Joone Kim-Lopez – General Manager of Moulton Niguel Water District | Los Angeles Leaders - Los Angeles Leaders

Episode Transcript
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Narrator 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Los Angeles Leaders Podcast, where
we dive deep into the stories ofthe visionaries shaping the
future of our region.
Hosted by Christopher Luna,this podcast brings you
conversations with the moversand shakers driving innovation,
leadership and community impactacross Los Angeles.
Whether you're an entrepreneur,a community leader or simply

(00:21):
someone passionate about makinga difference, this podcast is
your gateway to the insights andinspiration you need to lead
and succeed.
Get ready to be inspired by theleaders making waves in Los
Angeles and beyond.

Narrator 2 (00:36):
On this episode, we welcome June Kim Lopez.
June Kim Lopez is recognizedinternationally for her
leadership in innovation,organizational excellence and
workforce culture.
As the CEO of Moulton NiguelWater District, a public utility
serving South Orange County,she has worked with her team to
be recognized as a top workplacein Orange County and the USA,

(00:57):
being the first utility to earnsuch a distinction, according to
USA Today.
With over 30 years ofexperience in public service,
june has served diversecommunities across California,
bringing people together tonavigate conflict and drive
meaningful impact.
For the last four years, sheserved as the California Seismic
Safety Commissioner, as thefounder of the California Data

(01:18):
Collaborative, a nonprofitbringing big data solutions to
water and representing 21million Californians, she works
tirelessly to support andinspire the next generation of
leaders to take on the state'sgrowing challenges.
June serves on the boards ofnumerous organizations to foster
connections and partnerships,including the California Seismic
Safety Commission, theAssociation of California Water

(01:41):
Agencies, the SouthernCalifornia Water Coalition, the
Water Research Foundation,california Water Agencies, the
Southern California WaterCoalition, the Water Research
Foundation, california Water,ruse and UC Irvine's Water
Leadership Board.
She also acts as the NationalAdvisor for the Lifeline
Infrastructure Initiative andserves on the boards for the
California Water Data Consortium, the NAACP of California and
Hawaii, the Korean AmericanCoalition and the Make-A-Wish

(02:04):
Foundation.
Her greatest passion is unitingpeople around a shared goal of
building resilient communitiesthat prioritize the safety and
well-being of all.
Prior to her career in theutility sector, june served as a
police officer for the city ofPasadena, where she received
numerous commendations,including the Silver Medal of
Courage for braveryvery UnderFire and special recognition

(02:25):
from the DEA for her work inundercover narcotics operations.
As an immigrant from SouthKorea, june deeply understands
the value of the American dream,an experience that has shaped
her commitment to buildingmeaningful relationships and
making service to others acentral priority in her life.
Please welcome June Kim-Lopez.

Christopher Luna (02:47):
That's an incredible introduction.
There's a reason why I havethat played out before us
because just to tap intoeverything that you do and
everyone you're involved with,every organization that you're
involved in, it's incredible.
So just to kind of bring it alltogether and before I ask you a
million questions because Idon't think I'm going to have
enough time for all of this Helpmy audience understand the

(03:12):
scope of the agency that you'recurrently at, before I get into
how you got there.
But let them understand thiswater district Because I visited
once before and it's a massiveorganization and industry and
you do a lot for it.

Joone Kim-Lopez (03:26):
So just kind of give us like how, give us help
us understand the impact andwhat it is that you do well,
after an intro like that, chris,like I feel like I'm just gonna
defeat myself and anything thatI say going forward.
But just to give you and theaudience a little idea about our
agency, molten nickel waterdistrict are a retail public
water agency serving six citiesin South Orange County and in

(03:50):
the state of California.
There's about 7,000 differentsystems, all sizes and shape,
that serve our great, diversecommunities and regardless of
the size of the agency, itreally is about what you strive
to do At A Moulton Gale.

(04:13):
We're not the largest agency,but we always punch above our
weight and our footprint isglobal.
So we serve our six cities withwater, wastewater, recycled
water service, but we also are amodel in the state when it
comes to financial planning,water resource management, rate
structure, water efficiency,water policy.
We're very proud of thatbecause none of this happens
without our partners, thediverse stakeholders that we

(04:35):
have, and then, nationally, ourreputation for workforce.
We've been the top workplace inOrange County eight years in a
row and also top workplace USAfive years in a row since it
started by USA Today, and we'revery proud of that, all the
things, the great things that weaccomplished, because it's
something that belongs to all ofus at the organization, and not

(04:58):
just within the organization,but people outside of the
organizations, our partners, ourcustomers, our communities.
I said it's because of us.
It belongs to all of us.
And then globally, our workwith data and innovation.
We have made partnershipsworldwide and one of my favorite
stories to tell, maybe at somepoint in this interview, is how

(05:19):
we helped continent of Africadevelop a data model of
collaborators and to do good fordiverse communities.
And so you know me being a shortperson, a small person.
I always say never let the sizelimit what you can strive,
because it's really all aboutwhat you want to achieve, and
we're very proud of that atMontenegro.

I mean, if I were to look at you and meet you
randomly somewhere, I wouldnever think of you as a general
manager of a water district atthat size.
And you still haven't given uslike numbers or figures.
I don't think it's easy tounderstand.
I'm lucky because I've beenthere.
I see the infrastructure, howmany staff Like, what's your
size, what's your scope?

So we have over 200 staff, six cities, we serve
about 172, customers, ourcommunity members, and we have
seven board members who areelected by the public.
And again, we, we value ourstrength based on our
partnerships and our connectionsand when you figure that we

(06:21):
have the most amazing partnersall over the place.
And so I was going to ask you.
So if you saw me and you didn'tthink that I was a CEO of a
water agent, what would youthink I was?

I would say like banking or finance or
something.

I'll take that.
Yeah, those are smart people.

Finance is good?
Yeah, definitely not.
You know, I guess it's kind ofbad to assume, right, you're
going to assume a male figure inengineering.
But I guess it's kind of bad toassume, right, you're going to
assume a male figure inengineering, but you have that
background, right, and I'm goingto get to that.
So, and actually let me lead upto like your childhood, like
how did you get into the waterside of things?
But before we even get there,like, tell me a little bit about
your childhood and yourbackground.

My childhood.
I think most everybody has thesame story, which is a story
that you don't think that peoplewould assume.
So I was born in South Korea.
I immigrated to the UnitedStates when I was eight years
old with my parents.
I didn't know a word of English.
We were sponsored by my auntand my grandmother, who were

(07:20):
already in the United States andcoming to the United States not
knowing a word of English, andthis was before ESL and K-pop.
It's like before all thatfusion before being Korean was a
cool thing.
It wasn't then.
And coming here, not having anymoney, living in poverty,

(07:43):
coming to a system and culturethat I just didn't know about
except on little little blackand white tv in Korea.
And just to give an example, inKorea we didn't have cheese
back then.
So my first taste of pizza at apublic school when I went I was
like what is this?
I thought it was an egg and.
I tasted it cheese, which I love, by the way but it's my first
bite into cheese and I thoughtit was so gross I threw it away.

