March 11, 2025 • 21 mins
Join Kristen Balboni as she kicks off Season 4 of InspiHER with Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. In this episode, they reflect on Mayor Lyles' journey growing up in the Carolinas, the challenges she faced in her public service career, and the valuable lessons she's learned along the way. Mayor Lyles also shares powerful wisdom and advice to inspire the next generation of leaders.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
I think that the biggest misconception about politicians is that
it's a negative statement. It's something that is implying that
I believe that there's something that separates you from the public,
and that's just not it. Every one of us is
a politician in some respect. But basically politics is a
(00:24):
decision to make things better.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Welcome to the Inspireer Podcast. I am team reporter Kristin
Balboni and this podcast is where we talk to you
inspiring women across the Carolinas and you want to talk
about inspiring women. That is my guest today, Charlotte's Mayor
by Lyles. Mayor Lyles, thank you so much for taking
time out of your busy schedule to chat with us.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Thank you for having me. It's always good to be
in a program where you first have wonderful women doing
great work and as well to have you work working
in a great institution for us.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yes, absolutely, and we are so thrilled to be talking
to you. So I want to start out with your
journey and the journey of Charlotte in the time that
you have been the mayor. This is your fourth term.
I would love to know what are the biggest changes
in the City of Charlotte from the time you became
the mayor until now.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Wow, that's a great question to lead with because I
came I went to college here at Queen's College and
when it was a woman's school, and so I actually
worked for the city for a long time. I don't know,
most people don't even think about. I was the city's
budget director at one point. I have done all kinds
of positions and jobs across the footprint of government, and
(01:48):
now here I sit as mayor, and that I think
when we start talking about how you maintain who you
are and governance and all that, I think the question
for me has been how do I give back. I've
had a great opportunity to live in this great city,
(02:11):
and so now I see it as a city that's growing,
and it's growing in multiple kinds of ways. I mean,
you know, we're one of the fastest growing I think
the fifteenth fastest growing city in the country. But it's
more than that. I think that we also are creating
opportunities for people that didn't have opportunities. So we often
(02:32):
recruit great companies like Temper Sports to our city, and
to be able to do that is really an investment
in the people that live here or the people that
choose to live here.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You just mentioned going to Queen's College, which I knew,
but I did not know at the time that it
was an all women's school. Can you tell me about
your experience going to going to university there.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Well, it's something that you know, there's always some thing
to learn about it. When I went to Queens there
were five black women that were chosen to be in
the first freshman class. It was the really first time
that they had integrated the school. And so for me,
I came from Columbia, South Carolina. You know, small family,
(03:18):
lots of people in the family, but you know, just
a very tightly managed and loved family, and my parents
did not want me to go very far away from home,
and so Charlotte and Columbia you can do it in
less than an hour sometimes, and so that's how I
ended up being at Queen's. But at the time it
(03:38):
was really very difficult. I remember the you know, we've
come a long way in dealing with education and racism,
but when I was coming along, it was pretty difficult.
I remember they used to have these freshmen what what
they call it freshmen dances Davison and at that time,
(04:03):
I remember there was only three or four black men
at Davison, and so they had a meeting actually, and
this meeting was to make a decision of who would
be my date for the dance, because everybody else had
a date, but they did not have enough black men
to match up against the black women. And I have
(04:25):
to say that I got a great date. He is
in Raleigh, he's been in the state legislature and a
great lawyer, and he had a lot of curly hair,
so that made impossible for him. And I think I
can only imagine what it was like when this group
of people would be having a discussion saying, oh, what
are we going to do about this little black girl
(04:45):
that's going to need a date? So the world has changed,
thank goodness for the right reasons and the right way.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
And if I may just follow up on that, what
did it feel like in the moment to know that
people were having a meeting about you and who you
could take to the dance?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Well, it probably I probably was more naive than I
am today. I didn't really learn about the story until
afterwards when it happened, and it was just a situation where.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Everybody accepted it.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
It was like that was just the way that things
were happening in our country at that time. But at
the end of the day, and I will have to
say after my graduation, I had great friendships from the
women that had been very supportive and saw that the
world was changing and different. So in some ways you
(05:40):
have something that's difficult, but you have people to stand
you up, then it works out.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Okay, you mentioned your long tenure in this city and
starting with the you know, with working with the budget
and then going upwards from there. What made you want
to get into public service.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
I think that one of the things that I had.
