The Heart of Business
"The Heart of Business" podcast, hosted by Mo Fathelbab, is an authentic and insightful exploration of the human side of leadership and professional growth. Through candid conversations with accomplished business leaders, thought leaders, and peer group facilitators, Mo will delve deep into the personal journeys, challenges, and triumphs that have shaped their careers. Mo Fathelbab's skillful and empathetic approach creates a safe space for guests to share their truths and vulnerabilities, revealing the emotional and often unseen dimensions of success in the corporate world. Each episode offers listeners a chance to glean practical wisdom, heartfelt advice, and a profound understanding of the intricate interplay between leadership, authenticity, and personal growth.
The "Heart of Business" is the official podcast of International Facilitators Organization, LLC and hosted by IFO's founder and CEO, Mo Fathelbab. To learn more, please visit www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com.
The Heart of Business
Consensus, Courage, and the Quiet Power of Knowing the Room with Stephanie Ford
What if the soft stuff is actually the hardest—and most valuable—work leaders do? We sit down with Stephanie Ford, director at Warren Whitney and IFO-certified facilitator, to explore how a career built on banking rigor, board governance, and deep facilitation turns messy conversations into decisive progress. Stephanie shares how early years in commercial banking taught her to see the whole system—operations, financials, risk, and relationships—and why that end-to-end perspective makes strategic planning and succession work sharper and more humane.
We walk through her pivot from saying “no” in a regulated world to saying “yes” as a consultant who helps leaders think. You’ll hear tangible facilitation moves: one-on-ones to map the room, explicit trade-offs to unclog decisions, and a conductor’s mindset to manage pace, voices, and depth. She opens up about mentors, including the late John Steele, and the boardroom lessons that only show up when organizations hit turbulence—how consensus is built before meetings, why agendas must guard strategy time, and when to slow down so teams can actually align.
Rooted in Richmond and renewed by the river, Stephanie credits faith, partnership, and constant learning for the steadiness required to guide complex groups. From privately held companies and family businesses to nonprofits, her throughline is consistent: clear thinking precedes smart action. If you care about strategic planning, succession planning, board governance, and the craft of facilitation, this conversation offers a toolkit and a mindset you can use on Monday morning.
Please visit www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com to learn more about Mo Fathelbab and International Facilitators Organization (IFO), a leading provider of facilitators and related group facilitation services, providing training, certification, marketing services, education, and community for peer group facilitators at all stages of their career.
Welcome to the Heart of Business Podcast. I'm your host, Mo Fatabab, and it is a pleasure to be here with you all today and our special guest, Stephanie Ford, who is an IFO certified facilitator and a director at Warren Whitney. And this program is sponsored by IFO, the marketplace for facilitators. Welcome, Stephanie. Great to have you with us.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you, Mo. Really appreciate the time and always glad to be with you.
SPEAKER_00:Well, it is wonderful. Stephanie, gosh, we've known each other what, 15 years perhaps?
SPEAKER_01:Something at least like that, yes. Through the Virginia Council CEOs, our original point of connection.
SPEAKER_00:What a great organization that is.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00:Well, a shout out to those folks and to Scott McRoberts. And really, they've just been uh big fans and big, big uh believers in the peer group process, which is uh perhaps how we came to meet. But Stephanie, let's start with you. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, absolutely. Um, well, you know, I'm a proud Richmonder, uh born and raised, I guess maybe fifth generation Richmonder and married to one as well, and um love my hometown. We love traveling the world, um, but glad to always come home. Um I grew up right on the river uh here in uh in Richmond. And so the river holds a special place in my heart. And uh we we moved back to the river uh just a few years ago. So love the nature, love the wildlife, and um and love being in my hometown where I'm rooted with um most all of my family.
SPEAKER_00:Amazing, amazing. And so let's talk about your professional career a little bit. Uh and I don't know if that started for you before uh college or after college or during college, but when was what was your first uh endeavor where you started to make some money? Let's put it that way.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, yeah, sure. Um, well, I decided, I guess the the path to making money um for me began uh, I guess I'll say, well, some early entrepreneurial experiences, but really deciding to be a business major in college. And then um sometimes I forget to mention I did get my MBA along the way as well. And um, but really, you know, I love I love I love learning and um and even though I really love sciences, decided that business would be a practical arena um for my skills. And so I graduated college and began uh my career as a commercial banker at um Bank America, and that was a great training ground for me. I was both relationship manager and underwriter, and that meant that um I got the pleasure of meeting all of the businesses, working closely with the CEOs, the CFOs, taking the, if you will, the plant tour, um learning the operations of the organization, and also being responsible for all the analytical piece, the underwriting, understanding the financial statements, structuring credit, getting all those internal credit approvals, um, and and then also doing all the client negotiation and um and taking the entire process all the way through to closing and documentation. So that that job that I did um is now broken out into um, I don't know, two or ten jobs depending upon the bank. But it was a great foundation in the world of business because really you got to learn the entire um you know process. I I guess I'll say I felt like I was able to help my clients more because I was in control of the entire process and had full understanding of all of the issues. Um, and and it was a chance for me to to really get insight into so many different industries, work with different size organizations, um, and um and really make a difference, uh, you know, providing credit to help organizations grow and um improve and build and expand, um, you know, that's really important for our economy.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that must be rewarding as well.
