I AM Radio: The Art of Shattering Glass with Hala Moddelmog

This week, we sit down with glass-ceiling smasher, corporate and nonprofit leader, Atlanta booster, storyteller, mentor, mother and grandmother, community organizer, and woman of the hour Hala Moddelmog. Hala is a fellow Atlantian, spending nearly her entire career in this southeastern metropolis. Shout out for the home team! 

Hala is currently the President and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center in downtown Atlanta. She has spent nearly 30 years in President and CEO roles from Metro Atlanta Chamber to Arby’s Restaurant Group to Susan G. Komen - and more. Needless to say, ain’t no mountain high enough!

In our 30-minute conversation, Hala shares her story of “having it all,” her unwavering commitment to the Atlanta community, her experience with storytelling and art as mechanisms for learning and change, and her incredible take on how to invest in others “doing the work.”

Hala was among the first to join the I AM 111 to support the “making of” the I AM Series. In this episode, we ask Hala why she joined, and she surprised us with the most authentic and powerful answer!

“I saw two women putting everything on the line to do something important, and I thought sign me up! Let me be a little bit a part of this.” We won’t give it all away, but the TL;DR is: If you can show up for others in the “arena,” do.

Hala describes her experience being part of a generation that had to break proverbial glass ceilings, and how she and her fellow “glass shatterers” won’t stop because it’s just not fixed yet! And finally, the pièce de résistance, and our real takeaway from this conversation… The art of shattering that glass isn’t just in its breaking, it’s in turning around and offering a helping hand to those that follow with hammers. Mic drop. 🎤

Support and Follow Hala: 

Woodruff Arts Center

Hala Moddelmog: Woodruff Arts Center

This is an IT ALL Media Production. If you like what you hear, follow along at ITALLMedia.co and @itallmedia on Instagram and TikTok.

We are a women-centered media company rewriting the narrative on modern womanhood through story and collaboration.

We're glad you're here.

