Stephanie Bryan is the Chairwoman and CEO of the Poarch Creek Indians, descendants of a portion of the original Creek Nation that once occupied much of Alabama and Georgia, who have lived continuously for almost 200 years in and around their reservation in Poarch, Alabama.

Bryan started her career in business, but gave in to her passion for helping others and decided to pursue a life of public service aimed at improving the quality of life for the people she serves.

She never forgets growing up in Poarch, on a dirt road, in an Indian community that survived years of poverty. She recalled the opportunity to talk face-to-face with the President of the United States and have him truly listen and care about the Tribe, and the importance of sovereignty for all Indian nations. This was one of the most remarkable experiences of her life.

In the 1980s, Congress passed a landmark piece of legislation known as the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This act allowed the tribes to start the gaming businesses, bringing them out of poverty and enabling them to achieve self-sufficiency and self-determination.

Today, the Poarch Creek Indians are Alabama’s only federally recognized Tribe and a powerful economic engine for the state. They are responsible for providing more than 7,400 jobs to Alabamians from the Tennessee Valley to Mobile Bay.

This has helped shape Bryan into the very busy businesswoman she is. So what are two things she never leaves home without? “My cell phone and an open mind,” she said. Her job demands a lot of time on the road. While in her car she listens to podcasts that educate or motivate and soothing music like jazz, contemporary and oldies but goodies.

She credits having inherited strong work ethics and integrity from her parents. The one rule she lives by, “don’t lie,” was advice from her granny. She also told her “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” This piece of advice opened Bryan’s eyes to the need to diversify their businesses beyond gaming. Today, they have more than 40 diversified businesses in Alabama, various states and the Caribbean. “I count my blessings every day that I love the work I do,” said Bryan.

When asked, what’s something you wish more people would talk more about? Bryan said, “Their vision for growth, both personally and professionally. The future is moving towards us fast, and we must be ready in a lot of ways. Mostly, we have to be open to change-that’s especially true when it comes to embracing technology. But in our push to innovate, we must never compromise our values, our beliefs and our morals. Those are the bedrock of what makes us good people and a truly strong country”.

Philanthropy remains central to the Tribe’s values. With a long tradition of giving, the Poarch Creek Indians have donated tens of millions of dollars to strengthening communities across Alabama while honoring their enduring commitment to service and shared prosperity.