SPEAKER_01:Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. And from there, where did you go after that?
SPEAKER_01:Well, you know, I spent a short time. I was wondering, you know, what do I want to do next? Um, seeing banking as a as a good foundation, but maybe a stepping stone to something else. I did spend a little bit of time exploring um the world of finance uh at what's now Genworth, which was part of GE Capital. That was quite intense. Um and I took what I could learn from Jack Welch in the Six Sigma process, um, spent a little bit more time in commercial banking at BBNT, which had a lovely culture, and um got to more make more friends uh in banking there and continued to build my client base. Um and it's really in during my banking times that I got to know uh Warren Whitney, um, who I've been with a long time now. You know, as a banker, I got to see so many companies unfortunately struggle with um the fundamentals of financial reporting. Um, and uh that's one area that we can help organizations and um and and also you know, entrepreneurs that had great business ideas, but um sometimes didn't see, you know, didn't have the insight into business planning um or had great visions but couldn't quite articulate how to get them, how to get from here to there. Um and so there would be times where um, well, one, I I just I love the consulting piece, um, but in my in my banking days, I was limited as to how much I could consult. Um and uh and so so anyhow, I got to know this firm called Warren Whitney. I kept uh referring clients to that organization and ultimately they asked me to come join them. Um, and I've been there um over two decades now. And um, so it's been a been a good group for me to be a part of.
SPEAKER_00:That sounds like a lovely journey. And so when you compare your time at Warren Whitney with your time at finance, because they seem a little bit different, uh what of those two is is more meaningful for you? Uh and in what way is it so?
SPEAKER_01:Well, the hard hard part of commercial banking, I think, is is having to say no so many times. And um, and just you know, so much regulation, so many rules. Um, the world of consulting offer uh uh affords many more opportunities to say, yes, I think I can help with that. And we're not quite bound by you know all the rules and regulations. And um so it's really for me, I guess I'll say, you know, I really love helping organizations, helping people, helping companies grow and providing them the right resources. And um, and so, you know, in my consulting role, I'm either able to do that directly or have coworkers that can do that, or just through the network that I've built, um, can connect, you know, the my clients and and other folks that I encounter to a whole host of resources. And so so that's fun for me, the the problem solving and the connecting. And um so so that's maybe hopefully uh answers some of your question, but absolutely.
SPEAKER_00:And so uh Stephanie, I always um find that you're so uh just incredibly sharp and polished and and always on point and on message. I'm just always so impressed. And I see your career and it just seems like it's up and up and up. I wonder any blips along the way, any times that were challenging that you had to fight to overcome some some difficulties?
SPEAKER_01:Uh yeah, absolutely. I mean, I alluded to that that uh Jenworth role. That was tough. Um it, you know, I I've I realized pretty early in that it was um not everything I thought it might be. Um and working a hundred hours a week is also not something that I would find uh sustainable. Um so, but you know, I I'm stuck it out. I'm like, I'm here to learn um and and then go from there. And um, you know, I've had even um, you know, a lot of my career too has been, I'll say, augmented or um enhanced uh by my role with boards and serving on a number of boards. So I've probably served on a, I don't know, about 10 different uh predominantly nonprofit boards. And I will say, in some of those, um, they've almost been like second jobs in that my leadership role has been so involved, either becoming um, you know, chair of the board, chair of many committees, um, chair of some big processes, chair of campaign campaigns. And um, and so it's almost even in some of those situations, I've faced some really hard um times because I don't know if I if if it's just luck or that they find me. But organizations going through transition um has been a theme. So whenever I've um in in a number of cases when I've been involved in boards, it's really during a very pivotal time in in the organization's life and the leadership of the organization. And so um I'd say some of those situations have have tested me considerably. Um, but also, of course, that's where we learn, right? Um and and I've really um had the chance in those in cases to really be surrounded by some amazing leaders um and some mentors as well. And so I'm thankful for that.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. What do you lean on internally when you are being tested?