Transcript

0:00

Welcome to I Am Radio. I'm your cohost, Kasey Lett Gordon. And I'm your other, one might say better, half, Katie Louise Mullins. We are the creators of the beloved FIA podcast and the women behind It All Media. Join us every Thursday for your weekly dose of I Am Radio. We'll be joined by fellow creatives, experts, organizers, powerful women in media, and our favorite of all, real women. As we chronicle, Our journey as two first time entrepreneurs turn filmmakers. With that, cue the dancing hot dogs and concession ads. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. I'm back to I am radio today. I have the honor of sitting down with Hala model. Hala resides in Atlanta. So shout out for the home team. You spent most of her entire career here in Atlanta. And so we're so excited to have Hala on the show today, not only to share her story with you all. But also why she is behind supporting the I Am Docu series. Hala was one of the first people to join our founding member community, the 111 Angels. So I personally am so excited to learn more about Hala and, uh, have her share her story. Thank you so much for coming on the show. Oh, well, thank you, Katie. And I'm thrilled with what you two women are up to. And, um, as you will soon learn, I couldn't be a bigger Atlanta booster. So I appreciate that you guys chose to do it here. So thank you. Awesome. All right. So a little bit of background information Hala is currently the president and ceo of woodruff art center, which is downtown Hala has spent almost 30 years as president and ceo of roles from metro atlanta chamber to rb's restaurant group to susan g Komen and y'all that is just naming a few Um, she has also served as a corporate director for four new york stock exchange companies in the carlisle group private portfolio company Needless to say, HALA is deeply committed, supportive, and connected to the city of Atlanta. So I'd really love to start our story there. I'd love to hear why the city has been so central, not only to your career, but to you as a person, to your story. Yeah. You know, the thing I always say about Atlanta and I get a lot of head nonny nodding is that if you want to make a difference in Atlanta, if you want to have a dream in Atlanta and see it come true, Atlanta will let you do that. And I'm just not sure that there are a lot of other markets where basically the whole home team will get behind you. And there's example after example, after example, and you know, my own personal story is I'm from a. tiny town in Georgia. I came here right after graduate school. I didn't know a soul and basically, you know, started working. I actually had RBS. That was my first job out of graduate school and just, um, you know, decided then that you, you really could do anything. And, um, one little turning point in terms of getting involved in the community in Atlanta, Because Atlanta does expect corporate leaders and even nonprofit leaders and really anybody, they, they expect you to pay your civic rent, so to speak. They, they want you to come and help the community. So, uh, years ago, when I was in my late thirties, I was, uh, tapped to be the president of Church's Chicken. And I mean, the nanosecond that happened, I got a call from two women in town, one black, one white. who said, You've got to come to lunch with us. I did. Uh, they said, Look, you're the only woman in this town who has this title and you need to get involved with the community. And the next thing you know, I'm going through leadership Atlanta. This is 1997. Uh, I am all of a sudden, you know, asked to be on all these nonprofit boards, and that was just part of what I needed to do. And, oh, by the way, at the same time, I had a Second and fourth grader and my husband was working and traveling, but Atlanta asked me, they expected it and it's been giving back to me ever since. Oh, my gosh. I love that. And what a, what a chance to have to balance everything. We know when you talk about that work life balancing, that those were the years where I don't even remember how it happened. It just did, you know. Yeah, absolutely. You know, it's so this isn't the first time that I've lived in the Southeast, but I'm still relatively new to Atlanta. I've been here less than less than three years. Um, and when Casey and I started it on media, we very intentionally wanted to headquarter it here in Atlanta, even though, you know, people were saying like, well, LA might be a better market for a media company or New York might be a better market. And there's three reasons that really stand out in my mind, and that's one, so many stories are produced here in Atlanta, but so few are actually told from, from Atlanta. And then rewriting the narrative on modern womanhood, it looks very different in the South than it does in other places in the United States. And then finally, and you spoke a little bit to this, is I've lived in many major cities around the world, and I have never encountered a community that I, there's a mightiness here, but also a kindness and this network never like one, the network almost seems underground. Like it's so surprising how many people are connected to Atlanta or live in Atlanta part time or have just a heartfelt, you know, love for the city. And I felt that in networking, so many other places that I've lived has felt so transactional. Like, what can you do for me? And here, when I met people when I first moved here, um, I was actually working for Goody Nation. Um, as a part time CMO and they were just so generous and you should know this person. And then not only that, they would follow up with me on, did you meet them? Like we connected you. And so this has been such a beautiful opportunity, as you said, there's a lot of corporate and tech business here, but there is this incredible underground community as well that is creative and blossoming and, um, and the blend of the two just seems to be a little bit magical. Yeah. And you know, I couldn't agree more about this networking business in Atlanta. People will, they will, if, if a young woman, especially calls me and wants a coffee, I figure out how to do it. Right. And at the chamber, and of course, being at the chamber, I obviously should have been doing that. But my team used to get really annoyed with me because I would not say no to any point. But it is part of the secret sauce here, especially young women or people new to the market, because I want them to know that people will help them do things. And you're right. There is a kindness. There is a sharing. And, you know, back to the corporate and business side. One of the things when we were Yeah. At the chamber soliciting other companies to move their headquarters here, we'd have these big dinners and you'd have competitors in the room. You'd have all the