Six months before he was supposed to walk his daughter down the aisle, Chris Womack received the kind of news that stops a man in his tracks: liver cancer, with less than six months to live. On his bed, overwhelmed by fear, one thought consumed him—I might not make it to her wedding day.
Three years of treatment later, he’s still here — and still leading.
Today, Chris Womack is the Chairman, President, and CEO of Southern Company, leading a 38-year career at one of the nation’s premier energy giants. But his story didn’t start in an executive boardroom. It began in Greenville, Alabama, in the 1960s, growing up without even knowing what a CEO was. Chris was heavily influenced by his grandmother who instilled in him a timeless truth: Nothing can limit you.
In this powerful conversation, Chris sits down to reveal what it took to guide Southern Company to the very top of Fortune’sWorld’s Most Admired Companies list in their industry—and the deeply personal values that anchor his life and leadership.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
RESOURCES
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
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