I went to high school in Columbia, South Carolina, a
C floor and I remember knowing the governor's daughter was
in my same class, Lee Atwater, who has long been
passed away. He was like one of the people that
(06:22):
was in our class, but he was very political and
all of these things were going on around in that time,
because that's when integration was changing a lot of it.
So I came through all of that and I decided
that I could have an impact, and I could. I
don't know that I've thought about it seriously enough and
(06:43):
to say that i'm mayor today, but I always felt
like you could do more, you could do better. It
was the time of civil rights marches and things like that.
So that's what really pushed me in this direction. To
be able to see the city and all of the
South practically changing at the time that you're a young
(07:05):
person coming out of school or high school or college.
It made a big difference, and I think that's what
caused me to really think about politics is not really
what it is.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
It's governance.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
It's governance for people to be able to have a
good life. And so I know people often say, you know,
what are your politics and all of that, but my
politics has always been what's best for the people.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I love what you said about not politics but governance.
And I'm just wondering. You talked about the time in
which you were coming up and coming into your own
and joining in this governance and public service, and I'm
just wondering, have you faced adversity as a woman, and
especially as a black woman in your journey and how
did you overcome it?
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Wow, that is very close to me, because of course
there's been adversity. There are times that you're just not
sure of yourself all the time. But I believe that
adversity helps you get stronger and better. There were times
that when, even when I was young and I'm working
(08:10):
at the city, that you would try to that you
have an invitation to something, but you walk in that
and you wouldn't know anyone. I mean, you know, and
you have to steal yourself to say how do I
walk in and make sure that I am heard? And
I think that if you actually practice it. And I
had a lot of practice to be able to walk
(08:32):
in and ignore adversity, because I think adversity teaches you
to be stronger in any situation.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
And I love what you said, and I think that's
so important to the people listening to this podcast, is
how do I make sure my voice is heard? And
so when you say practice it, do you mean just
continue to going into those rooms or do you mean
thinking about what you want to say beforehand? How does
that work?
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I think it's both. I think young women need to
say or start thinking about this. This is the example
I give. Let's just say that you're walking into the
ladies room and the CEO is a woman, and she
happens to be in there. You have to be prepared
to say something to her. She's going to expect that
(09:19):
you will be responsive, you will have something to say.
So always keep some little joy or some kind of
effort in mind so that you can say, hey, I
read what happened in the book last week, or I
listened to this in the meeting, and you gave us
so much information, just small things like that. But I
(09:41):
really believe that women can practice. You just have to practice.
You have to be able to say and understand that
if they have invited you this far, that means that
they're looking at you and warning you to be successful,
and then you have to do your part.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Oh that's such great advice. And you mentioned having these
little these little nuggets to share, especially when you're speaking
to someone that maybe you'd be a little nervous about
speaking to. What about public speaking, because obviously you are
great at that, and that's a big part of it too,
and that's something that a lot of people get nervous about.
So how do you handle that well?
Speaker 1 (10:18):
I practice, I mean really, you have to practice these things.
They don't come naturally.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
People.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
If you are natural at it, that is fantastic. I
am not a master at it. I had to practice.
I really believe that that makes a difference. And you know,
practice with your kids, practice while you're taking a shower.
This is what I would say, This is what I
would you know, want someone to know about me and
(10:46):
always have some idea of you know who you are.
And I think authenticity makes a big difference as well.
People know when you're kind of making something up just
because you have to. But I find that if you
actually are open. Some of my favorite conversations are when
(11:07):
people stop me in the grocery store and we just
chated and you learned so much about others that you
don't have to worry so much about you.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
I love that. And speaking of the grocery store, that's
one thing that I wanted to ask you about. You
have been a fixture in the city for so long.