CEOs of the major groups to your point. You'd have the tech crowd. And frankly, then we got smart a little later in the game and had the creative set there. So we looked really cool because we had all three. But the big story that came back from people is wow, you guys like each other and you know, each other. And you're willing to come together for the good of the city. And yeah, the networking thing here is, and you're right. It's pretty funny when you go to the trouble to meet with someone you, and then you, of course you say, you'll introduce them to four more people and you know, those people are going to respond, but then occasionally you do get the followup, you know, you like, did you, did you really connect? Because you know, it's good for that person. You know, it's good for Atlanta. And that's why I say. If you have a dream, if you have a mission, if you have a story to tell, uh, Atlanta will allow you to do it. You don't have to have a certain last name. You don't have to have all the money in the world. Atlanta, Atlanta wants you to succeed. And it, it is warm. And I just one quick story. So Robert Smith, the guy who. And runs, um, you know, the big equity firm, you know, wildly successful. Uh, our mayor said the other day, uh, introducing him that Atlanta punches above his weight and that, that, that, that Atlanta punches above the weight. And so Robert Smith goes, Oh, no, no, no. You guys. You're not punched above your weight. You are the weight. You are there. And it just is so nice to have that affirmation. And of course, we're all such boosters and so proud. We're like, Oh, that is so nice. And it's just true though. I mean, look, we, we, to your point, we're producing so many stories here. We need our story told and we need to green light some things in this market, which, uh, is part of what's missing. But The creative energy here and I take it back to, you know, two or three really phenomenal things that happen in this market. I mean, the black culture is so strong and so unique and so known around the world and it just entwines everything. And I, I love the phrase and I buy it totally that Atlanta influences everything. It just does. So, uh, yeah. Anyway, I could go on and on because I am a booster of Atlanta. When I was interviewing for the chamber job, I said, well, there are a few things I'm not sure why you're interested in me, but I am a true Atlanta booster and always will be. Well, okay, that leads me right in to talking a little bit more about your role at Woodruff Art Center and, um, and really the mission. I was able to talk to, um, a head creative at, uh, the Alliance Theater recently and just learning so much about The mission and, and how you're centered around the community of Atlanta. And so I'd love for you to speak a little bit more to that if you could. Yeah. And thank you so much for giving me the opportunity because, uh, right now, you know, that, that is my mission is to talk about the Woodruff Arts Center. And it's interesting moving from the chamber. And even from from the for profit world to the Woodruff is just another step in boosterism for Atlanta and what Atlanta means and what Atlanta needs. And so I'm so glad that you had a chance to talk to Tinashe K. J. Seybolden, who is an artistic director at the Alliance Theater and her, um, Co artistic director is a man named Chris Moses, and I mentioned them in the same breath because they are the most mission centric people I may have ever met in my life. So it is always clear what they are trying to do. And the beautiful thing about that particular art partner here, and I'll talk about the others a little bit as well, but is that Chris has a very serious 20 year background in theater for the very young, theater for teens, theater for youth and families. And we have the same quality for youth and family productions as we do for the adult stages. And then you get Tinashe, whose mission in life is telling stories and That, um, change people's hearts, change their minds, expose them to ideas, makes them see that there's another point of view, lets them hear their own story. And there's so much power in that. And again, I go right back to Children because look, I love the opportunity to work at the Woodruff Arts Center. And if all we did was, you know, Art for art's sake, I'd be so proud, but we do so more. Each of these art forms has the mission to change people's lives, and it couldn't be more true, you know, through the spoken word at the alliance. So, uh, so a lot alliance. I've talked about them a lot. Um, The High Museum of Art. Okay, we want to be the Woodruff Arts Center, the center of the art scene for everybody right here in Midtown and, um, about in 2015, a new artistic director came here, Ran Suffolk. Um, our BIPOC attendance then was 15%. And that was already about six points better than any average museum in America. Our BIPOC attendance today is 57%. And when we cross over the 51 percent mark, I'm like, Oh my God, we represent Atlanta and all Atlantans. And the beautiful part about that is our museum, who is you know, just a piece of art in itself. Renzo piano, all the Richard Meyer, all these gorgeous designers that even built the building. Peep, everybody feels comfortable in there. They feel invited and that is part of the charm of Atlanta. So, and then the, the Atlanta symphony orchestra, we have Natalie Stutzman, who is the only, woman maestro, uh, in a, uh, in the top 25 American orchestras today. And she's only the second woman ever to do it. And so it's just, we just have everything going on. And if you, if you love art, you need to come here. If you love your community, you need to come here. If you worry about. Children's education and their social and emotional health and their mental help. And for that matter, um, you know, anybody's, I mean, the surgeon general said, you know, a few years ago that, um, social and mental health for Children is an epidemic. I mean, it's a problem. Art can help. And we love that part of our mission. That's incredible. In case you know, I say that our three pillars really for this business are, entertainment, activism and education. And for me, the Woodruff Art Center just needs to understand why we have so much energy and, are so, you know, excited to, to have this connection with distribution or partnership because, yeah, It just, it really rings true with what our mission is. Good, good, good. It's a, it's a great mission. You guys should just move in with us. Um, with that, I'd love to talk a little bit more. So recently I had a conversation with Gretchen Barton, who's the head of the American leadership project. And what that project is doing is, and I don't know if you've heard of it, Hala, but, um, they're really working to rewrite how women are represented in media. And