Ronaldo Hardy, 34
Lead Pastor, Love Alive Church
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Serves as president and CEO of a credit union.
- Founder of Louisiana Credit Union League’s Young Professional Network and inaugural chairman of the Credit Union National Association’s Young Professionals Network.
- National runner-up for the Credit Union Executives Society’s Next Top Credit Union Exec competition.
COMMUNITY:
The pastor serves on the mayor’s millennial committee and is also a member of Next Generation Pioneers as well as an alumnus of the Urban Leadership Development Institute.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY
Blue Ocean Strategy was one of the biggest game changers for me.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
It was a 50/50 toss-up between being an architect, or following my grandfather’s footsteps as an attorney.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
My first job was at McDonald’s at the age of 16. It taught me how to be excellent no matter what role I was in or how much I was getting paid. Being friendly at the register, taking the order correctly, making sure customers got the correct food and balancing my drawer were all important to me. I was actually discovered by a head teller of a local bank while working at McDonald’s, which led to my career in financial services.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
I don’t think I’ve worked a strange job.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
Zea Rotisserie & Bar, and I like the garlic herb rotisserie chicken.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Being a great husband to my wife and father to my kids
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Making it past year one as a church. Lol! It was really hard, and at times I wasn’t sure what the road ahead would look like. Many people see how fast we have grown, but I see the mile markers along the way. Year one was vital to testing our commitment to our call. Beyond that, I am most proud of how our church has integrated with the community. We consider our work outside of the four walls as more important than the work inside the four walls. Specifically in the summer of 2016. we were right in the center of the pain of the community having the tough conversations, rolling our sleeves up and doing the hard work, and being present in the moment.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
I learned not all people are well intentioned. By nature, my heart is always open wide. I love people, and I see people for their possibilities and not their problems. Most times, that works out for me because I feel called to help people to walk in their purpose. It has burned me at times as well. So I am learning to love big and wisely simultaneously.
WHAT GIVES YOU PROFESSIONAL INSPIRATION?
My family. They are the backbone of everything I do.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Yes, I am most active on Facebook and Instagram.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
I send roughly 40 text messages per day, and 20 emails.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
I let my phone battery get right below 10% before I start losing my mind.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
83
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Outside of social media, I love the Over and InShot apps, which allow me to create things for social media. Lol!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
The smartphone.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
4:45 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
I get it however I can. Lol!
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
My personal mission statement for my life is to “change the world by building people who will change the world.” So in essence, I am being a leader who focuses on building others. That’s my contribution.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP?”
When I started paying bills.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
This wasn’t totally a vacation, but my favorite city that I visited was San Diego, California.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
I wish I could fly because I could travel to and fro on demand. I would probably be in multiple cities every day if I could.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
People call me Ro. There are variations of that: Pastor Ro, Ratchet Ro and whatever else the situation calls for.
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
President Barack Obama
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
“The Pursuit of Happiness”
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
This is a tough one. I would hope for Will Smith so I could be taller, but I would probably end up with Tahj Mowry or Jussie Smollett.
PETS?
One dog, a female Shitzu named Maddie
HOBBIES?
Singing, family time and getting massages when I can.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
Navigating our church to our next building location is important to me right now. We currently have four services due to our growth and building capacity. We need a larger space and that is my focus right now.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
My long term legacy, and the success of my kids as they transition to becoming productive adult citizens in the future.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
The many people who are willing to challenge the norm, dismantle systems of inequities and break the glass so that others can have access to the opportunities they deserve.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
Let purpose be your driving force in every decision you make.
IF NAMED KING FOR A DAY, WHAT IS ONE CHANGE YOU WOULD MAKE IN BATON ROUGE?
The disparity in equity in both opportunity and access across a myriad of issues in the city.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
Meet President Obama, meet LeBron James and travel to Europe.
See the entire 2017 Forty under 40 class