(08:06):
I'm like what is this?
So it's that culture shock.
And growing up it was verydifficult and when I was young I
was very you know, we usecorrect terms like overweight,
pudgy, but back then I wasreally overweight.
I mean they call me fat, sougly.
Back then I was reallyoverweight.
I mean they called me fat, sougly.
I was very unathletic you knowtalk about acne so I didn't have

(08:30):
friends and before bullying wasa thing.
Having gone through all that,so you come into this culture
where you don't know anythingand you don't know anybody and
you have parents.
because I was an only child, myparents just had a very hard
time adjusting and, uh, in Koreathere's no such thing as like

(08:53):
domestic violence or divorce,alimony.
So there was a lot of abuse andyou know my parents had that
and I don't I don't excuse whathappened, but I do understand,
because of the way that theygrew up in the culture, the
violence that I grew up in in myhousehold as an only child.

(09:16):
And then you go to school andit was a foreign land and it
just I never felt that Ibelonged anywhere, anywhere.
And that continued throughoutmy high school and, you know,
finally, like in my junior, Ijust thought I need to change at
least my life and get a littlehealthier, you know.

(09:39):
You know, just just get betterfor me and start to figure out
what I wanted to do with life.
And it was a struggle becauseyou know I was telling a friend
the other day that growing up Inever remember my parents asking
me a question.
You know there was no likefamily meeting or how do you
feel?

(10:00):
How was your day?
You were just like, spoken toand you listened to, and again,
again, my parents providedshelter.
They gave me the things that Ineeded.
But it was a very differenttime then and I think with every
generation we get better.
But those adversities and thoselessons learned has really made
me who I am today, inunderstanding how I treat the

(10:22):
next generation, whether it's mychildren or somebody else's
children, and how I look at sortof not just the work space and
the work environment but how Iwould want people to feel really
to belong, to be included andjust to be kind.

I mean your parents, were they pretty strict
.
What were some of the lessonsthat they taught you growing up?
How did you get exposed to work?
What were those?

Oh yeah, being an only child, and even back
then I was born in 1971.
Especially, my culture isKorean.
They want boys and I was kindof this accidental baby that
wasn't planned and first babygirl born out of wedlock oh yeah

(11:11):
, sorry, mom and not a boy.
So I was raised like a boy.
Like my early picture, which Ican't find, it's like I had a
tie.
I never smiled.
But my parents raised me to bevery tough and I was a
quintessential like Asian, whichis all about grades.
You're either going to be adoctor, an attorney, and that's

(11:34):
kind of about it, and if you doanything else you're kind of a
failure.
And you know, I just was neverin that lane.
So very early on I don't saythis negatively, but I think my
parents gave up on me andrealized At what age did you
feel that?

Was that in high school?
Or were they kind of like, okay, gave up on you in a good way,
like oh, she's smart, she canfigure it out.

No, it's like well, she's got potential, but
she's obviously not realizing it.
So let's see what happens.
And it was just never goodenough.
And it makes an impression asyou get older which I had to

(12:20):
learn to process.
But yeah, just growing up,whatever I did was never good
enough and there was alwayssomeone who did it better and I
think that made me just alwayswant to achieve more.
So that's a positive stuff,right?
This is not all sad stories andsobbing right.
I don't want anyone to feel pity, although, but that's hard to

(12:43):
swallow, though, though yeah, Imean.

How do you know that, growing up Like I
have, my kids are young rightnow?
My oldest is nine and I'm astrict dad, but at the same time
, they're not going to realizewhat we're.
They're not going to understandwhat we're doing or what we're
trying to do.
My parents are very strict too,but we don't realize that until

(13:10):
we're older.
So how do we fix that?
How do we balance that with ourown kids?
Right, Because you don't wantto be friends with them and be
so lenient, but at the same time, you learn a lot from those
lessons.
But it's not easy to learn from, even as you're older, right?
Like how do you look back andbe like, yeah, that was a good
idea?
Like I don't think you reallyunderstand until you're in a
different place, right?

And in a way, my parents were excellent
teachers, right, because Ilearned all the things not to do
what not to do as a parent,what not to do in a relationship
so in that sense it served mewell.
It was painful then, but asI've grown and as I'm leading my
own life and living my own life, it has served me well.

(13:47):
I like to think.

So I mean I don't want to get into your
leadership role now, but I'lltap back into that.
Tell me a little bit about onceyou're in high school.
You graduated like how was thattransition?
Tell me about your collegeyears went to college.

Yeah, in high school.

Well, you did go, because we, you got your
master's and your bachelor's,obviously, but how was that
transition?

high school.
Of course, private school wasan important thing, and I went
to a really good private school.
Kids had, you know, came fromparents that had a lot of money.
We did not.
Every cent was scraped towardsmy education, so I just couldn't
relate.
So I didn't have friends inhigh school, but I did graduate.
I did well academically, andthen I went to University of San

(14:33):
Diego, university of California, of San Diego.
My dream since I was five,though, was to go to Harvard,
because that was like thequintessential, you know, the
Asian thing, and I didn't getaccepted, even though I had a
really good GPA, because Ididn't have anything
extracurricular no sports,nothing, because my parents
didn't believe in that, andmaybe there were some other

(14:54):
things, I don't know.
But it's very competitive.
And when I didn't make it toHarvard, that was another moment
where I felt like both myparents and, this time, me I've
given up on me, and I justthought I'm not good enough.
And UC San Diego is anexcellent school, but I went to
it because my only friendgrowing up went to that college,

(15:17):
and so I went to UC San Diego,and I said I survived through it
because it was the first time Iwas away from home.
You know from all the way fromLA to San.
Diego.

At what age?

I went to college when I was 18, after
high school, so you moved out at18.
I moved out to dorm, but I camehome every weekend to check on
my parents because, mind you,because of domestic violence, I
was the peacekeeper, I was areferee, so I would always come
back and make sure they wereokay.
And then, because of all theadvanced placement classes I
took in high school, I was ableto graduate in three years and

(15:51):
it was perfect because we ranout of money.
My parents lost their shoestore, which we've had for years
.

Oh, you see, Skip the whole piece there.

Yeah.

Okay, so your parents had a shoe store.

Had a shoe store and in 1992 with the LA
riot they lost it.

In downtown.

Yes.
So I became head of thehousehold and so I had to get a
job, a real job, really fast,because I wanted to be a
journalist when I was in college, when I got out but it didn't
pay enough.
I needed to take care of myparents.
We had mortgage.
My dad was depressed.
He was ill, so I startedlooking for a job and, by the

(16:31):
grace of faith, I applied for ajob that was completely
unqualified for and I got it.
And that started my sort ofthis windy, unplanned journey,
which cannot be explained.

Definitely.
I mean, I'm not even gettingthere yet Police, law
enforcement, public service toan engineer and a manager
general manager at a CEO at ahuge water district.
You're again skipping throughthis whole side of your past.
So when your parents had thisbusiness, it got burned down

(17:11):
during the alley riots or whathappened there?

So we were in the West Lake area.
It did not get burned down, butbecause the area was so
devastated, many stores,including ours we had to just
lock it up and walk away becausethere was no business, nobody.

I remember I, I remember those times, so
they're okay.
So that that's where the koreanum.
You know this whole industry.
So my parents have businesseshere in la and my sister was
involved during that time and itwas really dark times.
It was pretty bad for our city.
So I think you probably sawwhat was going on and your dad

(17:49):
was experiencing it and that didhe have like something that was
very, made it very difficult inthe household because of what
was going on at work, or how didthat?

absolutely, you know.
Talk, Absolutely, you know.
Talk about the old pride beingthe caretaker, the man.
My dad was 19 years older thanmy mom and here's his little
girl who wasn't even supposed tohappen, now being head of the

(18:21):
household.

Aye, aye, aye.

Yes, and while he could be proud of that for
his own self, it was devastatingand we could see the
deconstruction of a man who Ithought was invincible because
he was a machine, he wasmilitary, the way he was, the

(18:43):
way he lived, the way he raisedme.
To see that man break down tohow he became it was both a
crushing experience in my lifebut also a defining moment

(19:06):
because it just it'sindescribable and and you, you
mentioned that your family wentthrough similar experience, so
you understand, not not, not notto that extent, um, but you
know they, they they had somedifficulties in their industry
and their business.

I mean positive right, looking at it
now, they're very positive inthe sense that they got out at a
good time, but during thoseyears it was very difficult.
And then my brother was in areally bad car accident and my
mom just wanted nothing to dowith the business and I just

(19:47):
remember experiencing theirtroubles through their company
because it was a massive companyin their heyday.
But it's tough because we feelit as kids.
So again I'm trying to putmyself in that position with my
son now because I kind of wentthrough something similar.
I ended up selling the familybusiness and it's always
bittersweet, it's not.
It's not easy to let somethinggo like that.

(20:09):
But our businesses are ourbabies, you know, and I can't
imagine taking that out of onour kids and just kind of.
You know it's a lot of stress,it's a lot of weight and men
don't have a means to speakabout it.
Often we're very quiet aboutwhat we quiet about what's
happening financially or in ourhousehold and we want to put up

(20:29):
that front and that face.
So I can't imagine what yourdad was going through and I'm
sure you know it was difficultbut, like you said, it probably
drove you to do well in schooland to do well academically and
to pursue your own career.
So you're in college now.
Were you working during thattime or were you just purely?

So in 1992, I was a year away from graduating
from college.
So as soon as I graduated, Iassumed head of the household.
And then, in 1996, my dadpassed away.
It just overwhelmed him.
But I saw the decline over theyears and, like you said, it
created a resolve in me.

(21:13):
I had no choice it's survivalor die.
And I didn't have time to think.
I didn't have time to choose.
All I knew was that I had totake care of my parents.
I had to take care of me, andthat really lit a fire in me.
So as soon as I graduated, I washustling.

(21:35):
I was hustling to make sure Igot the job that would take care
of them, and that's sort ofbeen something that resides with
me to this day, because that'smy responsibility to take care
of my parents, take care of mymom now, since my dad has passed
away, but also never to losethat fire and always know where

(21:58):
that fire comes from.
Because it's not just ambition,it's not like, oh, I have to do
this, I have to move up, butit's.
What can I do to help others?
What can I do so that otherpeople don't have to experience
what I went through?
How can I create a biggerimpact and also be able to take
care of the things that I needto.
And that has really been myguiding light, and even though I

(22:21):
never had the five-year plan orthe 10-year plan, I didn't
really know what I want to dowith my life.

That has been my compass throughout and it
still does.
One thing that I've noticedwith a lot of inspirational
leaders like yourself and peopleI've come across at work is you
always have a drive to giveback and give to the community.
Is that what led you to publicservice?
Tell me, how did you transitioninto that?

The way I got into public service was actually
an accident, but what I do isbecause I want to give back,
because a journalist's jobwasn't paying well.
I had to find a job that paidmore, and this is like I'm
totally dating myself.
Back in the days there was likeno Indeed Internet where you
look for jobs, so I had to go tothe library and look at the

(23:12):
periodical section to look forjobs.
And I remember going toPasadena City Library and I saw
this job.
It was for the grantsadministrator for the city of
Pasadena and back then I was toodumb to know that I was
completely unqualified.
I'm like I like this job.
I like what it pays.
So I applied.
Now there was an orientationand there was like 200 people

(23:34):
and I was completelyunderdressed.
I didn't know what I was doing.
The only reason I got that jobwas the day that I took the
application.
Because that position wasinside the Pasadena Police
Department, because it was tohelp with DUI enforcement and
awareness for the city, gettingthe city ready for the 1994
World Cup.

Wow.

And this position was to work with city
council, the business, thepublic, and back then again I
had to actually hand carry theresume application and I was at
the counter at the policedepartment and I'm fluent in
Spanish Not as much now becauseI don't use it as much but I was
waiting in line.

Nunca sabía eso.

Ah sí, toda esa porción en español por favor.
So I was standing in line andthis lady was only a Spanish
speaker and she was verydistraught.
So I helped the receptionisttranslate and we figured it all
out.
Well, I didn't realize that thefuture panelist who was in
charge of accepting all theapplication was walking by and

(24:37):
he asked the receptionist laterwhat was that whole scene, and
so she explained.
He's like, yeah, but the Asianlady is talking Spanish.
It's like she come with him orher.
No, this lady came in to turnthis into you, oh my.

Narrator 2 (24:49):
God.

And she just helped out and literally because
of that I got the interview,Because I was helpful and I was
kind.

You never know .

I got the interview, that's incredible I
did well in the interview and Igot the job and because I didn't
know what I was doing, I was atmy desk in my little cubicle
all hours of the night becauseit was a police station.
So I was like 2 in the morning,3 in the morning, and everyone
thought, oh, she's such a hardworker.
So that's why about a year orso later they said you're such a
hard worker, you do a good job,you should be a police officer

(25:19):
well that's how it happened whatdid you think, though?

like how would you, how would you think I'm
gonna be a police officer?
This is what I'm gonna do.

Terrified terrified, like bone shaking.
Terrified because, remember, Itold you I was.
I grew up like yes veryoverweight, unathletic well I, I
could not run a lap although Igot better.
So it was terrifying, like whatif I don't make the police
academy?
But I saw how much money Icould make and the benefit.

(25:49):
And then this is when my dad'shealth was declining.
My mom had never worked.
She helped out at the store,but we didn't have a store no
more.
So I said I don't have a choice, it's survival.
So I said, sure, I'm like theseare people who are smarter than
me, thinking I can do it, and Ijust leap right into it.
And I did it and I loved itbecause it was the closest thing

(26:15):
.
Being a police officer.
If you do it right because youhear a lot of stories about it
being done wrong and I haveabsolutely no sympathy, no
compassion, no excuse for thatbecause we have such an
obligation, responsibility andwe hold a high power and with
that comes tremendous amount ofintegrity and responsibility.
But when you do it right, it'slike being a superhero every day

(26:38):
.
And this goes ties back when Iwas five in korea, like I saw my
first syndicated show fromUnited States Black and White
Wonder Woman and I was thislittle, just awkward kid
watching this show adored WonderWoman for everything that she
symbolized, and so when I putthat uniform on, and I was out

(27:00):
there I felt a little bit likethat.
And it was the best feeling Iever felt in my life.
I went from being this weird,awkward, unpopular to like I'm
making an impact, I'm helpingpeople.

What do your parents think when you decided
to be a police officer?

Actually my dad .
He wasn't proud, but it'sprobably a little bit of the
most acknowledgement that I'vegot where he was like.

Ok, that's kind of and this is when times
were tough.
I mean, those years weredifficult years for law
enforcement in general.
So it's like people nowadaysyou know they don't want to be a
police officer.
My nephew's a sheriff, but it'snot.
They're having a hard timerecruiting basically right.
So I mean you being a femaleofficer during that time was not

(27:53):
common for you to just jumpright into that.

I mean that that's scary it was, and again,
being all of five foot three,and uh it, I.
I got a lot of looks, which iswhat is like she doing.
Everybody knew me as a goodworker, as a civilian, but you
put on that uniform and they'relike I don't know, and you had a
situation.

I'm reading um , tell me a little bit about how
you got.
You know put in a position likethat where you had to.

You know use your firearm yes, so ever since
I started in law enforcement,everybody expected me to fail,
and that was actually reallyimportant lesson that still
carries with me today, because,you know, when you just look at
me, it's like I'm not much tolook at, and so I'm very used to
being underestimated and that'sokay you probably use it to

(28:43):
your advantage, right?

I try to.
I try to.

And I just said I always say outwork, outlast
and outlive everybody.
That's kind of like my threemantras.
And so when I became a policeofficer I said you know, I'm
going to do my best.
I'm going to do everythingnobody wants to do.
I'm going to do it better thaneverybody wants to do and I, I'm
going to do everything nobodywants to do.
I'm going to do it better thaneverybody wants to do and I'm
going to work better thananybody else.

(29:07):
And I really applied myselfbecause I also knew that I
carried on my shoulder a pathforward.
If I mess up, next time anotherAsian woman comes up, how do I
want to leave that trail?
Next time a woman of color, howdo I want to leave that trail?
Next time a woman of color, howdo I want to leave that trail?
And I think I was just also ina place in my life where I

(29:31):
hadn't.
It was again do or die.
So I kind of went all in.
To a point people thought I wasa little nuts, like aren't you
afraid?
And I was.
But I had no choice.
And so I worked really hard andI trained really hard.
So I was the first femalefirearms and defensive tactics

(29:52):
instructor because I knew of mydisadvantage in size and
strength.
I was gonna make up for it withmy practice and my training and
everything.

I don't want to go to your house now.

I'm sure it's also, like, you have to
visualize, you have to exercisethis muscle memory.
And one day I still rememberJuly 5th 1998, it was right
after 4th of July, obviously,and it was a Sunday and we get a
call.
I was out in patrol, get a callwith a man with a shotgun on a
bicycle and you think likereally, and the next call from

(30:28):
dispatch is a shot went off andthey always give you the most
known cross-section intersectionand we all get there but
there's nothing there.
But then I remember where thecaller called from, which was a
smaller side street, where thecaller called from, which was a
smaller side street.
And a lot of times where thecaller comes from is not where

(30:50):
the the call gets spotted toright again to the intersection.
So I go there and again it waspredominantly, predominantly
Hispanic neighborhood and peoplein Spanish was saying this is
his bike and this was a parkthat was under renovation, but
there were still people thereand I see the bike and they're
like he went that-a-way and anofficer came to assist me.

(31:11):
We go into the park it wasunder construction and there was
this temporary chain-link fencearound a baseball diamond.
Turn the corner and there'sthis guy lying in wait with a
hunting rifle and the proximitywas so close he got the jump on
us me and my other officers aswe turned the corner.
He let a round out.

Narrator 2 (31:33):
Again by the grace of heavens.

The only reason he missed was because it was
too close of a range and he wasusing the scope.

Oh shit.

And this is where training comes in.
Don't even remember taking thegun out of my.
The gun was already out ofholster but, don't remember
shooting, because your senseschange no matter how much you
train until you're in thatmoment.
It's different.
Shot back, shot him, took himdown and that's what I got the

(32:03):
civil matter of courage for.
And what it taught me and whathelped me teach others in my
capacity is practice, practice,practice, visualize constantly,
Because in that moment you arenot in control of your
facilities.
But when you practice, when youvisualize, everything happens

(32:23):
without you even thinkingthrough it, it becomes your
nature, right, Absolutely.

It becomes second nature and your body just
reacts.
I don't think you understandwhat you've done until
afterwards right.
But it's scary too, right.
I think that's where a lot ofpeople have issues right in law
enforcement, where they say youhave a split second to react
right.
So at that moment you're hopingand praying that you're making
the right decision right,because there can be other

(32:49):
people around and someone elsecan get hurt.
So I kind of imagine being putin that situation.
That's scary for sure.

And that's life .
Though the things that you do,there are times when you have to
make decisions without havingall the information right.

Well, you can't compare it.

It may not be life and death but, being able
to make that decision.
You learn a lot about yourselfand the biggest takeaway and the
gratitude that I have for mytime being a police officer is
what people have taught mePeople out in the street, people
in the department, people allaround because I've had the

(33:25):
privilege of working with peoplefrom all walks of life and I
got to hear their stories, I gotto see them in their
environment and, whether youcall them criminals or victims,
at the end of it, when you'reright there and you're eye to
eye, face to face, youunderstand the humanity and you
understand what compassionreally means.
And if you don't get that, ifyou can't see the love of people

(33:49):
, then it's not the rightprofession for you yeah, it's,
it's.

it's very difficult, right, because I mean
here in downtown la um, where Igrew up, in our family business
, we we've had some situationswe've had to tackle some people
with some what we say in Spanishmachetes, like literally, you
know.
And it's tough, right, becauseeveryone's in different
positions and not everyonethinks the same or is the same,

(34:14):
and it's hard to understand andnot judge a book by its cover.
And when you're in lawenforcement you have so much
responsibility carrying thatbadge and that firearm and it
takes a lot for you tounderstand that.
So I think that helps you inyour leadership roles and
growing in your careers too,like you're able to understand

(34:35):
and really visualize what peopleare going through and the
reasoning why they're reacting acertain way.
So I think it prepares you forwhat you're doing next in your
career, right.

You're absolutely right, did that?
Yes, I'm not afraid of anyoneand I actually do profoundly.
I know this sounds weirdbecause I don't throw a word
love easily, but I do lovepeople because you know you go
back to even my dad.
What he did was not okay, but Igot to see the different sides

(35:06):
of that story and that's why Idon't judge people like.
I never saw myself as that.
I was there to protect, touphold the peace, and there's

(35:37):
other process to believe inpeople, because if you don't,
then what's your alternative?
And protecting peace, which isthe hardest part of being a
leader, because you know being atop workplace doesn't mean
you're just always having a goodtime.
It means you're taking verystrong disciplinary actions,
making unpopular decisions andbeing firm when it's hard.
But those are the kinds ofthings that really test who you

(36:00):
are as a human being and are youreally the right one for the
job, because it's not easy Imean, it's a different sense of
responsibility, right?

I mean not what you're doing now.
Even in the water district,water is very important.
Like I, I think a lot of peopledon't really understand how
important things are until maybethey don't have any water clean
water in their homes, right,but we don't think about it
often.
And that's a lot ofresponsibility for your
community.
So now you're not justresponsible for your household,

(36:33):
for your employees, but you'reproviding the service to
multiple households and multiplefamilies and people that
survive off of water, right, andthis is not just, you know,
drinking water.
This is what we need for ourhouseholds.
Look at what happened at thefires.
It's a big responsibility, sothat's a lot of weight on your
shoulders.
So how do you manage that?

(36:56):
How do you?
I mean, I'm sure you sleep fineat night, but how do you
maintain your composure withsuch responsibility?

because that's not an easy, you know that's not
an easy job to have I take itas a privilege to be able to
affect and make a difference,and it's not just in my
community, whether anywhere,whether it's california or
nationally, because we all knowpeople that live somewhere.
I always talk about the broadercommunity, and even globally,

(37:29):
because when it comes to water,everyone is right.
It's like religion.
You're not going to win thatfight trying to convince someone
that you're wrong and I'm right.
What I've always tried to do isthat's your belief.
This is my belief.
Let's put the belief aside andlet's negotiate.
What are we trying to do here?
Because we have to getsomething done and let's figure
it out, because we could eitherdo nothing or we could do

(37:52):
something.
We won't get everything, butlet's just do something because
that's progress.
And we have to do it because wehave that obligation and that
responsibility and that's whatthe public expects.
I always looked at water as apeople business rather than a
utility, and there was a timethat I was an anomaly in this

(38:13):
industry the way that I am, theway that I look, the way that I
think, the way that I operate,and even now I'm still a bit of
an odd duck.
But that's okay, because for meand even now I'm still a bit of
an odd duck, but that's okay,because for me, the
infrastructure, all these things, yes, is indicative of what we
do, but at the end of it allit's about people and it always

(38:35):
starts with people and if I putmy focus on that, everything
always happens.

Going back to your public service.
Yes, you're always that's whereleadership comes in, right?
Not everyone thinks the way youthink.
I mean, maybe we want to thinkthat we think that way, but a
lot of these leaders and peoplelike you and your position.
I think when you have thatintent and that compassion

(39:01):
primary, then everything elsefollows right.
So being just a really goodperson and taking those, taking
um people into consideration andreally helps you in your
leadership skills.
So how did you pivot from lawenforcement to water?
What was it, what was thetransition like there and or
what did you do in between that?

another accident.
I fell in love uh, apparentlynot with the right person,
because it's not my ex-husbandbut at the time the, the person
that I was in love with, said ifyou don't leave law enforcement
, we're not going to be togetheroh my goodness I know, oh my
goodness, is the right message.
It's like if I could do a psamessage right now I would say
don't make career decisions, on,on that.

(39:43):
Uh, but I did.
At the time I didn't knowbetter and I just started
looking for a job to change mycareer.
I had got my master's while Iwas a police officer and the
first place and, by the way, Iapplied for like salesperson
teacher.
I applied for so many differentthings and the first place that
called me was a water agency inLA and I went through the

(40:08):
interview and I got hiredproudly as a lowest ranking
member of the public affairsdepartment with no title, and my
first day on the job they saidyou are everyone's peon and I
said I will be the best peon.

Because what my goodness Because?

what choice did I have?
Again, survival, and then justworked really hard.
Also, again, a lot of blessings, and seven years later I became
a CEO.

I know I mean that's incredible.
I mean think about the studentsthat are out there right now
working on their master's orworking on their bachelor's or
even have gone through all ofthat and are still trying to
figure out what they're doing.
And for you to get into thisindustry, it's incredible the
amount of people that areinvolved and the amount of just

(41:01):
the infrastructure and theindustry as a whole and water.
I mean I get pulled into someof your summits and I've met a
lot of great individuals thatwork in that industry and it's
it's so important.
And for you to just start in anagency like that and work your
way up to CEO of this waterdistrict, that's incredible.
I mean it just really showsyour work ethic.

(41:21):
Like I don't think a lot ofpeople can say I mean you say it
very lightly, but I know it'snot lightly, it's, it's, it's a
big deal.

You know, I always tell people, first and
foremost, you have to be a goodperson and do good for others.
It's not just enough thatyou're good, you have to do good
for others.
There is a power in that and Iam a testament to that, because
I was never the smartest, I wasnever the best at anything.
This is why I don't likecompetition, because I'm not

(41:49):
like.
I'm a winner, like no.
I like to build a strong teamaround me because I know I'm not
the strongest, but being a goodperson, doing good for others,
is my number one rule.
And the second thing is always,always, you know, not only help
people, but see how you canmake an impact, and beyond

(42:12):
yourself.
And, of course, work ethic isreally, really important and
having that hunger, the desireto work, but not in a way that's
selfish, not in a way that putsothers down, but in a way that
lifts others.
And if you work hard for others, it's incredible what you can
achieve.

(42:33):
And what I wish I could tellmyself when I was in my 20s, 30s
and even 40s, which I tellpeople in their 20s, 30s and 40s
to nauseam is build, build yourrelationships, relationships,
because if you're a good person,you do good for others and
you're helpful and you're makingthose impacts and you're

(42:53):
lifting others.
You're gonna build thoserelationships and that is so
critical in life and in yourprofession and I wish I had
known that sooner.
I had to catch up real fast.
I worked hard at it, but if youstart early it's so much better
and it just it builds you as adifferent person.

(43:15):
And I look back on so manyyears of my life and how I felt
the loneliness and how I feltthe lack of confidence to where
I feel now.
I still feel awkward, I stilldon't have that confidence.
But you know I'm part of acommunity and I know what I

(43:35):
bring, I know who I connect andin people around me is where I
find my strength and it's been.
You know.

I say it's been a joyous life and you lead
with such strength and empathy.
Like I'm trying to capture yourleadership style because I know
you outside of work.
But if, what would youremployees say about you and your
staff?
Like people who work around you, because it sounds like you
really bring them in and andthey really you work.
Your leadership style is notconventional, so tell me a

(44:05):
little bit about that.
And if I were to read a book,what's closest to your style?

Interestingly enough, I read a lot of books as
part of my master's program.
I don't put myself in anycategory because I never quite
identified with one, because Inever quite identified with one.
What I would say is, my styleis about being very much
evolving, adapting to thesituation, to the people, but

(44:34):
ultimately getting it done.
So this isn't just all makingsure everybody's feeling good.
Having a workforce that feelssafe mentally, physically,
emotionally at work is myparamount priority, but we have
a job to do and we're going toget it done.

It's a critical job.

We're going to get it done but we're going to
bring everybody along anddifferent generation, different
people, different perspective.
I have to make sure I amappealing to all those different
thoughts and generations andperspectives.
So I try to make myself fitinto the time and the need that

(45:12):
I need to fulfill because, if Icould say it, my leadership
style it's everything else butme.
You know, I put myself last.

I mean, I think that's really important
because there's certain peoplewho have a certain style and
everyone has to work around thatstyle, right?
But when you're consideringyour staff and your support,
obviously everyone learnsdifferent, right?
It's like being a student atschool we all have a different
way of learning and you probablyhave a different way, so it's

(45:45):
it's it's trying to understandthe best way to approach things.
So it sounds like you're easyto work with, but you never know
, because at the end of the day.

At the end of the day, there's a deadline
there's it's business too right.

so it's kind of balancing that.
When I had the, the familybusiness, um, I had employees
that were with me for I don'tknow 10, 15 years and they kind
of get a little too comfortableright and sooner or later they
may not take you so serious.
But I had one gentleman I'mlike I won't say his name, but
he a lot older than I was andI'm like, look, don't take me

(46:22):
for granted, don't take mycompassion and my love for all
of you guys for granted.
This is still a workplace, westill have to get things done
and you have to balance thatright.
But the idea in me I'm stilllearning right Is not to let it
get that far right.
So obviously it's a learningexperience for me in trying to

(46:44):
lead a team.
But you lead over 200 employees.
You said Mm-hmm.
So it's not easy to work withsuch a dynamic team in doing
that.
So it's incredible what you do.
Tell me a little bit about yourhobbies and your passion.

(47:04):
Outside of the Water Districtyou sit on a lot of boards and
again it kind of comes back toyou giving back to the community
.
But you sit on the board ofUnited Way Make-A-Wish.
What transitioned you and whatmade you want to do that?

All the boards that I sit on.
I've never asked to be on theboard.
I'm very surprised and humbledthat they asked me, Because it's
the same principle that I liveby is that when you are good and
you do good for others and youlift others and get people what
they want, inevitably they wantyou around and I really believe
that's why I'm on all theseboards and I don't like to say

(47:45):
no, because but you're active.
You're active and you show up,you participate.

You're not just another picture or name.

No, because I'm so honored that I'm asked.
I mean, you've got to rememberI'm not used to being asked for
anything.
I'm this again, this nerdyoutcast kid.
Anytime someone asks me forsomething, I'm just like I am so
thankful, like I can't say noand I want to do good because I
don't wanna let you down.
And so that does spread me thin.
And when you say hobby, I don'thave a hobby because I love

(48:16):
what I do.
Like I can't think of anythingelse that I enjoy more than the
work that I do in the publicservice environment.
What I love is that I get towear many hats.
I'm just not the CEO ofMultinegal Water District.
I get to serve on theCalifornia Seismic Safety
Commission.
That affects all Californians.
We just saw the wildfiredisaster and we're doing things

(48:37):
right now to prepare for thenext big one that's going to
result in wildfire.
I get to participate on theNational Advisory Board for
infrastructure that's criticalto life.
I get to be on all these boardsto connect people because,
again, if you need somethinglike I don't know how to do it
for you, but I know someone whocan and if I can bring you two

(48:57):
together and it's a catalyst forsomething wonderful, I'd love
to just sit and watch and seegood things happen and I don't
have to take the credit, I don'thave to be a part of it.
It makes me feel good.
It gives me a sense of worththat I didn't have before.
To see that.

And it's like the least we can do.
I joined the board of theAmerican Red Cross December,
right before the fires, and it'sincredible to see the amount of
work that they do and theinfrastructure that they have
and I mean they're fullyactivated, right, and it's in a
moment's notice and we keeptalking about the big one here

(49:35):
in Los Angeles and it's scary tothink that way.
But the fires and it's allabout the infrastructure too,
right, because if we do have anearthquake that way or an
earthquake, you know we're goingto have fires, we're going to
have floods, we're going to havegas line leaks.
It's going to be very difficult.
So to bring your experience inseismic and water and public

(49:57):
safety right Like you bring somuch to the table.

You definitely do wear multiple hats, so I mean
it's nice to have your cellphone number because I know who
I'm calling.
Well, and it's nice to haveyours too, because you're the
same way.
You know people and that's onething I really appreciate about
you is that you love connecting,you love helping.
That's why I don't know if Ishould even bring this up.
But when you post on LinkedInabout how do you network, how do

(50:24):
you come into a room with abunch of strangers, I'm sure
that with so many people thatyou know we all mentor people,
and I'm sure that with so manypeople that you know we all
mentor people, and I've sharedthat with so many people.
And that has also created othersparks that I'll share with you
later about the conversationthat that has incited.
But you don't have to do thatand it's very helpful to people.

I think I'm still building on that.
Definitely, when I joined thechamber, it opened up my world.
I mean, I was in an industrywhere I was in a bubble.
You're going to the sameconventions, the same trade
shows, the same vendors, thesame people, the same network,
right, and it's just oneindustry, whether it's groceries
or confectionery and whenyou're involved in such a

(51:05):
massive organization that has somany different verticals, so
many different industries, somany different partners, I'm
like literally a kid right now.
I'm learning so much.
And then I get exposed topeople like you and I'm like
okay, like there's so much moreI can learn, right, so that's
really all I'm doing.
I'm just trying to learn and andand compile all this
information the best way I can,um, and when I can, and and send

(51:29):
it out to people who may be ina similar position.
Because that networkingnewsletter that you're
mentioning I did stop this yearbecause of the fires and just a
lot going on.
I should bring that up again.
But it's things that I'mexperiencing Like okay, I'm
going to these events, I'mmeeting all these great people
there's like 500 people in hereLike, how do you network?

(51:49):
How is this meaningful?
Like you meet a lot of greatpeople.
There's like 500 people in here.
Like, how do you network?
How, how is this meaningful?
Like you meet a lot of greatpeople, but what do you do
afterwards?
How do you continue therelationship and the dialogue?
So again, um, I'm not saying Ihave the answers, but I'm I'm
really just trying to learn asmuch as I can and I'm learning
from you guys.
Like you guys have have beenthere, done that and are still
doing it, um, and all I can dois help amplify the work that

(52:10):
you guys are doing.
So, yeah, it's incredible whatyou're doing.
So what do you see is next foryou?
Like it sounds like everythingyou've done has been by mistake.
I mean, if you had to choosewhat you'd want to do, I mean I

(52:34):
know you're doing it now, but,like, if you said I really want
to do this, what would it be?

I really want to be on a bigger stage where I
can make a bigger impact.
I love my agency and my boardmembers know it, my staff knows
it, my community knows it andwe've created such an amazing.
We call it the molten magic,not just within the organization

(53:01):
but what we created around us.
When we talk about worldwidepresence for an agency of our
size it almost sounds fictitious, but it's real.
United Nations recognized asglobal entities.
Imagine what we can do in abigger forum.
And I never set my sights juston one thing.

(53:23):
Because of the experience, Ihave a lot of faith that, as
long as I continue to do what Ido and know that I am meant for
a bigger purpose, that my faithand the community around me will
carry me there.
And I just got to make surethat I always stay, ever ready

(53:44):
and always prepare myself andtrain myself for that next
challenge, for that next calling, and all will be good.

It's definitely a calling and I think
, when you look at it that way,you know things will come to you
right and they come at theright time, the right moment.
And if you'd stay true toyourself and helping others, I
think, like you said, that'sgoing to reflect on who you mean
, who you interact with, andthat opportunity will come and
you'll know and you'll have afeeling.