yeah, which is obviously such an important mission because today culturally, uh, our culture doubts women's leadership abilities and as someone who has been in leadership for, you know, over 30 years and, and Casey and I always say that women wield power differently, would you mind talking a little bit about your personal experience being a woman in leadership and why it's so important to have women in leadership roles? Yeah, you know, it's, uh, I'm still reacting to, uh, what you said about the, the, the, the project of trying to make sure that women are represented correctly in media. I love that and I, my reaction is it's a, it's a big hill to climb, but I'm very grateful that you guys are doing it. You know, I personally. Have had, um, a really, you know, good and fairly easy path. And I am happy to say that. And, um, but I always caution that that is certainly not the case with every. of mine, every woman in or, you know, any of the I mean, we all know how w quote unquote in Hollywood I always caution to say j Journey has been easy. Um, and I, I've never really felt discriminated upon maybe a few times, but, but not much. Um, it, it just doesn't mean that, that, that, that, um, that has changed that much as a matter of fact, I just read today and the wall street journal that the number of women in C suite positions, you know, we always talk about women in in the CEO role, and there's only like, you know, 5 percent in the Fortune 500. It's ridiculous. Uh, but even in the C suite, the percentage of women in C suite, uh, between the last two years has gone down four or five percentage points. I mean, that is the wrong direction because if you're not in the C suite, you're not going to get the leadership role. And the thing is, you know, my. And I think sometimes women do lead differently, but I think it's very individualized. You know, I try not to, uh, you know, put people in in buckets or whatever. But but my thing all along has been, you know, From day one. And I didn't do it consciously, but now I'm much more conscious of it. It's just to be a real person with people, you know, just talk to them. Don't put yourself in like some title or, you know, you, you know, authentic is completely overused, but it's overused for a reason. People need to be who they are. And I always tell young women, you know, you are enough, who you are is enough. And, um, Because it takes too much energy to try to be someone else. It takes too much energy to copy some leadership strategy you read about, or you saw. I mean, if you were yourself and you're willing, frankly, you know, to just work your butt off, um, it's probably going to work out, but it doesn't mean that the barriers aren't still there. And it doesn't mean that the work you guys are doing is not essential because the way people learn are through stories. People have to see. Stories that matter and that really are told differently. So they have a different view. I mean, we just perpetuate this every day. Yeah. And we can't be what we don't see. I think, I love that you said authentic and, and yes, I, you know, I think it is definitely like trending now, but I think even three years ago in 2020, I think back to the pandemic and all that, I don't think that was. We weren't telling authentic stories then. I don't think we had a more vulnerable conversation around so much that was going on. And I think that's become now a place, uh, Amanda Hirsch of Mighty Forces, uh, recently wrote a piece around using your authentic voice in order to create the change that you want to see in the world. And, I've been kind of obsessed with that since I, since I read that piece, because it really is exercising your superpower and showing up exactly who you are, because that's the, that's the crucial thing. And I think with Casey and I, with this project, sharing vulnerable stories from real women, the true stories of what's happening in the world and how these stories map to larger systems at play is really crucial. And I know we had the aha around, we can't put actors and actresses in place to tell these stories. We have to let the women that are living it tell their stories. Well, I, you know, I have to say, and not that this was tragic, but, you know, I have been left out from time to time simply because I don't play golf. But, you know, I don't even consider that a gender issue anymore. Uh, if I'd had more athletic skill, I might've played golf. So, you know, but there, but at the point is there are still cliches that are cliches for a reason. It's, it's still, it still happens. So, uh, and look, you know, the older you get, you know, The more willing you are to speak up and, um, and it's, uh, it's a shame if we don't, and frankly, you know, I'm, I'm loving having this conversation with you because it's making me realize I don't speak up enough, you know, it's really hard and, uh, sometimes we have to bite our tongues when we're in certain situations, but you're, you and Casey are reminding me what's important. And that you have that superpower. I think we forget. I think we've been trained. Yeah. You know, all of us. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But, um, well with that, I wanted to say when Casey and I first spoke to you several months ago and shared the I am docuseries project with you, you were an immediate supportive and enthusiastic, uh, uh, team member and immediately joined on board, for the one 11 angels. And I just wanted to ask you again, storytelling, we've touched on a lot of that today, but what really resonated with you around the project and maybe why the time is now to start telling these stories. Yeah. You know, I think I'm going to go back to kind of my opening line or whatever, or the part that you and I've talked about regarding, um, You know, real networking. That means that means something and just not turning down young women who are looking for something. I think my first reaction was like, wow, look at these women. They're very cool. They're very smart. And they are putting everything on the line to do something that's important. Important. You know, sign me up. It's, it's like if you'd asked me, you know, introduce you to three people, and I think we talked about Pat Mitchell. You already knew her, but she, of course, she's perfect for this. And I knew she could play a much bigger role than I ever could, but it was almost just like that automatic look. These women are doing something important. They're young and gorgeous and smart. Please let me be a little bit of part of this. I mean, that was about that was really it. It was that instinct that we've kind of grown up with. Because again, if you don't do that in Atlanta, it is frowned upon and especially by the women in my peer group, because. We're old enough that we had to, you know, break