Of course, you are the mayor. Are you able to
go out in Charlotte to the grocery store, to a
restaurant and feel like you're not on the job?
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (11:36):
I mean, this is a great job.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
So when I start thinking about this that if what
would happen if nobody talked to me? That would that's
the opposite, you know, And I am so grateful to
be able to go to the restaurant or to some
event and to be able to walk up and talk
(12:00):
with someone and know their first name and be able
to say thank you for what you do for the city.
I mean, it's something that I'm very fortunate to be
able to be that person that walks into the grocery
store and people say Hi, Mayor. That's just, I think,
an affirmation for me, but more importantly, an affirmation for
(12:25):
the city and the kind of people that live here.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I want to know what. I don't think you have
a lot of free time, But what do you do
when you have free time?
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Oh my gosh, you're right. I don't have a lot
of free time. Before I became mayor, I actually would
go over to a little shop on East Boulevard.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
And I knit it.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I think I made. I think every one of my
granddaughters have quilts that I've made for them or knit
it for them. And sometimes it was a little bit tough,
you know, to get it all done. But one day
I hope that there'll be more leisure time for me.
But that's not not right now.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yes, more blankets in the future, but.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Not maybe even a sweater.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Maybe I can get a sweater.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Maybe someone over there knit's already so they can help
me out.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
That's it's not me. I'll tell you that more. It
is not me. But if you figure it out, let
me know. So coming up in public service in governance,
as you said, did you have a favorite job on
the ladder to becoming mayor? Aside from mayor? Of course?
Is there something that you said? Man, this really fills
my cup.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
You know, when I was coming into my freshman year
at Queen's, I went home to work and I worked
with a group of people that needed more training, needed
more opportunities, and I think that that helped me. You know,
summer camps for young people that didn't have a lot
(14:04):
to have someone that was a model what meant a
lot to them, and so that I believe. And I
also used to write for a kind of like a
small black newspaper in Columbia and that was fun to
do as well. But I think that I'm working through this.
My most expressive opportunity for summer job was the camp
(14:31):
for the kids.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I absolutely love that. So as we talk about public
service and ways in which people can give back, women
can give back, what advice would you have for someone
who says I want to get into some sort of
public service or service in general in Charlotte or elsewhere,
but I don't know where to start.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Well, Charlotte's a great city because we actually want people
to come in and want them to be able to
just have the opportunity to serve the city there. I
don't see those I do not believe that there are
ways to not do things. I think there's lots of ways.
(15:15):
I think when you think about this community, and you
think about the Junior League, when you think about women executives,
when you think about the young women at Central Pitmont
Community College that need a mentor that you can call
and say, I'm here to help. Can I mentor a student?
All of these things are open. And I believe that
(15:37):
that's just in our DNA. I came up in the
Junior League. I came up in lots of I came
up in terms of lots of wort and women groups
and establishing them. Some of them are a lot more fun,
you know, especially when you can have a glass of wine.
You can have a lot more fun when you're talking
about the project that you want to do or see
(15:59):
a pomplish. When you look around uptown in the center city.
Many of the buildings that you see are a result
of women organizations saying we need to do something for
our community. Whether that's the performing arts center, whether it's
the library. These are opportunities and I actually think Nicoke
(16:23):
Tepper has done a lot of this. You remember as
we were going through COVID how important it was for
that role, that the role that she had and to
be able to stand up. So I believe that you
can come to Charlotte and the doors are open, not shut.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I love that, and I completely agree with you about
TSC's owner. Nicole Tepper is just a wonderful person in
service is at the center of all she does, which
I think is absolutely amazing, and she sets such a
great example for our organization. I wonder I wanted to
ask you this, what is the biggest misconception about politicians.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
I think that the biggest misconception about politicians is that
it's a negative statement. It's something that is implying that
I believe that there's something that separates you from the public,
and that's just not it. Every one of us is
a politician in some respect or some way. We can
(17:26):
use whatever term we want to use around it. But basically,
politics is a decision to make things better, and that's
really what it's all about. I think that people think
it's easy to do, but it isn't always easy, and
you have to have a certain amount of stamina and
the opportunities to see what's good and what's right. And
(17:51):
when you do that, I think that's what politics really
means for at least me. For me, I have learned
that you can be busy and you can get things done,
but you have to do it with some ideal thought
that it's going to make things better.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Speaking of being busy, you have a thousand things that
demand your attention at any given time. How do you
organize your time? Because I think that's something that we
as women can struggle with because we're trying to balance,
you know, a thousand things. We're trying to keep all
the plates in the air. So how do you do
it well.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I have a team that's really great, a team of
women that are really exceptional. And one of the things
about working as long as I've been in the city
and as long as I've been mayor that the staff
that really governs this community they are top notch. I
mean we have some of the most terrific people in
(18:52):
the country. And I travel with mayors all across this country,
and when I look back and get home, I'm like, I,
I'm so grateful that I live in Charlotte, and I
am so grateful for the people that come here and
make the choice to live here. But Charlotte's staff in
terms of making sure that people can accomplish the things
(19:13):
that they want to have. The people that our police
officers are firefighters, the people that you know really care
about housing. We are at the you know, the right place,
doing the right things and there's nothing better than that.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
And finally, Mayor Laos, I wonder we asked this a
lot on this podcast, what advice do you have for
young people who are just starting out.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
My advice would be what I probably didn't take for myself.
But I believe you have to learn how what do
you love and what makes you bring joy, what makes
you happy, and it's not all going to be perfect,
but you should never give up on perfection. And so
(20:05):
if you know today, I still try to think as
I get up in the morning, I try to look
at a spiritual effort that I can read and words
that will inspire me to remember that I love myself
and I think that that's really important.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
That's beautiful. Thank you so much, and thank you so
much for your time, Mayor Lyles. This was wonderful and
we appreciate you being so open and giving us such
an insight into what you do and who you are.
So thank you again.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Thank you very much for the opportunity, and I am
very very excited to hear that we are making a
lot of good things happen at the stadium. You guys
have terrific jobs and you're part of our network, so
thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
We are so excited for all the good things ahead,
and thank you for all you've done with that. Steers
Stand State st st Steer Stopish stas
I think that the biggest misconception about politicians is that
it's a negative statement. It's something that is implying that
I believe that there's something that separates you from the public,
and that's just not it. Every one of us is
a politician in some respect. But basically politics is a
(00:24):
decision to make things better.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Welcome to the Inspireer Podcast. I am team reporter Kristin
Balboni and this podcast is where we talk to you
inspiring women across the Carolinas and you want to talk
about inspiring women. That is my guest today, Charlotte's Mayor
by Lyles. Mayor Lyles, thank you so much for taking
time out of your busy schedule to chat with us.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Thank you for having me. It's always good to be
in a program where you first have wonderful women doing
great work and as well to have you work working
in a great institution for us.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yes, absolutely, and we are so thrilled to be talking
to you. So I want to start out with your
journey and the journey of Charlotte in the time that
you have been the mayor. This is your fourth term.
I would love to know what are the biggest changes
in the City of Charlotte from the time you became
the mayor until now.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Wow, that's a great question to lead with because I
came I went to college here at Queen's College and
when it was a woman's school, and so I actually
worked for the city for a long time. I don't know,
most people don't even think about. I was the city's
budget director at one point. I have done all kinds
of positions and jobs across the footprint of government, and
(01:48):
now here I sit as mayor, and that I think
when we start talking about how you maintain who you
are and governance and all that, I think the question
for me has been how do I give back. I've
had a great opportunity to live in this great city,
(02:11):
and so now I see it as a city that's growing,
and it's growing in multiple kinds of ways. I mean,
you know, we're one of the fastest growing I think
the fifteenth fastest growing city in the country. But it's
more than that. I think that we also are creating
opportunities for people that didn't have opportunities. So we often
(02:32):
recruit great companies like Temper Sports to our city, and
to be able to do that is really an investment
in the people that live here or the people that
choose to live here.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You just mentioned going to Queen's College, which I knew,
but I did not know at the time that it
was an all women's school. Can you tell me about
your experience going to going to university there.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Well, it's something that you know, there's always some thing
to learn about it. When I went to Queens there
were five black women that were chosen to be in
the first freshman class. It was the really first time
that they had integrated the school. And so for me,
I came from Columbia, South Carolina. You know, small family,
(03:18):
lots of people in the family, but you know, just
a very tightly managed and loved family, and my parents
did not want me to go very far away from home,
and so Charlotte and Columbia you can do it in
less than an hour sometimes, and so that's how I
ended up being at Queen's. But at the time it
(03:38):
was really very difficult. I remember the you know, we've
come a long way in dealing with education and racism,
but when I was coming along, it was pretty difficult.
I remember they used to have these freshmen what what
they call it freshmen dances Davison and at that time,
(04:03):
I remember there was only three or four black men
at Davison, and so they had a meeting actually, and
this meeting was to make a decision of who would
be my date for the dance, because everybody else had
a date, but they did not have enough black men
to match up against the black women. And I have
(04:25):
to say that I got a great date. He is
in Raleigh, he's been in the state legislature and a
great lawyer, and he had a lot of curly hair,
so that made impossible for him. And I think I
can only imagine what it was like when this group
of people would be having a discussion saying, oh, what
are we going to do about this little black girl
(04:45):
that's going to need a date? So the world has changed,
thank goodness for the right reasons and the right way.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
And if I may just follow up on that, what
did it feel like in the moment to know that
people were having a meeting about you and who you
could take to the dance?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Well, it probably I probably was more naive than I
am today. I didn't really learn about the story until
afterwards when it happened, and it was just a situation where.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Everybody accepted it.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
It was like that was just the way that things
were happening in our country at that time. But at
the end of the day, and I will have to
say after my graduation, I had great friendships from the
women that had been very supportive and saw that the
world was changing and different. So in some ways you
(05:40):
have something that's difficult, but you have people to stand
you up, then it works out.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Okay, you mentioned your long tenure in this city and
starting with the you know, with working with the budget
and then going upwards from there. What made you want
to get into public service.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
I think that one of the things that I had.
I went to high school in Columbia, South Carolina, a
C floor and I remember knowing the governor's daughter was
in my same class, Lee Atwater, who has long been
passed away. He was like one of the people that
(06:22):
was in our class, but he was very political and
all of these things were going on around in that time,
because that's when integration was changing a lot of it.
So I came through all of that and I decided
that I could have an impact, and I could. I
don't know that I've thought about it seriously enough and
(06:43):
to say that i'm mayor today, but I always felt
like you could do more, you could do better. It
was the time of civil rights marches and things like that.
So that's what really pushed me in this direction. To
be able to see the city and all of the
South practically changing at the time that you're a young
(07:05):
person coming out of school or high school or college.
It made a big difference, and I think that's what
caused me to really think about politics is not really
what it is.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
It's governance.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
It's governance for people to be able to have a
good life. And so I know people often say, you know,
what are your politics and all of that, but my
politics has always been what's best for the people.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I love what you said about not politics but governance.
And I'm just wondering. You talked about the time in
which you were coming up and coming into your own
and joining in this governance and public service, and I'm
just wondering, have you faced adversity as a woman, and
especially as a black woman in your journey and how
did you overcome it?
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Wow, that is very close to me, because of course
there's been adversity. There are times that you're just not
sure of yourself all the time. But I believe that
adversity helps you get stronger and better. There were times
that when, even when I was young and I'm working
(08:10):
at the city, that you would try to that you
have an invitation to something, but you walk in that
and you wouldn't know anyone. I mean, you know, and
you have to steal yourself to say how do I
walk in and make sure that I am heard? And
I think that if you actually practice it. And I
had a lot of practice to be able to walk
(08:32):
in and ignore adversity, because I think adversity teaches you
to be stronger in any situation.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
And I love what you said, and I think that's
so important to the people listening to this podcast, is
how do I make sure my voice is heard? And
so when you say practice it, do you mean just
continue to going into those rooms or do you mean
thinking about what you want to say beforehand? How does
that work?
