Clarity Is Kindness: A Conversation with TVA's Amy Tate

In Episode 2 of Season 6, Taylor and Judd sit down with Amy Tate, State Director for Government & Community Relations at TVA and a longtime champion of leadership, mentorship, and community impact. From her new favorite leadership mantra — “clarity is kindness” — to her firsthand experience navigating male-dominated spaces, Amy brings honesty, humor, and wisdom to every minute of this episode.

Amy shares how TVA’s mission of service shapes her work across 36 Mississippi counties, and how her passion for developing young leaders inspired her to launch a middle-school girls’ leadership program at Milam. She opens up about finding mentors in unexpected places, building confidence the authentic way, and why the next generation deserves to see what's possible long before they reach adulthood.

You’ll hear stories about bold career moves (including the now-famous “walk into City Hall and introduce yourself to the mayor” moment), meaningful mentorship, and the power of simply pitching the idea — even when you’re unsure of the answer.

If you’re a leader, mentor, young professional, or someone seeking a spark of courage, this conversation will inspire you to be bold, be clear, and be yourself.

🎧 Listen now for leadership insight, practical wisdom, and a fresh dose of Ignite energy.
 Presented by iHeartMedia.

🎧 New episodes drop every other Thursday, packed with insight, inspiration, and actionable ideas to help you grow as a leader—right where you are.

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Visit 👉 www.igniteleadership.com

Transcript

Taylor Tutor: [00:00:00] Hey, Judd. 

Judd Wilson: Hey Taylor. 

Taylor Tutor: Do you know what's coming up? 

Judd Wilson: When? 

Taylor Tutor: On Thursday, January the 29th. 

Judd Wilson: The Ignite Leadership Conference. 

Taylor Tutor: That's right, Judd. And where is it? 

Judd Wilson: The Orchard. 

Taylor Tutor: That's right. Again. One more. Do you know where to get tickets? 

Judd Wilson: Ignite leadership.com. 

Taylor Tutor: And you're right. Again, for more information on Ignite, you can follow us on social media.

Judd Wilson: Look forward to seeing everybody at 

Taylor Tutor: Ignite 

Judd Wilson: Ignite.

Taylor Tutor: Welcome to Ignite Cat. Where Ideas Spark Action, brought to you by the Community Development Foundation, your Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Engine for Tupelo and Lee County, thank you to our presenting sponsor, [00:01:00] iHeartMedia for powering this season of Ignite Cast. I'm Taylor. 

Judd Wilson: I'm Judge 

Taylor Tutor: and welcome to Ignite Cast.

Taylor Tutor: Welcome cast

Judd Wilson: Taylor. We're here for another. At night cast. 

Taylor Tutor: Woo hoo Taylor. Episode two, season six. 

Judd Wilson: Look at that. She's keeping track. I, I don't, I don't know the numbers like you do. That's impressive. But I do know this. 

Taylor Tutor: Tell me 

Judd Wilson: right in front of us 

Taylor Tutor: Yep. 

Judd Wilson: Is the at night conference. It's right around the corner. Right on 

Taylor Tutor: the corner.

Taylor Tutor: You still have time to buy your early bird tickets, so get those before the 14th. Friday the 14th is your last chance for those early bird tickets. 

Judd Wilson: Look at that. You, you know the schedule. You, you know the episodes. You know when tickets are going on sale. You're wonderful Taylor. 

Taylor Tutor: Kind of my job. 

Judd Wilson: It is, it is.

Judd Wilson: But you know, another thing I like about at night, 

Taylor Tutor: what do you like judge? 

Judd Wilson: Learning about leadership. 

Taylor Tutor: Yep. 

Judd Wilson: The second one is we're part of the official podcast of the at night leadership conference. And we got a guest here today, Amy Tate. [00:02:00] Amy always say that because I'm thinking, is there an unofficial at night podcast?

Judd Wilson: Who knows? We don't know if there's an unofficial, but there might be. But it's good to have Amy Tate here with TVA. When you think leadership, Amy, you come to mind a lot of times. 

Amy Tate: Oh, that's, 

Judd Wilson: yeah. Very 

Amy Tate: sweet. 

Judd Wilson: So welcome. 

Amy Tate: Thank you. Thank you. Good to be here. 

Judd Wilson: Yeah. Taylor, you want to, you want to give her that first question?

Judd Wilson: So this is Taylor's favorite question. So I don't like giving, like, we wanna 

Amy Tate: wait on me, Taylor. 

Taylor Tutor: All right, Amy. So we always ask everyone this, and it's kind of my favorite question 'cause I feel like I have a lot to learn, but what is the best leadership tip you've ever been given? 

Amy Tate: It's a new one. 

Taylor Tutor: Okay. I'm, I'm so ready.

Amy Tate: Uh, the suspense is killing me. You've been doing this a while and I had all the normal tips. You know, I mean, we've heard 'em, we've read the books, we've done the things. And I was struggling with an issue about a year ago and I had a mentor of mine. Uh, she said, clarity is [00:03:00] kindness and lead with clarity.

Amy Tate: People can take bad news. They can take change, they can take churn. If you are upfront with them and they know the expectations early, you can get through anything. 

Taylor Tutor: Absolutely. 

Amy Tate: And some of us are people pleasers, 

Judd Wilson: so it's harder for a people pleaser sometimes, isn't it? Oh 

Amy Tate: yes. I mean, you need to have the hard conversation.

Amy Tate: I. You dance around it a little bit. So I, I have fallen back on that several times recently. Mm-hmm. Clarity is kindness and I think if you, if you lead with that and give people good, solid direction 

Taylor Tutor: mm-hmm. 

Amy Tate: It's, it's easy for them to help you reach your goals. 

Taylor Tutor: That is going on a sticky note right on my computer.

Taylor Tutor: I love it. I, I love that because I, being a people pleaser. Want to know exactly what you want from me, and I want to over deliver for you every time. But I also don't like passive aggressive. I [00:04:00] just, I want you to come out and tell me exactly how you feel. I usually can tell how people feel, so I don't need you to beat around the bush with me.

Taylor Tutor: So I really like that. I'm gonna take, yeah, and that's hard. 

Amy Tate: That's hard for some people. 

Judd Wilson: You know, it's neat too. 'cause you talk about that clarity deal and I remember one time, I think it was on Justin Patton's podcast, we, we were talking about difficult conversations and in that, it was kind of mentioning that, you know, sometimes it's hard for us to have difficult conversations, but if you're, if you had that clarity at the beginning 

Amy Tate: mm-hmm.

Judd Wilson: That conversation's probably not as difficult because what they need to know is in front of 'em the whole time. That's 

Amy Tate: right. And you're not. Guessing you're not making assumptions on everybody else's behalf. You can get it out there. And also I think it helps people realize where you're leading from.

Amy Tate: It's not a. Malicious place. It's, it's not a scary place. It's a, Hey, I wanna make you better. Mm-hmm. Let me, let me help you. You know? And if they [00:05:00] see you as somebody who's on their team and a coach and a cheerleader, I have found that people have been way more receptive to that. 

Judd Wilson: Right, right. So, Amy, you're with tva.

Judd Wilson: Yes. Um, and, uh, kind of tell us about your current role there and really how that aligns with. Your personal mission as well as as a leader and, and, and, you know, kind of your, uh, your true north on how that, how you do your job, but also how that kind of affects what you do personally as well. 

Amy Tate: Sure. So I am the state director for government and community relations at TBA and we serve 36 counties, uh, in Mississippi and 28 local power companies.

Amy Tate: So I have kind of the, I call it the. The fun side of the house, not to keep the lights on side of the house. So work with all of our elected officials communities to try to bring opportunities to them, uh, to help to, to work with economic developers and help these [00:06:00] communities, uh, better themselves to kinda get ready for growth, get ready for the future.

Amy Tate: And if you think about it, you know, and TVA's public power. So our mission is service and. That right there. And folks are like, God, you've been there so long. That's why I stay, because that's what I love. Uh, we do have a mission of service and I think that that translates so beautifully into a lot of what we personally are passionate about.

Amy Tate: I mean, you know, a lot of these TVA folks, a lot of them give back to the communities that they live in, and we live all over Mississippi. So to have a company that not only. Encourages that, but rewards that and let, and lets you do that and wants you to lead in that space. That's pretty incredible. So I'm, I'm real happy.

Amy Tate: My personal and my professional have married this well together. 

