Twenty Years of Trust: A Walk with Kate Gutmann at Lake George
Recently, I had the good fortune of meeting my friend Kate Gutmann (EVP & President International, Healthcare and Supply Chain Solutions at UPS) at Lake George as part of my Dialogue Miles™ journey.
We embarked on a delightful four-mile morning walk around the lake on a beautiful day. Kate and I have an extraordinary connection that allows for transparency and simplification around what matters most. Lake George holds great significance to me because, when I was a child, my grandmother used to reference Lake George a lot. Reflecting on those memories with Kate was incredibly meaningful, and I'm grateful for that connection and the opportunity to share those reflections with her.
The evening prior, Kate had messaged me, concerned that she forgot to inform me about the Lake George Americade biking event. I assured her that everything was fine and mentioned that I was enjoying a beer at Duffy’s Tavern, listening to live music with my newfound friends. Kate jokingly suggested that I might be turning into a local. The memories from that evening transitioned into the next day, making it a truly unforgettable experience.
There were numerous themes that emerged from our conversation centered around openness, trust, collaboration, personal growth, compassion, impactful actions, and the enjoyment of simple, meaningful moments.
A Few Things That Stayed with Me
Built Over Time
Many years ago, when I was COO and then CEO of Standard Register, I invited Kate to be a part of a Supplier Council group. The goal was to bring the most capable/innovative suppliers to the table, fostering true partnerships through openness and enabling everyone to collaborate and make the greatest impact. The result was extraordinary, everyone became invested and determined to contribute. This is the foundation of our great friendship of almost 20 years now.Openness Creates Impact
During our walk, we shared thoughtful insights and opened up to each other about business and personal growth.Encouragement Goes A Long Way
Affirmation from those you respect and admire brings so much joy.Bet on People
We are similar in how we bet on people that we trust/respect and push the edges.Hard Choices Require Perspective
Hard choices require compassionate insight and perspective from those you can rely on. There are people that we learn from and walking with a friend surrounded by mountains, lakes, and sunshine is nearly perfect.Reliability Builds Trust
Knowing that your friend will answer when you call your friend is so comforting.
Finally, I spent each summer on the coast of Maine so there was something about Lake George that brought me back home.
Thank you, Kate!