SPEAKER_01:Um, well, certainly my faith. Um, you know, I I think having that foundation is so important. Um, prayer is important. Uh absolutely my family. Um, you know, of course, I wouldn't be here if I didn't have amazing parents, right? Um, that that gave me that strong foundation in life. Um, and then of course my husband, uh, who I have been with for a long time now. Um next year will be it's hard to believe, 40th anniversary of our first date.
SPEAKER_00:Oh my God, amazing.
SPEAKER_01:We were very young.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, of course.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, and um, and last year was our 30th wedding anniversary. So um, so my husband Brian has been a really an you know my best friend um and life partner and and and certainly um you know an important part of my um my life and and really my development um as well. So we we have I feel like overall made each other stronger over the years, um, and we've learned from each other, which is great.
SPEAKER_00:Um what a beautiful story. And what about some of your mentors? Who are two or three of those folks that have really made a difference for you? And and in what way did they really help you?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, certainly. Well, you know, there there have there have been many over the years. Um, you know, some early in the at the bank, um, you know, there's a female that comes to mind, super strong, courageous, really dynamic. Um a gentleman that um I'm thinking of that was just very charismatic, um, not afraid to talk about his feelings and what is the hard stuff. And I think we've we've learned, you know, the soft stuff is the hard stuff. And um, you know, we can be technically proficient, but if we don't have those other components to our uh working relationships and um, if you will, the ability to finesse certain situations, um, then the technical skills will fall flat. And um, but you know, what I guess one in particular uh mentor is is coming to mind. Um, sadly, he he just passed. Um he had been ill for some time and so had been in decline, but um still really sad for this loss. And and he was somebody that I served with on Henraiko's economic uh Henraiko County's Economic Development Authority Board. I was on that board for uh 14 years, and and he really um became a great friend. And he uh helped to mentor me through the ranks of rising in on in, if you will, in board status from treasurer to vice chair to chair. Um there was actually a surprising amount of tumult during my ascent uh in in the organization. And so we had some interesting times and some interesting topics that we had to work through. And so he helped really to show me um some of the best techniques for managing, for building consensus for um for what needs to happen outside of the boardroom so that what happens inside the boardroom can be a success. And um, and all of these things take time, you know. It's it's um, you know, there often aren't easy answers, and it's often about um thoughtfulness, diligence, um, and and and really, you know, being um both creative and caring. And uh so so I'm thankful, and of course he did it all with a great sense of humor, um and and and and just but also a pragmatic approach, um, which I appreciate. So um so so yes, so thank you to John Steele um for his leadership and and friendship.
SPEAKER_00:That's lovely. Thank you to John Steele. So what are maybe one or two of those techniques that you learned uh from John uh as it relates to dealing with those tumultuous situations?
SPEAKER_01:Well, a lot of it is knowing where everybody in the room is coming from and really getting to understand each of their perspectives and um having those individual one-on-one conversations and and really um you know using that time um to learn, to think, to process, and to evaluate options. And and I'm really I, you know, I love I love doing that. I'm analytical and I and I like exploring choices. Um in the end, though, you know, we're here to help our clients think. And I think that's one of the most important things that I bring to my client relationships is helping them think and helping them evaluate their options and really understanding the pros and cons of each option, because there's always there are always choices, but they're always trade-offs. And usually in life, you just get to make the one choice. Um, and and so part of the value that I think I bring to the table is um now at this point in my career, having worked with so many different industries, so many different size companies, um, from startups to to really, you know, Fortune 1000 companies, um, and everything in between, and also having seen different types of leaders and different types of teams. Um, so it's it's really about taking taking all of that in and having been able to process and synthesize that over the years and um and really being able to help them understand what are best practices, what are recommendations, what are their choices, and and helping them think through the pros and cons, and ultimately being able to recommend one to say, you know, and based on everything I've seen and what I know about you and your team and your organization and your industry, this is what I think would work best for you at this point in time. And so really helping to them, helping them to walk through um those decision points um and be right there alongside with them.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that. So uh Stephanie, as you um considered joining uh IFO and becoming one of our certified facilitators, uh I'm curious as to what was uh interesting for you in that proposition and why you made that decision.