Christopher Collin Lambert

06 Oct Christopher Collin Lambert

What is your vision for Knoxville 10 years from now?

My 10 year vision for Knoxville is to see a city flourishing by continuing to support eager leaders. Such leaders are imperative to meet the growing needs of our community. I wish for our city to be a catalyst to help individuals become involved and for them to stay connected so that 10 years from now our organizations are stable and supported by dedicated leaders with deep rooted purposes for success.

What are you reading that is on your nightstand?

On Fire by John O’Leary

What is your favorite Knoxville memory?

My favorite memory of Knoxville is meeting who, at the time, would be my future wife in Market Square. I still associate that special part of our city with perhaps the most important introduction of my life. One of my most enlightening Knoxville memories was going through Introduction Knoxville. I have lived here since I was two years old and therefore thought I knew everything about this great city. Oh, was I wrong. The first day of Intro Knox we toured parts of the city I had never driven. That was a memory I won’t forget and it prompted me to explore and introduce myself to different parts of our city. This experience made a lasting impression on how important it is to get outside of your area of familiarity and simply explore.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, and who was that mentor?

Some of my most formative years were during college. An advisor of mine, Thomas P. Davis, or Tommy, was a trailblazer at the university. He helped guide me to get involved and stay connected in the areas I was most passionate. I remember speaking with Tommy while feeling overwhelmed with school work, campus involvement and handling various personalities…he simply looked at me and said “Delegate to smart people and keep moving, focus on what you are good at, where you can improve and don’t stop learning from others.” Prior to that point, I had never really established a true understanding of what delegation meant, both administratively and leadership-wise. I now see how important it is to surround myself with engaging people and for me to always be willing to learn from another person’s experiences. I am thankful for that meaningful advice and direction from one of my many mentors.

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?

If I could tell my 16 year old self anything, it would be “Do not be afraid to take risks and enjoy the ride while doing so.” In fact, I am still learning how to take risks. A “younger me” was too often focused on a specific plan or process. I would tell myself that “Adapting to the unknown is good. Life will throw you curveballs, be sure to catch, but if you don’t catch, then you better learn from those experiences.”