TLP019: If You're Not Making Mistakes, You're Not Pulling Hard Enough

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Jacqueline Molnar, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at Western Union. Jacqueline has 20 years of experience as an attorney and compliance officer, focusing on AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism), sanctions, anti-bribery/corruption, consumer protection, fraud, and litigation defense. Her discussion with Jan and Jim unpacks Jacqueline's tools of leadership and lessons she has learned along the way. Jacqueline values the diversity and ability of her worldwide team, pushing them to play to their strengths, with camaraderie and fun, always following the company mission. Listen in to learn principles of fearless leadership, backed up with a balance of confidence and humility. Key Takeaways [3:23] Jacqueline found the last Crucible expedition in Moab, Utah to be personally transformational — she now makes it a point to get buy-in from her leadership team for big decisions. [5:15] The purpose of the Crucible is to find out how you show up as a leader, completely out of your comfort zone. The adverse environment brings out your core character. [10:32] How to recognize and model for everyone that you don't know what to do in every circumstance, that you're vulnerable, and you're learning. [15:20] Jacqueline suggests giving a strength evaluation to company leaders to figure out what they do best, and then letting them go toward their strengths. [17:29] How Jacqueline leads her team and advocates for them so that they can do what they need to do. [19:19] Why having a diverse staff, especially in an international corporation, is natural and crucial. [20:58] It's important to look at your organization and see where you have gaps in your diversity — Are you recruiting for people who think differently? [31:07] In order to lead you need to have a crystal-clear vision of where you're headed, and communicate that very simply and very often, and then be completely, utterly, fearless and relentless about getting there. [40:01] Why workplace camaraderie is critical and that playfulness is also a key leadership attribute. Books Mentioned on the Show The Littlest Green Beret: On Self-Reliant Leadership, book by Jan Rutherford Bio Jacqueline Molnar, SVP and Chief Compliance Officer at Western Union in Denver, has spent 20 years as an attorney and compliance officer. She has led large international teams and represented numerous Fortune 500 companies in complex legal and regulatory matters across the globe. Jacqueline has been an executive at major banks, served as general counsel for others, and has practiced law in Silicon Valley, in California. Jacqueline received her Doctor of Jurisprudence and her Bachelor of Education from the University of Hawaii and is a lecturer teaching AML Compliance Law at the William S. Richardson School of Law in Honolulu. Jacqueline clerked for the Honorable Harold Fong at the Federal District Court for the District of Hawaii and for the Honorable Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon, Hawaii State Supreme Court. She is licensed to practice law in Hawaii and California. Prior to attending law school, Jacqueline received her PDP teaching credentials from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, and served as a school teacher and principal in Canada and as a scuba diving teacher in Honolulu, Hawaii. LinkedIn: Jacqueline Molnar