowed her to reflect on her Silhouette of Success journey and take a fresh look at where she came from and talking with her parents, sharing lessons she learned along the way and how to pass on these lessons to the next generations to guide them on how to get a seat at the table. Laura expands on the importance of education, work ethic and hard work-love her story of “the sofa”…tune in and go grab a copy of her book for more!
On the Go: Girl talk time! She’s a woman that adores a busy schedule and keeping projects in the hopper. She talks about getting charged up over her projects! She will make time for the gym and takes her days with a mixture of flexibility and structure. Aiming up is a golden thread woven throughout her story, pay attention! Asking her about getting unstuck, whoa! She will challenge herself to try something new whenever she feels stuck-she realizes that sometimes she might just need some time, get out of your comfort zone, and do something way out your comfort zone to get unstuck!
Leadership: Laura’s insight on what a Leader is, the roles women play on the daily and might not realize it. Take notes as she expands on this early on around 7:49-Leadership is everywhere! The wins and the losses are improtant. She goes all in, in everything she does to include a very personal story where she shares vulnerability and growth when she ran for a higher office of State Representative of Texas. Over 1,000 doors she knocked on from sunup to sundown and the intensity she pursued the goal. Her grace and grit are remarkable. Laura’s book four pillars to embrace for a recipe of success!
INTENTIONAL INSPIRATION
Give yourself grace.
RESOURCE LIST
LAURA DOWNEY HILL
IG: Lauradhillauthor
FB: @Lauradowneyhill
Walking In My Shoes: A Woman’s Story of Leadership
Available at Barnes &Noble, Amazon and Bookbaby:
