Pattie Dale Tye has more than 30 years of experience in profit and loss leadership. She is a Forbes Books author, has led sales and operations for AT&T’s largest accounts, helped increase Humana’s impact and visibility, and is currently the chief operating officer of Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC. Meet the dynamic author, board advisor, and consultant who is also this month’s FACE of Louisville!
What led you to where you are today?
I grew up in a very small southern town in North Florida and went to very standard schools. I never got a graduate degree and wasn’t an exceptional student-athlete or anything. But I ended up having wind at my back and an extraordinary career. I would never have thought I would end up at a Fortune 100 company, leading a $3 billion business.
I believe I got my sea legs under me when I realized what I was good at, and that’s what I tell folks who come to me for career advice. What are you really good at, and what are your innate aptitudes? You can have innate aptitudes — such as fine motor skills — and that might send you to be a surgeon, or it might send you to be a knitter. So, it’s about what you are really good at and what skills you want to apply.
What did this mean for you?
I was really good at analytics, math, and actuarial science. Those things may sound boring to some people, but I loved them. I also loved bringing solutions to people, especially win-win solutions — I have a hard time not creating a solution that’s win-win.
That propelled me, interestingly enough, into one of the least sexy career choices for a 25-year-old: life insurance salesperson. But I loved it! I was bringing honor to something nobody wanted to talk about, and I was gently persuading people to think about the reality that they will not be here forever.
It was a wonderful awakening. I realized that if you combine the things you love and are good at, you end up with purpose and passion. That began to accelerate my career.
Being a life insurance salesperson taught me how to be an individual producer, and for a short period of time, I took a left turn into the furniture business. I soon returned to what was more my core, which was financially justifying solutions. That led me to my network, and I ended up with a beautiful career opportunity at AT&T.
During my time there, I went from being an individual producer to being responsible for some of AT&T’s largest accounts in Florida, like Disney and AAA. I then ended up on AT&T’s leadership continuity program, the top 2% of the company destined for officer titles.
From AT&T, I went into the smaller entrepreneurial world, sold that company, and got a call from Humana. They were looking for a market president for their Houston health plan. I went to work for them in 2005 as market president, which ended up being an exceptional career.
I turned that market around, turned Dallas around, and they gave me a double promotion to come to Louisville. I had a great six years there, retired for a minute, and now I’m the chief operating officer of Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC.
At every step of my journey, I was blessed to have people who saw things in me that I didn’t see myself. They had a vision in me that I never would have had.
I was able to connect with great mentors and leaders, and some of them are my very close friends today. One of them — Jim Murray, the COO and President of VillageMD — actually wrote the forward in my book. He was one of the people who saw things I didn’t realize I had in me.
Tell me about the book. Did you always want to be an author?
Not at all; it hit me out of the blue! Forbes called me and asked if I would write a book. I didn’t think I had 45,000 words in me, but they disagreed — and it turned out they were right. My deep desire is to help people in a space that I think is void, and that’s what Ordinary to Extraordinary: Achieving Remarkable Career Success through Passion, Purpose, and Preparation is about. It’s full of other book recommendations, habits to form, and hacks.
Sounds like it’s full of helpful advice. What’s the best advice you’ve ever given or received?
My father gave me this advice: “The breaks will come.” If you believe that, you show up every single day expecting it, which means you prepare, dress the part, and keep your life ready for the new opportunity.
I also have a piece of advice that came from my mother, which I often give to others: “Do not quit until you are finished.” I recognize that, yes, something might be very difficult — but I made a commitment, and I’m going to finish it out.
What are your favorite places to eat, shop, and play around Louisville?
The first one is Barn8. I love it and always take my guests there. Another fun thing I like to do is take dance lessons with my husband at a place called Bourbon Tango. I also love to dine at 211 Clover Lane; their outdoor patio is absolutely beautiful.
My favorite place to shop is Paul’s. I take every out-of-town guest there because Paul’s is the long-lost grocery store of our youth. Right behind Paul’s is Rodes. I love Rodes; it’s very efficient. You can go to the women’s side, and your husband can go to the men’s. They have beautiful things.
My husband and I have been to several Racing Louisville games, which I love. The other thing I love to do here, which I think Louisvillians do better than anyone else, is throw parties and attend parties. We’ve had more parties here than anywhere else. I love the party atmosphere here in Louisville.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, what are three things you can’t live without?
Exercise every single day, have a facial once a month, and always have a big, exciting trip planned.
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