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely. Well, I can tell you, of course, the the short answer is to be better at facilitation. And that is that has, you know, I feel been accomplished. Um the plus along the way that I I can't overlook because it's so valuable are the are the friendships and the relationships made during that process and ongoing um as part of IFO. So I I don't want to uh I want to make sure we we hit on that one. Um I really enjoyed the facilitation, you know, in my work um now I probably, you know, my my my career's been a mixture of finance, marketing, and strategy. And um, and even for example, on the marketing side, uh, you know, I've enjoyed um sales, I've enjoyed marketing analytics, I enjoy um, you know, the strategy piece of it. A lot of folks don't get the opportunity. You know, our world is so complicated now, and people are very much um siloed, um, I think. And so that's where um I feel that my career has given me such a broad set of experiences. It is oftentimes about connecting the dots and seeing the big picture and being able, because of that, to look around the corner and know what's ahead and help help clients through that. Um so in my work, you know, I'm spending these days a lot of my time is predominantly spent on strategic planning, succession planning, and working with boards on governance. And so my clients are a mixture of privately held companies, family-owned businesses, and nonprofit organizations. And um, and so so that puts me in lots of different situations. But I'll say the one skill, one of the main skills that's needed to navigate all of that is facilitation, facilitation skills. And and so, for example, strategic planning will last, uh, I'll say on average, I say nine months with my clients, but six to twelve months, depending on how robust of a process we we do. In some cases, I do a lot of financial modeling with my clients um and scenario planning. So um in some cases I'm getting heavily involved in surveys. Um, so it could take many shapes and forms, but um part of what I really love the best is the facilitation in the room. And um, and I I I think it's sort of akin to in many ways, kind of like being the orchestra of a symphony. And, you know, you're really you're conducting the conversation and you're trying to um, you know, figure out which voices need to be louder, and maybe some voices not so loud, um, so that they don't dominate the overall uh conversation or piece of music, so to speak. And um, and you're trying in some cases to increase the tempo, to to move us along the agenda a little bit more, and in other cases, it's important to pause and take it a little slower and um and and and maybe go in depth on something because there needs to be that exploring. Um but by the end, you know, the whole idea is to to, if you will, um, you know, to work through the conversation and to kind of, you know, I guess a different analogy, land the plane on time, you know, in in the right location, in the right spot. Um, and so when you uh yeah, anyhow, I'll say I enjoy leading the room, you know, the boardroom, the the client team, the peer group, um, this the leadership team through the conversation. And it's just satisfying when you're able to get consensus, you get an understanding, you get discussion, you get some healthy questioning, but in the end, there's generally consensus, agreement, and and then wrap it up and and finish on time and tie it up with a bow. Um, I I love it. I think it's a lot of fun.
SPEAKER_00:I always say that. I want to I want to tie it up with the bow at the end, right?
SPEAKER_01:Exactly. Exactly. So I think there's um so I enjoy that. And so I think that's why I wanted to, I guess, make my uh commitment to facilitation more formal and and make sure that I'm using the best tools that are out there, get the best training possible. And um, and that's where I say, you know, I think I want to make sure that that's you know, if if you're thinking, you know, well, what's next or what's for the future, I want to make sure that facilitation is a big piece of that.
SPEAKER_00:Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I think that is uh just lovely to hear. And it's been a pleasure having you in our community. I know that we've learned a lot from you, and uh that's part of what it's about is is sharing with each other. Exactly. Exactly, absolutely. We grow together. Yeah. Uh so Stephanie, what is uh one thing that inspires you day in and day out?
SPEAKER_01:Oh, that's that's a good one. Um I'll say you know, many things. Um you know, I I I do love nature, and I'm gonna come back to that because I I find that that is um sometimes if I need to take a break, that's what allows me to um refresh and um and renew. And so I'm thankful to be surrounded by um, you know, I mentioned the river at the beginning and and the wildlife, etc. Uh, I have been um, and I, you know, I guess I'll mention uh faith again uh in terms of inspiring and people. Um you know, I will say I was a born introvert and was a little shy growing up, um, but I've really come to love people, and um, we have so many wonderful um role models uh to look to from um individuals that I know personally that have just overcome tragedy and still persevere and positively persevere and um and great business leaders in our community that are you know the entrepreneurs that are so creative all the way to you know business leaders leading very large organizations. Um, you know, it's amazing. It's amazing. So, you know, we all have many talents and uh there the possibilities are limitless when we put our uh good talents to work in the right places.
SPEAKER_00:And we are truly blessed to be able to work in these places in these very uh sensitive and important conversations that can have such a big impact. And uh what a privilege to do that, right?
SPEAKER_01:I know. I really, you know, I love learning. And so part of my world is that I get to one, be constantly surrounded by other great business leaders, and um, and that's that's fun for me. And um, and then always the chance to go to you know seminars and and more official things where um I get to always be learning. So the books, you know, it's you know, even though I I love school, it's not always just about being in the classroom and just about being a student. I think we're always um always can be learning and and as I maybe said earlier, you know, I really love solving problems. So it's about helping others, um, figuring things out. And um and and so it's a continuous process of both learning and then using it to apply for solutions for others.
SPEAKER_00:Stephanie Ford, what a pleasure. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you to our audience. And as a reminder, podcast reviews have a real impact on a podcast visibility. So please leave a review to help others find the show. Thank you for watching, or thank you for listening, and have a great day.
