Tommy Ward Shares His Leadership Philosophies

A little more than a week before his retirement, Exchange Credit Program Senior Vice President Tommy Ward shared his leadership philosophies during the latest LINK (Leaders Inspiring Networks and Knowledge) session.

During a program titled “Currency of Trust: Leading the MilStar Team,” Chief of HR Learning Jessica Provan asked Ward questions about his career, including what key moment changed his career trajectory, how he was pushed out of his comfort zone and when he started thinking about becoming a senior leader.

“You know, I never thought that way,” Ward told an online audience of nearly 200 associates. “I never intentionally went in that direction. For me, it wasn’t just one defining moment but multiple moments that shaped my path as I progressed in my career.”

Ward, who began his Exchange career in 2002, said he realized early that he didn’t need to be the smartest person in the room to make an impact—and that there were things he could control that helped him succeed.

“What I could control was my work ethic and having a positive attitude,” he said. “I bring that up to my kids all the time, telling them, ‘If you control these two things in your life and show up, you’ll achieve great things.’ And I learned from a wide range of leader here, each with their own style and different approaches.”

As for being pushed out of his comfort zone, Ward said that happens almost daily.

“It’s part of the culture at the Exchange,” he said. “It’s something that sets this organization apart from others. I’ve always taken pride in being someone who wants to try to make my supervisor’s job easier…. If you remove barriers or make their job easier, it will help you in the future.

“That mindset would often lead me to take on challenges outside of my direct responsibility or try to remove obstacles because I knew that my leaders needed help in those areas,” he continued. “Those experiences allowed me to develop and be challenged.”

During his years at the Exchange, Ward said, he was honored to work with and learn from talented people.

“When it comes to leaving a legacy, I think it’s less about a specific goal and more about the consistent effort you put in,” he said. “It’s about the meaningful relationships you build along the way with your co-workers and peers. The impact you leave is often a reflection of how you treated those people and the example you set for them every day.”

To motivate his teams, Ward said, he often used variations a five-word phrase: “You’re going to dominate today.”

“We’d have a difficult task, and I’d say, ‘We’re going to dominate this, guys, don’t worry about it’,” he said. “Or I’d come in and see someone not super-excited to be there. And I’d say, ‘Hey—Are you ready? You ready to dominate today? You’re going to dominate today!’

“It started catching on, and over time associates picked up on it. … It’s a powerful and fun way of saying, ‘I’m not going to just show up today and go through the motions. I’m going to own the day and I’m going to give it my best every day.’”

LINK aims to strengthen workplace culture, boost morale and reinforce the value of connection. Each month, a senior leader hosts a session via Teams aligned to key business priorities.

Active associates who missed Ward’s presentation can view it here.