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I think it's both. I think young women need to
say or start thinking about this. This is the example
I give. Let's just say that you're walking into the
ladies room and the CEO is a woman, and she
happens to be in there. You have to be prepared
to say something to her. She's going to expect that
(09:19):
you will be responsive, you will have something to say.
So always keep some little joy or some kind of
effort in mind so that you can say, hey, I
read what happened in the book last week, or I
listened to this in the meeting, and you gave us
so much information, just small things like that. But I
(09:41):
really believe that women can practice. You just have to practice.
You have to be able to say and understand that
if they have invited you this far, that means that
they're looking at you and warning you to be successful,
and then you have to do your part.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Oh that's such great advice. And you mentioned having these
little these little nuggets to share, especially when you're speaking
to someone that maybe you'd be a little nervous about
speaking to. What about public speaking, because obviously you are
great at that, and that's a big part of it too,
and that's something that a lot of people get nervous about.
So how do you handle that well?
Speaker 1 (10:18):
I practice, I mean really, you have to practice these things.
They don't come naturally.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
People.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
If you are natural at it, that is fantastic. I
am not a master at it. I had to practice.
I really believe that that makes a difference. And you know,
practice with your kids, practice while you're taking a shower.
This is what I would say, This is what I
would you know, want someone to know about me and
(10:46):
always have some idea of you know who you are.
And I think authenticity makes a big difference as well.
People know when you're kind of making something up just
because you have to. But I find that if you
actually are open. Some of my favorite conversations are when
(11:07):
people stop me in the grocery store and we just
chated and you learned so much about others that you
don't have to worry so much about you.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
I love that. And speaking of the grocery store, that's
one thing that I wanted to ask you about. You
have been a fixture in the city for so long.
Of course, you are the mayor. Are you able to
go out in Charlotte to the grocery store, to a
restaurant and feel like you're not on the job?
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (11:36):
I mean, this is a great job.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
So when I start thinking about this that if what
would happen if nobody talked to me? That would that's
the opposite, you know, And I am so grateful to
be able to go to the restaurant or to some
event and to be able to walk up and talk
(12:00):
with someone and know their first name and be able
to say thank you for what you do for the city.
I mean, it's something that I'm very fortunate to be
able to be that person that walks into the grocery
store and people say Hi, Mayor. That's just, I think,
an affirmation for me, but more importantly, an affirmation for
(12:25):
the city and the kind of people that live here.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I want to know what. I don't think you have
a lot of free time, But what do you do
when you have free time?
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Oh my gosh, you're right. I don't have a lot
of free time. Before I became mayor, I actually would
go over to a little shop on East Boulevard.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
And I knit it.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I think I made. I think every one of my
granddaughters have quilts that I've made for them or knit
it for them. And sometimes it was a little bit tough,
you know, to get it all done. But one day
I hope that there'll be more leisure time for me.
But that's not not right now.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yes, more blankets in the future, but.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Not maybe even a sweater.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Maybe I can get a sweater.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Maybe someone over there knit's already so they can help
me out.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
That's it's not me. I'll tell you that more. It
is not me. But if you figure it out, let
me know. So coming up in public service in governance,
as you said, did you have a favorite job on
the ladder to becoming mayor? Aside from mayor? Of course?
Is there something that you said? Man, this really fills
my cup.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
You know, when I was coming into my freshman year
at Queen's, I went home to work and I worked
with a group of people that needed more training, needed
more opportunities, and I think that that helped me. You know,
summer camps for young people that didn't have a lot
(14:04):
to have someone that was a model what meant a
lot to them, and so that I believe. And I
also used to write for a kind of like a
small black newspaper in Columbia and that was fun to
do as well. But I think that I'm working through this.
My most expressive opportunity for summer job was the camp
(14:31):
for the kids.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I absolutely love that. So as we talk about public
service and ways in which people can give back, women
can give back, what advice would you have for someone
who says I want to get into some sort of
public service or service in general in Charlotte or elsewhere,
but I don't know where to start.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Well, Charlotte's a great city because we actually want people
to come in and want them to be able to
just have the opportunity to serve the city there. I
don't see those I do not believe that there are
ways to not do things. I think there's lots of ways.
(15:15):
I think when you think about this community, and you
think about the Junior League, when you think about women executives,
when you think about the young women at Central Pitmont
Community College that need a mentor that you can call
and say, I'm here to help. Can I mentor a student?
All of these things are open. And I believe that
(15:37):
that's just in our DNA. I came up in the
Junior League. I came up in lots of I came
up in terms of lots of wort and women groups
and establishing them. Some of them are a lot more fun,
you know, especially when you can have a glass of wine.
You can have a lot more fun when you're talking
about the project that you want to do or see
(15:59):
a pomplish. When you look around uptown in the center city.
Many of the buildings that you see are a result
of women organizations saying we need to do something for
our community. Whether that's the performing arts center, whether it's
the library. These are opportunities and I actually think Nicoke
(16:23):
Tepper has done a lot of this. You remember as
we were going through COVID how important it was for
that role, that the role that she had and to
be able to stand up. So I believe that you
can come to Charlotte and the doors are open, not shut.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I love that, and I completely agree with you about
TSC's owner. Nicole Tepper is just a wonderful person in
service is at the center of all she does, which
I think is absolutely amazing, and she sets such a
great example for our organization. I wonder I wanted to
ask you this, what is the biggest misconception about politicians.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
I think that the biggest misconception about politicians is that
it's a negative statement. It's something that is implying that
I believe that there's something that separates you from the public,
and that's just not it. Every one of us is
a politician in some respect or some way. We can
(17:26):
use whatever term we want to use around it. But basically,
politics is a decision to make things better, and that's
really what it's all about. I think that people think
it's easy to do, but it isn't always easy, and
you have to have a certain amount of stamina and
the opportunities to see what's good and what's right. And
(17:51):
when you do that, I think that's what politics really
means for at least me. For me, I have learned
that you can be busy and you can get things done,
but you have to do it with some ideal thought
that it's going to make things better.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Speaking of being busy, you have a thousand things that
demand your attention at any given time. How do you
organize your time? Because I think that's something that we
as women can struggle with because we're trying to balance,
you know, a thousand things. We're trying to keep all
the plates in the air. So how do you do
it well.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I have a team that's really great, a team of
women that are really exceptional. And one of the things
about working as long as I've been in the city
and as long as I've been mayor that the staff
that really governs this community they are top notch. I
mean we have some of the most terrific people in
(18:52):
the country. And I travel with mayors all across this country,
and when I look back and get home, I'm like, I,
I'm so grateful that I live in Charlotte, and I
am so grateful for the people that come here and
make the choice to live here. But Charlotte's staff in
terms of making sure that people can accomplish the things
(19:13):
that they want to have. The people that our police
officers are firefighters, the people that you know really care
about housing. We are at the you know, the right place,
doing the right things and there's nothing better than that.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
And finally, Mayor Laos, I wonder we asked this a
lot on this podcast, what advice do you have for
young people who are just starting out.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
My advice would be what I probably didn't take for myself.
But I believe you have to learn how what do
you love and what makes you bring joy, what makes
you happy, and it's not all going to be perfect,
but you should never give up on perfection. And so
(20:05):
if you know today, I still try to think as
I get up in the morning, I try to look
at a spiritual effort that I can read and words
that will inspire me to remember that I love myself
and I think that that's really important.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
That's beautiful. Thank you so much, and thank you so
much for your time, Mayor Lyles. This was wonderful and
we appreciate you being so open and giving us such
an insight into what you do and who you are.
So thank you again.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Thank you very much for the opportunity, and I am
very very excited to hear that we are making a
lot of good things happen at the stadium. You guys
have terrific jobs and you're part of our network, so
thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
We are so excited for all the good things ahead,
and thank you for all you've done with that. Steers
Stand State st st Steer Stopish stas
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