Phoenix (STN) – For Fran Mallace, leadership begins and ends with people.
During a one-on-one conversation on the February episode of ‘It Happens at STN,’ the CEO of Make-A-Wish Arizona sat down with host Veronica Aguilar to reflect on her journey from a 30-year corporate career to leading one of the state’s most mission-driven nonprofits, and why mentorship, culture, and heart continued to guide her work.
Mallace, who became CEO in 2022 after decades at Cox Media, said the transition felt less like a leap and more like a calling. “I fell in love with the mission,” she said. “That heart and soul are what drive everything.”
Her corporate experience, she explained, prepared her for the role in unexpected ways. Cox encouraged board service, which led Mallace to become involved with Make-A-Wish long before she ever imagined leading the organization. That familiarity with the mission and the people behind it made the shift feel natural.
WATCH: Fran Mallace’s journey from corporate leadership to purpose-driven impact
What excites her most today is not a single initiative or event, but the people behind the work. “Every day I’m excited about our team,” Mallace said. “It’s our people, our community, everyone involved with Make-A-Wish. That’s what gets me up in the morning.”
That people-first philosophy shapes how she leads. New employees are encouraged to find a mentor within their first six months. They are also given a symbolic reminder of how Mallace believed leaders should show up: a giraffe.
“To lead like a giraffe means you’re willing to stick your neck out,” she said. “You lead with heart, empathy, and compassion. And you have vision, the ability to see farther than others.”
It is a metaphor Mallace had used for decades to encourage thoughtful risk-taking and values-based leadership. To her, leadership was not about position or authority, but about creating space for others to grow.
Mentorship, she said, is central to that work. “Sometimes people don’t realize what they’re capable of. When you help them find that confidence, it brings out the best in them and in everyone around them.”