Judd Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. It it, and it's like you love what you do. 

Amy Tate: Oh, yeah. 

Judd Wilson: And you're able to give back too. And, and which is what you love doing. Yes. [00:07:00] As, as a, as a mentor. Talk a little bit about why mentors are so important. 

Amy Tate: Well, and I come from. Uh, probably a harder spot than most people.

Amy Tate: I started out in TVA in the political side. TVA A is a power company. It's a lot of engineers, very male dominated, and they're like, okay, you go handle the, the political side of this in Mississippi also very male dominated. So, you know, early on you're just, you're looking around and going, not a lot of people look like me in the room.

Amy Tate: So had to figure that out, which I think has probably, um. Helped. I'm glad that I had to kind of go through that, but, but going through that, I did have to find a lot of mentors and my, my advice to people is always look outside of, of who you would normally think of. You know, I didn't just go to other females doing government relations or other females in the energy, energy [00:08:00] industry.

Amy Tate: If you meet somebody that's really clever, they may run a boutique. They may be a chef that I, I love leadership. Like, I like to study it. Um, that's what, when Kevin's watching football, I like to watch like the quarterback's leadership style, but there's leadership in everyday opportunities. You know, um, you can watch it.

Amy Tate: When I visit the schools, I like to watch how a teacher leads her classroom, so branch outside of your industry and look for people that are leading. Things in ways that you appreciate that maybe you could bring back to your industry? 

Dominique Dawes: Mm-hmm. 

Amy Tate: Um, I have a lady who's a caterer and I'll call her about once a month and we check in.

Amy Tate: I love the way she just kind of moves through life and I ask her things and, uh, then I have kind of a mama mentor who helps me with, with kid questions. So have a diverse table. 

Judd Wilson: Yeah. 

Taylor Tutor: Yeah, that's 

Judd Wilson: neat. 

Taylor Tutor: My very first job out of college, um, I had a female boss and I was tickled over it. [00:09:00] I was so excited. Um, in, in my interview, I just immediately knew that we would click, so I was really hoping they'd hire me.

Taylor Tutor: But her name was, um, Dr. Melissa Hab. She's in education. I started at ICI know 

Taylor Tutor: after him. 

Taylor Tutor: Yes. Well, I, I adore her and to this day I will still call her over different, different things. And even though we're not in technically the same industry anymore. She can still help me, you know Sure. Navigate how to handle certain situations, especially being usually the youngest one in the room trying to, you know, convince someone that's been been in this role for years.

Taylor Tutor: Why my ideas. Good. 

Taylor Tutor: Yeah. 

Taylor Tutor: So she's really helpful with that. And so I, I, uh. Really appreciate having her as a mentor and being older than me and wiser than me. So I think it's always important to have a mentor. 

Amy Tate: And sometimes we overlook y'all we're 

Dominique Dawes: like, Hey, your dues 

Taylor Tutor: Yeah, you can give us 

Amy Tate: your idea in 10 years.

Amy Tate: That's, that's fair. But some of the best ideas, you know, I've had great ideas come from our interns and [00:10:00] co-op students and, um, it's fascinating 'cause you have a different perspective. 

Taylor Tutor: Mm-hmm. 

Amy Tate: So, yeah, that's, 

Taylor Tutor: that's wonderful. And she's a big believer of everyone has a seat at the table. Everyone has something to offer.

Taylor Tutor: And so in, in what roles I've had being a leader and over, you know, even students and just smaller teams, I've always tried to keep that mindset and not think that, well, I've got the marketing degree. I know it all. That's right. You know, everybody's got great ideas, especially here at CDF, no matter what your title is.

Taylor Tutor: You've got some kind of creative idea to offer, and so I love that. 

Amy Tate: Yeah, they're great. Y'all are great. 

Taylor Tutor: Thanks. 

Judd Wilson: Good, good. Another thing we like to do on the Ignite Podcast is not only ask that leadership question, but also we like to kind of look back at other at night conferences and some of the speakers that we've had and we had the privilege in, uh.

Judd Wilson: 2022. We had Olympic Gold medal winner. Uh, she was a gymnast, Dominique Dawes. And so she's gonna talk a little bit about, um, you know, her leadership, but also about giving back. So we kind of wanna expand on that and kind of get your [00:11:00] insight on that, Amy. So here we go with that. 

