Welcome to ACCESS GRANTED

In this latest episode of Access Granted, Renato Paiva, the CEO of Access Youth Academy interviews Greg Lucier, an Executive Chairman at Corza Health, about his journey from a blue-collar town in Pennsylvania to a successful career in healthcare and technology. Lucier discusses his early years, including his wrestling career and decision to pursue engineering, influenced by his father. He highlights key moments in his career, such as his time at GE and his role in turning around NuVasive. Lucier emphasizes the importance of humility, dedication, and continuous learning, and shares insights on the value of sports and reading in personal development.

• Renato Paiva introduces the Access Granted podcast, emphasizing its focus on stories of hope, perseverance, inspiration, and impact.
• The podcast aims to explore the who, what, when, and why of guests' lives, highlighting pivotal moments and opportunities that shaped their paths.
• Mandela's words on the power of sports as a catalyst for social change are featured, aligning with the mission of Access Youth Academy.
• Renato Paiva outlines the podcast's goal to discuss the doors that open in life, the moments that shape journeys, and the people who help others step through to the next level.

Introduction of Greg Lucier

• Renato Paiva welcomes Greg Lucier, highlighting his impressive career in healthcare and technology, including his role as Executive Chairman of Corza Health.
• Greg expresses his excitement about being on the podcast and mentions his background in healthcare and technology.
• Renato Paiva asks Greg to share his early years, focusing on his high school experiences and involvement in sports.

Greg Lucier's Early Life and Sports Background

• Greg describes growing up in Norristown, Pennsylvania, a blue-collar town, and attending a Catholic school.
• He shares his involvement in wrestling, becoming the Captain of the wrestling team and a Pennsylvania state champ wrestler in his senior year.
• Greg explains how his father influenced his decision to pursue wrestling instead of football due to his older brother's injuries.
• He discusses the competitive nature of wrestling in Pennsylvania and his eventual choice to attend Penn State University.

Decision to Pursue Engineering and Early Career

• Greg reveals his initial desire to be an engineer, influenced by his father's advice on his technical and people skills.
• He shares his high school experience, graduating from a large school with a small percentage attending college, and the impact of his father's guidance.
• Greg talks about his decision to pursue engineering at Penn State and later attending Harvard Business School for an MBA.
• He describes his early career at International Paper Company and his transition to General Electric (GE), where he learned valuable general management skills.

Transition to Healthcare and Leadership Lessons

• Greg recounts how Jack Welch at GE encouraged him to move to Milwaukee to work in the medical business, despite his lack of experience in healthcare.
• He shares the challenges and successes of building the medical business within GE, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and guidance.
• Greg highlights the role of his father as a mentor and the impact of his wife's support in his career.
• He discusses the importance of humility and the ability to reflect upon and learn from mistakes, using his experience at NuVasive as an example.

Sports and Personal Development

• Greg talks about his involvement in extreme sports like helicopter skiing and racing motorcycles, which he finds thrilling and challenging.
• He also mentions his interest in precision sports like golf and pickleball, which require technical skill and dedication.
• Renato and Greg discuss the importance of purposeful sports participation and the transferable skills gained from sports to other areas of life.
• Greg shares his admiration for the dedication and excellence of the students at Access Youth Academy and the impact of their mentorship.

Commitment and Resilience in Career and Sports

• Greg emphasizes the importance of commitment and the ability to bounce back from setbacks, using his experience at GE and NuVasive as examples.
• He discusses the value of staying committed to long-term goals and the importance of perseverance in achieving success.
• Renato shares his experiences with students at Access Youth Academy, highlighting the importance of grit, kindness, and hunger in life.
• They discuss the challenges of balancing sports and academic commitments and the importance of staying focused and dedicated.

Advice for Young People and Final Thoughts

• Greg advises young people to read serious newspapers daily to stay informed and engaged with the world.
• He emphasizes the importance of having a point of view and being able to contribute to meaningful conversations.
• Renato shares a personal story about the impact of reading and engaging with knowledgeable individuals, reinforcing the importance of continuous learning.
• Greg expresses his admiration for the work of Access Youth Academy and the positive impact it has on young people's lives.

About Access Youth Academy

Access Granted is the official podcast of Access Youth Academy, a social impact organization whose mission is to transform the lives of underserved youth through academic enrichment, health and wellness, social responsibility and leadership using sports as a catalyst.  We believe every child should have equal access to achieve their full potential.  To Learn more about Access Youth Academy and explore how you can become a game changer, please visit our website.  

https://accessyouthacademy.org/

About Cloudcast Media

As the national leader in local podcasting, Cloudcast Media proudly produces "Access Granted" throught its CauseCast platform to help amplify, augment, and accelerate the mission and reach of community social impact organizations.  For more information on Cloudcast Media, please visit their website at CloudCast Media.  

This episode was produced by high school student Associate Producer Natalie Beltran and Naol Hailemeskel.  The recording engineer was Alfredo Melita and the episode was engineered / mixed / mastered by Christelle Auzas.