Q: What most notably stands out about your leadership style or what is an example of leadership success you can share with our readers?
Times of crisis and change require a sense of calm and clarity. More often than not, clients describe my personality as calming, which is an innate characteristic. So, it was easy to build ARG’s foundation on being the peace in the middle of chaos.
As the CEO of a change management consulting firm, I try to remain curious, listening first before initiating action. Next, I seek to understand the vision — where are we headed? Then, I look for purpose — why are we doing what we do? Here’s why:
- If no one is listening, confusion will ensue.
- If there is no vision, we can’t measure progress.
- If there is no purpose, we are aimlessly moving about.
Clarity and purpose are engrained in the culture of ARG.
As a leader, I try to remain future-focused and people-centric. So, I would say that my leadership style is a mix of servant and transformational leadership.
ARG’s philosophy is to Align, Redefine and Grow through change. My approach has benefited not only ARG’s growth but also the growth of our clients.
What impact has COVID-19 or the disruptions of the past 18 months had on you as a leader?
There are opportunities in every situation. As leaders in our homes, communities and businesses, we have to be open to seeing those opportunities and courageous enough to take action. I believe that has been the most prevalent lesson for me over the past 18 months.
However, during seasons of change, people tend to focus on what is being lost, losing sight of what could be gained. This leads to missed opportunities. Instead, we should focus on maximizing our time and energy toward something productive.
Change as drastic as the one that we just went through also reveals gaps in society. COVID-19 and the social unrest presented new opportunities for me to make a bigger impact on the business community, allowing ARG to support corporations with developing supplier diversity initiatives, cultivating psychologically safe work environments, and supplementing DEI efforts. I also started a nonprofit to create parity for woman- and minority-owned businesses.
Advocacy is crucial during change. COVID-19 helped me, as a leader in change management, elevate my platforms and my voice to support a more inclusive ecosystem.
What do you feel we can be doing as a business community to empower economic growth here?
Economic studies show that small businesses are the backbone of our society. As small businesses grow, they hire within and also give back to their communities, driving economic growth. Yet, we continue to see minority-owned businesses lag behind in both revenue and workforce growth. Why? Because minorities continue to face more barriers to entry. We lack access to decision makers and capital, according to the 2019 “State of Women-Owned Businesses Report” from American Express.
My own journey in business ownership encountered barriers. For example, a supplier diversity professional asked me if I had ever considered changing the face of my organization. They went on to say that people are used to doing business with others who look like them. Imagine what isn’t being said.
As a business community, we can continue to advocate for a divers businesses in our ecosystem. Collective advocacy will empower economic growth across the state, seeking to find equitable solutions and removing barriers for diverse business owners.
If we can change the culture for homogenous environments, we will, in return, empower economic growth.
What is new and notable for your company’s near future that will impact our economy?
ARG is committed to cultivating the business ecosystem. Whether our clients are small businesses looking to grow and expand into corporations or corporations seeking expand their efforts in DEI and supplier diversity initiatives, ARG is here to assist.
Over the past year, I have been hyper focused on business growth and diversification. I have built a strong bench strength of collaborative partners and look forward to expanding our workforce in 2023. The plan is to continue diversifying our portfolio into utilities, construction, and government sectors, as they roll out their change management initiatives.
As a firm, ARG will build out services that focus on creating lean learning environments, ensuring our clients maximize their investments. We will continue to work hard to understand our clients’ needs and offer customizable solutions to meet those needs. We will build upon the efforts that we started this year, providing stronger support and services in the areas of DEI, developing supplier diversity programs, and cultivating psychological safety in the workplace.
Name of Leader: Angela Garmon
Position of Leader: Founder & CEO
Organization Name: ARG Coaching & Consulting Group LLC
No. of Years with Organization: 6.5
Main Local Office Address: 4858 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 109, Mesa, AZ 85206
Phone: (480) 442-9841
Website: argccgroup.com
Number of offices in Greater Phoenix: 1
Year Established Locally: 2016
City Nationally Headquartered: Mesa, AZ