(54:13):
Maybe you don't know, butthings do happen by mistake,
like you said, and you'll try tofigure out how to navigate that
.
But I think that when you're acompassionate person and truly
caring, that goes a long way.
Caring, that goes a long way,cause I think a lot of people

(54:33):
who are driven by money, um, whoare driven by different
necessities, um, are notauthentic and and they can only
go so far, right.
What amazes me with you is youare already at that level, right
?
Um, you already have such aposition.
That's that's anyone would,would want to be in your
position, um, but you're stillso humble, you're still so

(54:57):
caring, right, because a lot ofpeople who are in those titles
and have those roles, you know,suddenly they're just too busy
or just kind of too good for youknow, for other people.
So it's nice to see that you'restill um compassionate to the
community and you're reallyinvolved.
Like I said, it's nice to seethat you're still compassionate
to the community and you'rereally involved.
Like I said, it's not just youknow, you sign up just to say
you've done it or you've beenthere, but I think you're very

(55:19):
compassionate and it really justshows in your line of work and
what you've done so far and whatyou continue to do.

And I get more out of it.
It's not like, oh, I'm here sobeing so nice.
You know someone said to me theother day you're too accessible
.
You know you're too reachable,and I said you got to understand
as someone who nobody wanted totalk to.
I am always thankful whensomeone reaches out, when they
want to spend their precioustime to talk with me, and I try

(55:48):
to make every effort.
Sometimes I do it well,sometimes not as well.
Well, you know, when you askedme to be part of your podcast,
like I was so honored, like, oh,my god the time.
Like knowing you and yournetwork and the people and the
title of this, all I'm, like youwant me to be on a show, like,
of course, it's such an honor,and like that wonder and

(56:09):
amazement and like joy nevergets old.
I love what I do and I feelsorry for people who just oh
yeah, you know I do that all thetime Because when it comes to
money, you never have enough.
But, when it comes to joy.
It's what you make it and youknow I am so excited for you

(56:30):
that you're doing this podcast.
You make it and you know I amso excited for you that you're
doing this podcast, and I wishwe could have caught what you
said before the camera startedrolling about why you started
this, and I hope that you doshare with your viewers and
listeners of why you're doingthis and how you're doing it,
because it's very unique.

I think and I haven't said it on camera, but
the reason why I'm doing this isbecause I come across so many
great leaders like you and whenI go to a lot of these forums
and these conferences andsummits, you know you're on
stage, you have your talkingpoints and you're presenting an
entity or a company or whateverelse, and you're rarely talking

(57:09):
about yourself.
And I've always wondered, I'mlike, wow, how did that person
get there?
Why are they the way they are?
To me, it's all aboutleadership and if I can capture
your leadership style and whoyou are, we can inspire others
right, and inspire me.

(57:29):
I mean, that's all I'm doing.
It's like, okay, so how do Iget to sit down with you?
And I've been given thisplatform and I don't take it
lightly, I take it very seriousand when I started working for
this, for this organization, mypassion was the mission.
It wasn't the, the title, itwasn't the pay.

(57:52):
It was like, okay, I believe inwhat we're doing, I believe
it's needed, I believe in ourleader, I believe in our board
and it's easy for me to go workright, because it's not.
I really don't feel like I'mworking and when I was in the
family business.
I felt like I was working, likeI grew up in it.
It was like every weekend youhad to go work.

(58:15):
On the summers you're workingand you grow up and actually
there was some time where wedidn't have that business.
And then you realize, man, it'snice to have a family business,
right?
And then you want it again, andI had the opportunity of
getting it again and then I didthat for a long time.
But it's just, it's, it's veryoverwhelming.
And to me it's balancing it all.

(58:40):
Right.
It's like how do you balanceeverything that you're doing?
Because when you're, when youhave that responsibility of
managing a payroll at that sizeand that magnitude, it's not,
it's, it's nothing you take verylightly, right.
It's like people depend on thisand live off of this and and
for your case it's peoplesurvive, right.

(59:01):
So for me it's like it's such asense of responsibility and
just a heavy load, right.
So it's, how do you balance whatyou're doing now?
Like you know, I know you sayyou have no hobbies, but you're
involved in so much.
Like, how do you pick andchoose?
Because you talked aboutaccessibility.
I've gotten that comment before.

(59:22):
Like you're everywhere, do youever say no?
And maybe we should startsaying no, like, what do you
think?
Like, how do you, how do webalance that too?
Because at the same time,you're pulling from somewhere
else.
Right, like for me, I'm pullingfrom my family, my kids, I'm
out, you know, from seven in themorning till seven at night,
sometimes later, and I'm takingtime away from something else.

(59:44):
So how do you balance all ofthat?

I would say don't overthink it.
I went through the wholethought process too for a long
time and I just say don'toverthink it.
I went through the wholethought process too for a long
time and I just realized don'toverthink it.
You're blessed to even saywhere is my balance, and if you
feel that you don't have enoughtime for your family, maybe that
day you make the time.
Don't take the whole thing atonce.
Take it one step at a time, oneday at a time.

(01:00:10):
I can only do what I can today,which is I'm not going to
satisfy everyone today, but thisis how I'm going to prioritize
today.
Tomorrow I'm going to look backat today and say I made a
terrible mistake, but that'sokay, let's fix it on a
Wednesday then.

Christopher Luna (01:00:21):
You made a terrible mistake being on a
podcast, no, and these are allof us trying to figure it out.

Joone Kim-Lopez (01:00:29):
It's the hustle .
It's a good hustle, and for ourchildren, for our loved ones,
our friends.
I used to always tell my sonhugs and kisses, don't buy you
shoes.
Mom's got to go to work.

There you go.

And with friends.
I celebrate my friends whenthey cancel because they got
some good thing going on at work.
And it's who you surroundyourself with, it's how you
communicate while you're doingwhat you're doing, and it's not
the quantity of time.
It's the quality of the time.
My wife says that and you, justyou go through and you do the

(01:01:06):
best that you can and you trustthe people around you to say,
hey, I need this from you.
Like, okay, all right, no one,no one should sit back and, well
, let's see what you do, youknow, and be judgy and say, oh,
you know, you didn't, you didn'tdo this.
You have imbalance, because whois really in balance?
Like what is that balance?

