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By Coralita Jones, Defense Finance and Accounting Service
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 15, 2021 -- Brian K. Lewis is just a guy from Cleveland, Ohio, who loved his wife and matriculated at Cleveland State University earning a bachelor’s in economics and a master’s in finance and accounting. He authored “When God Doesn’t Heal” after the death of his wife.
Jennifer J. Griffin is a family oriented entrepreneur, and has a passion for shopping. She turned that passion into a business venture called Dress for Impressions. She also used her entrepreneurial abilities and authored, “Chyra’s Chronicles, Chyra Gets a Dog.”
Both are employees at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service at the site in Cleveland. Brian, who has worked for 12 years at DFAS, is an accountant in Departmental Reporting, and Jennifer is a financial system specialist in Military Pay, Finance Operations, with three years at DFAS.
Brian and Jennifer have different paths that led them to writing and leadership. This article details their insight on leadership see below.
Q: WHAT IS ONE CHARACTERISTIC THAT YOU BELIEVE EVERY LEADER SHOULD POSSESS?
BRIAN: There are actually two characteristics: empathy and persistence. Being empathic requires you to know what your team may be facing professionally and personally, which creates the connection. Maintaining persistence as a leader allows you to experience victories and mistakes, which are in the evolution of leadership. The key is always going forth and not giving up, be relentless toward the goals.
JENNIFER: Integrity is the major characteristic. Morals and values automatically fall under that umbrella. Leaders should remain transparent with leading and cultivating those in their professional and personal lives. To maintain great leadership a leader should always be upstanding to ensure those that you are leading will follow in that path and be a continuous cycle.
Q: WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN YOUR WORLD?
BOTH JENNIFER & BRIAN agree that leaders of today have to be cognizant of the present and future technologies, have an open mind, and communicate. “Communication is the gateway and connection toward the balance of the past and future. Leaders should continue to cultivate the relationships and passions of the next generations by being open to change, and fostering communication. This can facilitate growth and plant the next generation of leaders.”
A publicity photograph shows Brian K. Lewis with the copy of his book, which was published in January 2021 after the death of his wife, Radia. The book describes his faith journey in the wake of his loss. (Courtesy photo)
Q: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST FAILURE? AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
BRIAN: My greatest failure was not meeting some of the goals my deceased wife and I had established within the course of our marriage. As the leader of my marriage, procrastination was the greatest failure, it makes you lose time and not attain goals. The lesson learned I learned from this experience forever is not promised and no one has an infinite amount of time. Do all you can do and fulfill your purpose and limit regrets.
JENNIFER: Having failures are a part of daily living and life. I am not sure that one failure is bigger than another one may hurt more than another may. A failure that I will share is the time that it took me to obtain my master’s degree. I began in 1994 and completed my master’s in 2016. Throughout the time obstacles continued to cause a delay toward completion. What I have learned is to keep going, push, and never give up. I am reminded of my grandmother who walked to where she had to go to get to her end. That is the mantra I live by, keep going and PUSH. We will face tests daily and if we do not pass them, you find a work around. Stay encouraged and motivated.
An illustration from “Chyra’s Chronicles, Chyra Gets a Dog” written by Jennifer L. Griffin, a DFAS Cleveland employee, and illustrated by Janay Jones, published in October 2020. (Courtesy photo)
Q: CAN YOU NAME A PERSON WHO HAS A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON YOU AS LEADER?
BRIAN: Donnell Clark is someone I hold in high regard as close friend and mentor for over 30 years. He has always been easy to talk too and everything he as ever told me was true. As a mentor, he has provided the correct advice to me professionally and personally. Donnell does not limit his thinking he pushes me even when I limit my own expectations.
JENNIFER: Ruth Russell, my grandmother, was a strong woman born in 1910, never drove, and lived until she was 96. She led the family and had the characteristics of a servant-leader. Throughout her lifetime, she modeled taking care of her family and serving those that was in need no matter the geographic location. She supported those by love, monetary means, physically giving of her time, or simply sharing her wisdom and knowledge. She always said, ‘Do not keep your hand so tight that no one can put anything in it!’ She stressed the importance of education and stated, ‘If you put it up there meaning knowledge no one can take it away from you.’
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE, AND HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE TOPIC?
BRIAN: I got inspired because I wanted to share Radia’s story. My wife passed from a rare form of stomach cancer. She kept an account of her daily experiences and thought process in her journal. Ultimately, upon healing she was going to write and share her experience with the world however, there was another plan. “When God Doesn’t Heal” provides insight when your plan is not the plan but the plan that is designed. This book will prove to be one of the greatest love stories ever told, causes you to be forever challenged and changed.
JENNIFER: I have always had a passion for writing, journaling, and poetry. I began writing at 15 or 16 and had an opportunity to write for American Greetings but did not take the opportunity. I have always wanted to write a children’s book, and one night I felt it in my spirit that it was my time to get it done. Because my daughter and I have allergies to animals and she wants a dog, the idea formed “Chyra’s Chronicles, Chyra Gets a Dog.” I also wanted to bridge the gap with the literacy deficiency within the African American community.
Both books are available in either paperback or Kindle through online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Coralita Jones is the director of Trust Fund Accounting and Reporting, DFAS Indianapolis, and she is the co-chair of the Black Female Barrier Analysis team. This story was part of the BFBA “Diversity Spotlight” series that focusses on employees and leadership. The BFBA advisory group is part of an DFAS-wide effort to analyze and take action to address barriers in black females moving through the agency’s promotional pipeline.
| Date Taken: | 12.15.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.28.2021 15:35 |
| Story ID: | 411202 |
| Location: | INDIANAPOLIS , IN, US |
| Web Views: | 128 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, DFAS employees, authors provide leadership insights, by Christopher Allbright, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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