She Never Wanted the CEO Title — And That's Why She's One of the Best

Hart & Hustle Podcast · Apr 17, 2026 · 39m

Jamie Merrill — President & CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida — walked across her college graduation stage six months pregnant, on Medicaid, living paycheck to paycheck. Today she leads 15,500 kids across 40 clubs in five counties and was just named Orlando Magazine's Woman of the Year.In this conversation, you'll learn:✅ How Jamie built a leadership identity rooted in calling — not title-chasing — and why that made her more effective as a CEO✅ The mentorship philosophy that helped a nonverbal child speak for the first time in two years — and how it translates to leading any team✅…