(01:01:27):
Who knows?

show me a good person that's got a good thing
is, too, is we found somethingthat we're compassionate about,
right.
So, like I said, we don't, Idon't, I don't feel like I'm
working and at least I can sayI'm giving back to the community
one way or another.
Right, and when I'm, when I'mout and away from my kids, I
kind of say that a little bittoo.
It's like, as I was growing up,my parents were always gone,

(01:01:52):
but I knew they were working tosustain a household.
We were six siblings, right,it's not easy and I understood
that, but I was lucky tounderstand that as a child.
Some kids don't understand that.
They don't realize that.
They just think mom and dad areworking.
But if they understand whatyou're doing and how you're

(01:02:14):
playing a role and a greatercause or greater good, like my,
my older son, he understands now.
Like he was super sad when Isold the business.
He he was to this day.
He still draws pictures of the,the, the business and our
trucks and like you knoweverything.
And he's like dad, why'd youhave to sell the business?
I'm like son, like there'ssomething more here.
You know there's, there's,there's something that I'm doing
.
I don't know what, yeah, Istill don't know what, but I

(01:02:34):
feel like I'm giving back, Ifeel like I'm helping, I feel a
part of the community, right?
So, um, you know it's just.
I guess, like you said, youdon't don't think about it too
much and just kind of continuedoing what you're doing.
I have a lot of support toowith my wife, like she
understands and, and you knowshe, I'm lucky where she's home
and she has everything takencare of.
Um, but yeah, like you said, ifit's, we shouldn't really have

(01:02:57):
to balance things right, it'sjust part of life yeah, this
idea of you have to have thisperfect balance and perfect life
is total false.

even if they say that they are, you know, if
you kind of look under thecovers it's not real and no one
gets it right're all justimperfect.
Which is the beautiful thingabout humanity we don't get it
right.
And if we sit there and beatourselves up about what we
didn't do and what we are not,we would drive ourselves into
the ground.
And I did that.
What I realized is let'sforgive ourselves for what we

(01:03:27):
are not.
Let's celebrate ourselves forwho we are.
Let's pay and focus our timeand attention to what we should
be, what we can be, and if wecan make that good for others as
good for us, that's perfect.
And that's how I describeperfection.
It's so important to find aplace in your mind where you

(01:03:51):
could be good with yourself sothat you could be good for
others.
If you're always searching andscrambling to find your perfect
balance, you're going to getcaught up in that.

Wow, that's incredible.
I'm going to take that snippetand make it into a reel.
I'm gonna take that snippet andmake it into a real um.
Well, just before we go, somerapid uh questions and I've been
trying to follow this as muchas I can, but you know there's
um when you get into aconversation that gets a little

(01:04:25):
deep and, um, I think it's bestto be natural right, and I don't
want to and it was never meantto be an interview and just kind
of ask you question by question.
But I think that your leadershipstyle and who you are at the
end of the day was what I wantedto capture, and it's hard for

(01:04:48):
me to explain that to people.
When I talk about you, it'slike you know who's, who are you
and who do you, what do you doand who is she and why do you
hang out with her and why do youhelp her.
So to me, it's like people needto see who you are outside of
what we do every day, and I'mI'm thankful for you to be here
today.
I'm honored that you're here.

(01:05:08):
Um, you know, and and I reallyappreciate your time I don't
take it lightly, because I knowhow busy you are.

Oh, and it's more than mutual, you know, ever
since I met you, you have justbeen this amazing center of
everything and a connector andkind Out of all those hundreds
and thousands of people.
You knew who I was.
That is very rare because thereare people with a lot higher
titles, greater influence, thatare more important to the work

(01:05:39):
that you're doing.
But you knew who I was and youtook the time, and that is not
only the kind of leader you are,but that is the kind of human
being that you are and becauseof that you are going to go, you
are going to exceed your ownexpectations and I am just going
to be here pushing and cheeringand just being in your shadow

(01:06:01):
is an honor.

You're definitely not in any shadow.
I think we're learning off ofeach other, if anything.
Like I said, I am a child rightnow living this dream, working
for this company, thisorganization, and I just come
across so many greatinspirational leaders.
And you know, I'm, I'm, I'm.

(01:06:23):
I have no like alternativemotive.
That I'm like you know it'shard for me to explain, because
it's it's not that I've thoughtabout what I'm doing right.
I'm like you know it's hard forme to explain, because it's not
that I've thought about whatI'm doing right, I'm just doing
it.
But the reason why I'm doing itis because our organization is
there to support the community.
We're there to assist ourregion and if you believe in

(01:06:44):
what we're doing, it comes verynaturally and organically.
And I really do believe in whatwe're doing and I believe in
our leadership.
When someone's working for you,it makes it easier, right?
And that's how I feel.
And you know it's hard becauseit's very tempting.
There's a lot of options andopportunities out there, but if
you stay true to yourself,everything else will come right.

Absolutely.

So coffee or tea.

Tea.

Oh, okay, black tea.
Black tea, black tea.

What's your favorite?
Quote or mantra Ooh reach whatyou cannot.

Dream dinner with which guest Like.
If you were to sit down fordinner with someone, who would
you want to sit down?

Oh, my dream dinner it would be.
I think it would be acombination of Korean Italian
dinner.
Noodles is a common Okay.
Who would I want to sit with?
There's so many.
That's a really good one.
You stumped me on this one.
I you know this sounds.

(01:07:54):
I would love to sit down andhave dinner with Prince.

Prince, like formerly known as Prince,
formerly known as Prince yes, Iknow, but you didn't say you
have to be alive.

Alright, do I really have a chance?

I'll give you that one I'm manifesting chance.

I'll give you that one I'm manifesting but why
, prince?
Because he was talk aboutsomeone who's revolutionary,
someone who is a pioneer,someone who's extremely talented
, and you would just never thinkif you didn't, if you didn't
know him before he was prince,that he could be this he.

He was a game changer there's a song that I
love, um that he wrote that.
I didn't know was it ShaniaTwins?
No, because um Chris Cornellcovered it.
You know I'm drawing a blank.

Uh, nothing compares to you oh yeah, shania,
uh, sinead O'Connor there yougo.

Go, yes, but thank you again for your time.
It means a lot that you tookthe time to come out here to LA
and downtown and I trulyappreciate your friendship and I
look forward to the futurewhere things take us.
But thank you.

Well, thank you so much and I am so excited
about your podcast and I knowyou'll be so successful.
And just don't forget us littlepeople when you're just.

No, no, no, no , I think I'm.
I can't do it without thesupport that I have and everyone
around me.

Oh, and you certainly have a lot of that.
Certainly have it here.

Thank you.
Well, thank you for joining us.
You'll get all the informationdetails, uh, through this video
and this podcast.
I don't want to say podcast.
You know why?
You're in journalism.
I can ask you real quick.
Um, so someone in in in theentertainment industry told me
that we shouldn't say podcast somuch, because this may be

(01:09:45):
picked up in another format well, I, that's what we're talking
about off camera.

I said what you guys got going on here is so
much better than tv broadcastshows, talk shows.
Uh, yeah, I totally agree withyou.

I just said podcast because you said podcast
, but I gotta figure out.
Yeah, I gotta.
I gotta figure out a way tochange the verbiage on that.

Narrator 2 (01:10:07):
This is your talk show.

You know there's there's a lot of
opportunity here and, uh, Ithink that this can go far.
So thank you again for yourtime and I appreciate you being
here.

Narrator 1 (01:10:16):
Thank you for joining us on this episode of
the Los Angeles leaders podcast,hosted by Christopher Luna.
We hope you found ourconversation as inspiring as we
did.
Don't forget to subscribe andleave us a review on your
favorite podcast platform.
Your feedback helps us bringmore of the content you love,
and be sure to follow us onsocial media for updates behind

(01:10:39):
the scenes content and to jointhe conversation Until next time
.
Keep leading, keep innovatingand keep making a difference.
You.

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Joone Kim-Lopez – General Manager of Moulton Niguel Water District | Los Angeles Leaders

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Joone Kim-Lopez – General Manager of Moulton Niguel Water District | Los Angeles Leaders