Dominique Dawes: What is your mountain top?

Dominique Dawes: What is your definition of success? It doesn't surprise me that my definition of success was what it was when I was young and immature because I allowed those around me. To define it for me, to influence me. If you wanna be a good leader in life, you have to make sure you're able to lead yourself and protect yourself.

Dominique Dawes: You gotta open your eyes, you gotta pursue things in life that truly are not only things that you're passionate about, but is giving back and impacting other people. 

Judd Wilson: So. We know you've done that. I mean, I, I always think back of what you, you know, started there at Milam with mm-hmm. With, with the young ladies in leadership, kind of talk about that program and why that was important for you, like Dominique said, to give back.

Amy Tate: Yeah, absolutely. Well, and that, that. Resonates what she said. You know, in the beginning when you're in your career, your definition of success is very different. You know, you're [00:12:00] trying to make your way and, and get the title, and get the, the seat. Um, and that, that was my definition. I think probably in my twenties and early thirties, being in Tupelo does something to you.

Amy Tate: And I'm not a native. I wasn't born here. I grew up in Natchez, but I've lived my adult life here and there is. We call it Tupelo spirit. I've never been really able to, to put a great word around it, but it's this unspoken expectation that you're next in line and you better get to work. So that's great.

Amy Tate: You're doing your thing, you're doing your career. But I never felt like even sitting on boards, I'm like, am I, am I giving back? Am I getting this next generation ready? You know, am I, am I planting the acorns? Y'all know the quote. So, um. Claudia Hopkins, 

Judd Wilson: nor Welch. 

Amy Tate: Yes. She's beautiful. She's fresh. Yes. We were talking one day and I had done some things at the [00:13:00] w with some of their, uh, college age girls in the leadership space, and we just said, you know, it's a shame that we don't start girls a little earlier.

Amy Tate: And that got me down the rabbit hole of maybe they'll run for office one day. And so I, I just pitched it and I said, what about a, a girl's leadership? Not even an elective, maybe an afterschool club. And Milam seemed to be the good fit. Um, sixth grade is when things get a little wacky. Um, you see some confidence dips.

Amy Tate: Just the data shows that. So we, we decided on Milam, didn't really know what to expect. TVA, again, working for a company that's, that's so great about leaning into these type things. Sent me to some training, uh, up in the northeast and. It was some training called Girl Meets World, and it wasn't what I loved about a Judd, it wasn't your typical leadership training.

Amy Tate: Here's how to shake a hand. Here's your Myers-Briggs. Like, you know, the [00:14:00] stuff we go through. It was specifically tailored to girls that age because what they found was their leadership lab was their friendships and if they could get friendships right. So we did a lot of role play. You know, um, we did a lot of conflict resolution, and I'll tell you, as a grown woman, that's hard.

Taylor Tutor: Mm-hmm. 

Amy Tate: Teaching that to sixth graders. Um, and we, we would act it out. You know, your friend and your other friend went to a concert, they didn't take you. We'd like, okay, you're at the lockers, talk it out. So, and then to take 'em to the capitol and let them meet with Lynn Fitch or the First lady, or, or women who are actually doing the thing.

Amy Tate: And they would go, wow. I mean, they're these ladies. They had never seen that. Mm-hmm. So planting those seeds. It has been a phenomenal program. I, I was very, very active for 10 years. Once I got on the school board, I had [00:15:00] kinda stepped back a little bit and they've kept it running, running at Milam. Um, but I have, that has been the most rewarding thing I have done because I have had girls reach out who graduated, uh, or who I see at Mississippi State and they're like, miss Amy.

Amy Tate: This, I remember this, this, and this, and, and it, I tell you what, I learn more from those girls than I think, and they learn from us, and we bring in speakers and do all the things, but just to watch their confidence level, you know, to have somebody that, that is working with them and teaching him these things, I, I think has probably been one of the, the best things I've ever done in my career.

Judd Wilson: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And I met it, like you said, running into 'em now. Oh, 

Amy Tate: I love it. 

Judd Wilson: You get to see the, kind of the success of that foundation that was built. 

