There are some people who spend their careers chasing titles, and others who spend their careers building communities. Judy B Lloyd is firmly in the second category.

This week on The Friday Reporter, I sat down with Judy, founder of Altamont Strategies and the host behind Purple Inspiration, where she highlights women and community leaders who are quietly doing the work that actually changes places, organizations and people’s lives.

Our conversation wasn’t really about politics, and it wasn’t really about business either. It was about leadership — the real kind — the kind that happens where people are trying to make things better with limited resources and a lot of persistence.

Judy has spent more than two decades working across government, public policy, business advocacy and community leadership. She has seen how decisions actually get made, how organizations succeed or fail and how much of leadership really comes down to showing up consistently over time.

One of the things we talked about was how most people misunderstand leadership. They think leadership is loud or visible or tied to a title. But in reality, the most effective leaders are often the ones making sure progress keeps moving forward even when no one is watching.

We also talked about why she started Purple Inspiration — to highlight women and community leaders who don’t always get recognized but are doing meaningful work every single day. It’s a reminder that leadership doesn’t just happen in Washington or in corporate boardrooms. It happens in the smallest corners — all across the country.

There was a moment in our conversation where we talked about whether one person can actually change a community. Judy’s answer was thoughtful and honest — communities don’t change because of one person alone, but they often change because one person decides to start something and keep pushing when others give up.

That idea stuck with me.

In Washington and in public affairs, we spend a lot of time talking about power and influence at the highest levels. But the truth is, a lot of the most meaningful change in this country happens far away from Washington, driven by people who care deeply about where they live and who they serve.

This was a conversation about leadership and the people who make things happen without needing a headline.

I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Listen to my conversation with Judy B. Lloyd here.

I’ve spent the last five years talking to journalists about how the story gets told.

But there’s another layer—the people shaping what happens before it ever becomes a headline.

This week on The Friday Reporter, I sat down with Brody Mullins and Dave Tobey to talk about a new show we just launched: The Deciders.

It’s not a news show — It’s about how influence actually works right now—and who’s driving it. Because, the loudest voices aren’t always the ones making decisions.

Most people are still looking in the wrong places — that’s the gap we’re trying to close.

The Deciders is live.

And we’re open for business — reach out.

What happens when you build one of the largest women-owned lobbying firms in the country — and then decide to rethink the entire model?

This week, Lisa sits down with Jess Beeson Tocco, a seasoned strategist who helped grow one of the nation’s most successful women-owned lobbying firms before making the bold decision to sell the business and rethink what a modern lobbying practice could look like.

In this conversation, Jess shares why she stepped away from the traditional retainer-driven model that has long defined the lobbying industry. Instead of keeping clients on indefinitely, she’s developing a different approach — helping industries navigate government, secure federal funding and new opportunities, and then sending them on their way once the work is done.

It’s a results-driven model that reflects the evolving nature of lobbying today. While Washington remains central to the work, Jess’s approach serves clients across the country, connecting policy expertise with real economic opportunity for industries and communities far beyond the Beltway.

Lisa and Jess also discuss what it takes to build and sell a successful firm, the importance of women leading in the lobbying profession and how the next generation of public affairs professionals should be thinking about influence in a changing policy landscape.

🎧 Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about building, scaling and reinventing a lobbying firm that serves clients nationwide.

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