some of the proverbial glass ceilings and some of those things. So we're like, look, we're not stopping till we're gone because it's just not fixed yet. And then, of course, the uniqueness of of what you're doing and the fact that you are doing it through storytelling, because, you know, the more I hang out with the Tinashe Kejise Bouldins and the and the Chris, Uh, Moses and the people in this art center, the more I know that at the end of the day, storytelling is about the only way people learn, and that means storytelling in all of its forms, you know, in any art, and it could be a book. It just, it just. I don't think humans really learn what we all so desperately need at this point. Those things, uh, without a story to, to make it be in their minds in the right place. Wow. Yes. Yes. To all of that. And I thank you so much for supporting other women that are doing the work. Um, I think that that's not as, as present as, you know, we sometimes hope that it is. And I think again, Using your authentic voice or your superpower or your ability, to do that, to make the introduction to Pat Mitchell. She signed on as an executive producer and like, yeah, but to support, to support in that way when you can, I think that is the power of community. That is the power of change. And that is the power of storytelling. May I ask you a question because you're in a much better place to know the answer to this than I am. I've, I've mentioned my generation Uh, you know, and it's, thank God, it's people like, you know, Pat Mitchell, even Sanders Jones, Veronica, as big as I've been, I could go on and on, the women in my generation, do you think the, um, the various generations of women are willing to help each other. Um, just period. And then do you, do you have any idea of the comparison between the different generations? I'm just curious. You know, I see it from both sides and fortunately, Casey and I's experience has been one of both. Incredible support. Yeah. Um, where we have had so many women rallying, uh, you know, behind us, with us, for us. And, and we've done the same, you know, just for anybody else that's coming up or needs advice or, you know, wherever we can support if we can support. But we've heard both stories and talking to so many women. It's funny because one of those stories that we were actually considering highlighting. Um, early days when we thought that the donkey series was going to be a narrative series was a story where the antagonist was a woman and, um, you know, she had climbed her way up and the stories that had been told to her, We're, we're that of you have to prove yourself in this very masculine space, and, she put that pressure on a woman coming up that was under her mentorship. And, and I think we, we've seen that as well, but I ask the question now, okay, what has she been told, or what happened that made her believe what she believes, versus, What I think is true now. And we're getting those stories out there. But really, it's been one of collaboration and community from from my personal experience. Yeah, that's great. That's great. I mean, I and look, I'm not doubting the younger generations. I'm truly curious. And, um, yeah, so I actually find your comments heartening. I think that everybody's pitching in, so to speak. Yeah, and you have your naysayers, but I think we need those too. Oh, yeah. I think you need it. It fuels the fire, you know, and I think you have that and I always now know with a grain Of salt that they're probably coming from a very personal place of something that's going on versus, you know Um, but yeah, no, it's been very very heartening. Um, all right, let's do a little rapid fire All right, so finish this sentence I feel most in my power when When i'm working with the team and solving a problem I love that. All right. On the flip side of that, when my power is shaken, I try to see if I can hang out with my grandkids. Cause then it all doesn't matter. I have none. All right. What is a story that you've been told by others or yourself? That had to be rewritten in order to get to where you are today or perhaps the story that you're currently rewriting well, here's Believe it or not again. I was in my late 30s. It was in the mid 90s I When I was asked to be president of Church's chicken it the the big story going around then was that women cannot have it all And I was like, uh, yeah, watch me. Okay. Because, you know, because that was, you know, there were still these stories about, Oh, these women, you know, at the top things, they don't get married. They don't have children. They live in hotel rooms. I mean, you know, all this just horror stories. And I'm like, uh, I don't believe it and somebody needs to prove these people wrong. So that is a story. Again, I hope it was much stronger in my young years than it is now. But, but I really one of the things that crushes me is that if a woman or a man chooses not to have Children because they think they can't, Do it all because you know what they can. And, um, you know, people choose not to have children. That's great. I mean, that's nobody's business and that's maybe the way the life you want. I know this is a short, it's a long answer. It really, it, it crushes me to think that there might've been women again, especially in my generation who just maybe wanted children, but thought, wow, you know, I'm on this ladder and when is the time to have a baby? So I just, I feel pretty strongly about. Women can have it all. And let's do it. Do it. I love it. Um, okay. Well, apart from I will, of course, in the show notes include Woodruff Arts Center links, um, and anything coming up. But is there anything additional you'd like to share where we can support and follow the work that you're doing? Oh, wow. Yeah. You know what? Just come out and see it. And look, I'm guilty of this. I've lived in Atlanta for a long time, and I joined the board here at Woodruff and 2011. Uh, and I would come to some things or whatever. We all get busy, but the, the The number of performances, activities, um, things for again, youth and families, uh, people of, you know, every stripe again, I say about the museum. If you can't find yourself in there, you're not looking hard enough. So the thing is just, you know, um, come and see us again because, you know, people get busy and they Used to have the habit of theater. They used to have the habit of the symphony. Um, and some of those habits got broken during the pandemic. I mean, we're doing really well. Thank goodness. Uh, in terms of ticket sales, but we want, we want Atlanta to experience us because we believe in the mission of art. Incredible. Thank you so much for joining today. I really appreciate it. It was so wonderful speaking with you and we'll talk soon. All right. Good luck to you and Casey. Thank you.