Amy Tate: I got an Instagram message not too long ago, and I, I saved it in my phone. I'd look at the photo all the time. Um, one of the girls, she's a freshman at Mississippi State now.[00:16:00] 

Amy Tate: She found me on Instagram. She's like, I've been looking for you on Instagram for years, and she finally found me and she just said, I think about those Milam leadership lessons all the time. She was telling me what she had done at Mississippi State and she's in the nursing program and it's brilliant and like that.

Amy Tate: That right there, you know that that's 

Taylor Tutor: much more to me. Powerful. Then I made a decision on the board. You know, I sat at the table, I, I was part of the discussion, but you actually went out and did something. But I liked what you said that, you said you just pitched it. And I wonder how many ideas just never get pitched and, you know, and never get.

Taylor Tutor: You know, brought to fruition 'cause somebody was too scared to say something and, you know, so it gives me a little hope. Gives me some confidence too. 

Amy Tate: Well, I rarely take no for an answer, so I, I was gonna pitch it somewhere and it was gonna land. That's right. If it wasn't one school, it'd be another school.

Amy Tate: I would've taken it somewhere 

Taylor Tutor: until 

Amy Tate: somebody bit. But 

Taylor Tutor: if I get a no, it's a. You may [00:17:00] not yet, or not right now, but You mean not today? Not today, but I'll be, I'll be back tomorrow. I'll bug you again later. 

Judd Wilson: So where, where's your confidence come from, Amy? I mean, you taught these girls confidence. Um, you know, I, I think you've always had it.

Judd Wilson: And if I think I have this story right, you're not from Tupelo, but didn't you come up here kind of like to see the mayor at the time? Am I right on that? 

Amy Tate: Yeah. Yeah. Do you want me to tell the story? Story, story? I love that story. I'll hear the story. I don't know it, it's a great story. Um, so I was at the, went to the w.

Amy Tate: And I was graduating in political science and my senior year we had to follow a local municipal political race and kind of act as like, okay, Monday morning quarterback, what would, strategy wise, you know. Well, I only got two stations in my dorm room. I got WCBI and WTBA with the rabbit ears on our tv.

Amy Tate: Well, all my, all the other girls in my class were following the Columbus race. That's where we lived. Um, George Wade was, was running for Mayor again and I was like, I'm gonna follow Tupelo. And this young guy named [00:18:00] Glenn McCullough, um, just, you know, from the private sector, if I remember, or from a RC, was running.

Amy Tate: And so I did my paper on his race. He won and graduated. Didn't have a job. I had a few interviews in Washington and I was like, I don't know if I wanna go to Washington and, and just Mm. You know, so, uh, this was Thursday. I remember it like it was yesterday. I just drove up here and went to city hall and was like, I need to see the mayor.

Judd Wilson: Confidence Taylor. Yeah. 

Amy Tate: And he tells it and he's like, it. Yeah, you just walked in and I said, Hey, you don't know me. I just graduated from the w. I followed your race. I wrote a paper on it. I don't know if you have any jobs, but is there anybody I can talk to? Do you know of anybody? And he said, I've gotta go to a city.

Amy Tate: This was a Tuesday. I've gotta go to a city council work session. But there's a letter on my desk. Somebody had written him a letter, just scathing letter about waste management or something. He goes, there's a legal pad. You [00:19:00] respond to that letter. I'll be back. Oh, I'm like, okay, so I wrote a response. This is without Chad, JBT.

Amy Tate: Yes. Yeah. So I'm like, here's the date dear shows. I'm like, sincerely, Glen l McCullough Jr. Mayor. And he came back. I'm like, here's your response. And um. I mean, the rest is history. He found a little spot for me and then I rode those coattails to TVA. Yeah. 

Judd Wilson: Yeah. That's how you ended up, I mean, you were with Glen and then he went to TBA and there there's the rest is the street.

Amy Tate: The rest is history. 

Judd Wilson: Yeah. 

Taylor Tutor: That's great, Amy. I love that. 

Amy Tate: Yeah, I just showed up. 

Taylor Tutor: Yeah. And you said, you're gonna hire me. Look at this great letter I wrote. 

Judd Wilson: But I think it's important to have that confidence, but also as you said. Pass it on to that next generation like you've done with the, with the girls at Milam and like you said, now that you're on the school board, somebody else has passed that torch, which I think is good.

