Goizueta alumni hold more than a coveted degree from Emory; they also boast a wealth of life experiences and business know-how. In this ongoing series, EmoryBusiness.com will share their sage advice, which you can add to your own toolkit.
Lundyn Carter 17MBA
Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer
Laine London
What influence from childhood still resonates with you?
My first job. Like every kid, I had this idea that money grew on trees. When I turned 16, my parents gave me two options: ride the bus to school or get a job and buy my own car. I had to find a job within walking distance, and my two options were pushing carts at Publix (I grew up in Florida, and the summer heat was no joke!) or the 4 a.m. shift at Dunkin Donuts. I chose the latter. Little did I know my experience waking up at the crack of dawn to make donuts and pour coffee would influence who I am today. The manager I worked with took her job extremely seriously and explained to me that we were responsible for making sure the hard-working people in our community were equipped with the fuel (coffee and donuts) they needed to start their day. No matter if it was the police chief or the garbage man, I was taught to treat every customer the same. I learned so much that summer, including empathy, resilience and hard work. (Oh…and how much a car really costs!)
Who inspires you and why?
Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments. From afar, she has been such a big part of my professional journey since 2013, and this year I had the opportunity to meet her at the Executive Women of Goizueta “Advancing Women in Leadership” conference. She was exactly what I expected, which made me look up to her even more.
What’s on your music playlist?
A little bit of everything. Music is a huge part of my life. (I used to work in the music industry and my husband, Elliot Carter, is a multi-platinum award-winning audio engineer.) I have playlists that include songs by T.I., Queen, Outkast, Taylor Swift, Dixie Chicks, Lady Gaga, Drake, Beyoncé…you get the point.
What’s the best career or life advice you’ve received?
“Live your life being unapologetically YOU,” and, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” (It’s a tie).
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?
My husband and I work opposite schedules, which means our time spent together is extremely valuable. Sometimes that means opening all of the windows at our house while we “Netflix and chill” with our puppy, Leo. Also, I kickbox four times a week. I’m an early riser, which means 6:30 a.m. kickboxing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I absolutely love it, especially on Monday mornings, because I can kick and punch away all of the negativity and bad energy that may try to ruin the week. Aside from being a great workout, when you’re kickboxing, your mind has to be 100 percent on your moves and form, which forces you to be in the moment. Deepak Chopra says distraction is the ego’s way to avoid being in the present moment and gives us the illusion that we are doing something. I couldn’t have said it any better!
What is your biggest challenge?
Being too hard on myself and always feeling the need to apologize. It’s something I’ve found women my age constantly do. It’s time for everyone (especially women) to course-correct this notion to the point where young girls coming up behind us think it’s silly that this was ever a challenge.
What is your favorite app?
My favorite is definitely Later, an app to schedule, plan, manage and track your social media posts. I have an amazing social media manager, and Later allows me to see what and when content is being posted for my company.
What is your best Goizueta or Emory memory?
One of our classmates passed away unexpectedly during our second term. This unfortunate event brought the cohort together on a level none of us expected. As a cohort, we decided the best way to keep her memory alive was through a class gift. The Angela F. Johnson Memorial Scholarship supports executive MBA students from an underrepresented population who have shown a demonstrated interest in entrepreneurship or micro-entrepreneurship.
How do you define success?
Hard work plus bravery equals success. (I have to give the credit to Mellody Hobson for defining success so eloquently). Hard work will mean something different for everyone, but no matter what “hard” looks like to you, it still means overcoming adversity, obstacles and challenges. For me, bravery is the ability to be bold, fearless and true to yourself and your beliefs.
