September 2025
Last week, Jackson Spalding hosted its eighth event in the agency’s “Meaningful Conversations” series. Agency partner Whitney Ott sat down with four Atlanta leaders to discuss why leading in our communities matters now more than ever. Their stories revealed not only why they give back, but also how these experiences have shaped their careers, lives, and sense of purpose.
For Alba, her “why” is rooted in resilience. After immigrating to the United States from Colombia with limited resources, she pursued her education with the support of nonprofits and social workers who believed in her potential.
Even as her career advanced, she faced setbacks — like being discouraged to take a role because of her accent. Instead of letting that deter her, Alba used it as fuel. She embraced her background as a strength, realizing that her unique perspective made the room stronger.
T. Dallas’ “why” was shaped both by the support he found growing up on Atlanta’s westside and by the challenges he faced after moving to College Park, Georgia.
It was there he first encountered racism, a painful awakening that could have left him disheartened. Instead, he became determined to build a different reality for others. Today, through his work in commercial real estate and with the Westside Future Fund, T. Dallas is creating pathways of opportunity and striving to leave the next generation a community defined not by division, but by dignity and possibility.
Lauren grew up watching her mother treat every person equally, whether it was the mayor or the butcher at the grocery store. That simple but powerful lesson instilled in her a lifelong commitment to see and serve people as they are, no matter their circumstances.
That conviction came into sharp focus when she became the first female CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta in 2019, just months before the global pandemic. When the Y closed locations during the pandemic, she refused to let its mission close too. Under her guidance, kitchens became meal centers, facilities transformed into emergency childcare hubs and staff pivoted into frontline community responders.
In those tense months, Lauren led with the urgency of “wartime” decision-making to show up for people in their most vulnerable moments. She shared that she later had to re-learn how to be a “peacetime” leader – to lead with empathy and compassion for her team – not just those they serve. To lead with both grit and grace.
For Tad, giving back begins with a simple but powerful truth: you don’t need a title to make a difference. He shared the story of Anita, a facilities team member in his building, who quietly supports her neighbors in need by sharing leftover food, extra clothing and genuine comfort.
He describes giving back as “paying civic rent,” contributing resources and time to ensure the community continues to thrive. It’s less about position and more about posture, choosing to lead with care every day, in the spaces we are in.
Panelists shared that giving back isn’t just encouraged in Atlanta, it’s expected. This city was built on a culture of generosity, from business leaders who made civic engagement part of their legacy to neighbors who still embody southern hospitality in everyday acts of kindness. When companies set up headquarters here, they’re not just asked to do business, they’re called to invest in the community.
Boards, nonprofits and civic groups thrive because Atlanta holds its leaders accountable to serve. That spirit, woven into the city’s culture and history, is what makes giving back not just a nice-to-have, but the Atlanta way.
As we look to Jackson Spalding’s next 30 years, this dynamic conversation with remarkable leaders is a reminder that our agency’s impact for clients and communities starts with meaningful relationships. And it requires an ongoing commitment and investment to cultivate and nurture those relationships.
We are grateful for three decades of meaningful moments, relationships and conversations.
Here’s to the next chapter of serving our clients and our communities. On we go.
