Creative Artists Agency Managing Partner and Executive Coach, Pamela Culpepper discusses perspective, emotional resilience, and career growth with UVU students during the Reed and Christine Halladay Executive Lecture Series.
Pamela shared insights from her personal and professional journey, emphasizing emotional awareness, perspective, and leadership at every stage of life.
Pamela opened her talk with what she called “Me in 3,” a reflection on the three defining chapters of her life. She began with her upbringing in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she attended Little Rock Central High School, the first high school to be integrated in the United States. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Arkansas at Little Rock, becoming a first-generation college graduate in her family. She later completed a Master of Public Administration in Organizational Leadership from California State University East Bay.
The second chapter of Pamela’s journey focused on her corporate career, much of which was spent at PepsiCo. From there, she transitioned into entrepreneurship and executive coaching, where she now works closely with leaders across industries. Pamela emphasized that the principles she shared apply equally to entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs, noting that leadership is rooted as much in emotional intelligence as it is in technical skill.
A major focus of her lecture centered on emotional triggers that can derail progress if left unexamined. Pamela identified common challenges such as failure, comparison, rejection, criticism, uncertainty, and impatience. She invited students to openly reflect on how they personally respond to these moments, reinforcing that such reactions are normal. She then shared how she experiences and manages these same triggers in her own life and career, demonstrating how self-awareness plays a critical role in effective leadership.
Throughout the lecture, Pamela remained thoughtful, composed, and highly engaging, addressing audience concerns while connecting theory to real-world application. Her background in human resources and coaching was evident as she guided students through practical ways to confront emotional challenges with intention rather than avoidance.
One quote in particular captured the core theme of her lecture:
“Whether we are thriving or surviving depends entirely on our perspective.”
This idea framed her closing remarks, where she introduced a “Trigger Management” guide designed to help students recognize and navigate emotional responses. The session concluded with open discussion, creating a space of trust, reflection, and shared insight among students.
The Woodbury School of Business thanks Pamela Culpepper for sharing her experience and expertise. Her message reinforced the importance of self-awareness, emotional resilience, and perspective in building strong careers and meaningful leadership paths.
Want to catch every insight from this year’s Halladay Lecture Series?
LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL SPRING 2026 HALLADAY LECTURE SERIES SPEAKERS HERE.
Watch Pamela Culpepper's full lecture below.
