From Columbus Business First, Women of Influence is an interview series showcasing some of the most powerful women in the Central Ohio business community. Hosted by Eleanor Kennedy, Assistant Managing Editor.
https://columbusbusinessfirst.com
episode 23: Women of Influence Preview: Donna James (plus my thoughts on Meghan Markle)
Donna James was doing work she loved, leading several financial services subsidiaries of Columbus-based insurance giant Nationwide.
Then she had a stroke.
"It was what the doctors would technically call a mini-stroke, but it didn't feel mini to me," James said during a recent taping of our Women of Influence podcast.
James, who was only 49 at the time of her stroke, recovered, but she saw the medical scare as a reason to think about what the shape of her career should look like.
“It caused me to rethink. It was a moment for pause, and to say, ‘Ok, what is it I really want to be doing? What else do I want to do?’" James said. "And I knew I wouldn’t be able to figure that out if I kept doing what I was doing.”
Check out our biweekly podcast preview episode to hear more from James on her decision to leave Nationwide and ultimately launch her own business, Lardon & Associates.
You'll also hear some thoughts from me on one of the biggest stories of the week (think British royals) and how its relates to the question we ponder on this podcast.