Judd Wilson: Yeah. I mean, you couldn't do that forever. So I think it's good that the program continues, but it's through that seed that, you know, that started. 

Amy Tate: Sure. [00:20:00] And it's, it's funny, like confidence is such a weird day. I, I think confidence is just, it's a journey. I don't think you're ever gonna get there. I mean, there are days like I wake up and I'm like, ah, I don't, I don't know if I can do that or not.

Amy Tate: What I tell people is it's gotta be authentic. I mean, if you march in here and act like I'm gonna see through that. 

Judd Wilson: Right? 

Amy Tate: You gotta be yourself. I mean, and there's gotta be a little humor and a little let your personality come out. Um, that's 

Judd Wilson: what I struggle with. 

Amy Tate: Yeah, you do Jay, you struggle. It's such an enjoy.

Amy Tate: But you know, if somebody marched in my office and was like, Hey, I read about you. Like, uh, gimme a jump. I don't know. But I think if, if you are just. You genuine and you're genuine and you're authentic. Don't try to be somebody else. And, uh, I think people really, I, I think they flock to that. They know if you're, if you're being authentic.

Judd Wilson: Mm-hmm. Yeah. 

Amy Tate: And so. I, 

Taylor Tutor: um, have always wanted to work for CDF, and at the [00:21:00] time I was still at ICC, but I'd never wanted to leave ICC either. I loved it there, thought I'd retire. Well, I'm researching CD, F, and I'm like, they don't really have a director of marketing. They could totally use one. And I found out, oh, the president goes to my church.

Taylor Tutor: I'll just go up to him and tell him You should hire me. 

Judd Wilson: Perfect. 

Taylor Tutor: So it was VBS week at church and I'm like looking for him. I try to find him. I'd already told my husband like, Hey, I'm going to get this job. I'm gonna convince them that they need me. Well, I never did find him there. And then I was like, you know what?

Taylor Tutor: It's not meant to be. And then like. Nine months later they were hiring a director. So it was me. There you go. I didn't have as much confidence as you, but Well, who knows what would've happened if you found him at church that day. You are running this place. 

Judd Wilson: Exactly. 

Taylor Tutor: I could have started a little 

Judd Wilson: earlier.

Judd Wilson: He was probably at home learning his VBS songs is what it was. You learn 

Taylor Tutor: that dance. 

Judd Wilson: That's right. 

Taylor Tutor: Um, but speaking of confidence and everything, I'll ask you one more question, um, to wrap up this podcast. I could [00:22:00] talk to you all day, Amy, but, um. Inspiring the next generation of leaders. What advice would you give to, you know, young professionals or young students who are still finding their confidence in their voice as a leader, 

Amy Tate: I think it is.

Amy Tate: Again, and y'all, this becomes a theme with me. It's not about perfection. It, it is about your journey, your personal leadership journey. And don't be scared if there is somebody that you think, you know. I, I would love to be the marketing director at CDF. Call 'em up and I come pick your brain, find somebody who's doing what you do.

Amy Tate: Mm-hmm. And ask 'em what their recipe was. You know, who did you talk to? Who did you meet? And I have very rarely run across somebody who doesn't love that. Mm-hmm. Who doesn't love to sit down with a young person and, and give them bite that makes us feel good about where we are in our career. So be yourself, be genuine.

Amy Tate: Find somebody who's doing it. [00:23:00] Uh. Clarity is kindness. Yeah, 

Judd Wilson: I love 

Amy Tate: that. And just be Be you. Be you. 

Judd Wilson: That is awesome. That is awesome. Taylor, did I say you're gonna have a good time today? 

Taylor Tutor: You did. And you're right, Judd. 

Judd Wilson: I was right. I was right. So Amy, thank you so much. We had a wonderful time speaking with you today.

Judd Wilson: Like I said, when I think leadership here in Tupelo, Amy, your name is really at the top of the list up there, so we appreciate what you do. We appreciate you for being on the podcast. And we look forward to having everybody else on the podcast again. 

Taylor Tutor: Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Ignite Cast, presented by iHeartMedia.

Taylor Tutor: For more leadership insights and engaging conversations, be sure to hit subscribe. And if you enjoy today's episode, we'd love for you to leave a review. And remember, go for, go for and do good [00:24:00] things.