Reflections on Leadership Lessons from the Saddle
By Vicki Mayo, CEO & Founder, TouchPoint Solution
Welcome to Bridle & Boardroom, a monthly reflection where the lessons learned in the arena mirror the challenges of leadership. I’m an adult amateur dressage rider, and the CEO and Founder of TouchPoint Solution, a company that creates wearable devices clinically proven to reduce stress and anxiety in seconds. Through horses and leadership alike, I’ve learned that balance, trust, and connection are at the heart of true success – in the saddle, in the boardroom, and everywhere in between.
I’ve written about my sweet mare Aiden before, but I want to share her story with you. About five years ago, my daughter found her listed on Craigslist, available for lease for $150 per month. Aiden had moved from owner to owner and, more than anything, she simply needed someone to love her. She was an Andalusian mare who was wildly head-shy, and came with a long list of “issues.” She couldn’t really canter. She struggled to turn right. But she had the kindest eyes and an excellent attitude. She always tried. After leasing her for a few months, I decided to buy her. All 14.2 hands of her. The price was $7,500. I’m quite certain my dressage trainer thought I was completely crazy.
Fast forward five years. Today, Aiden’s canter has become her best gait. She does shoulder-in and half pass. She nickers when you call her name. She’s an incredible trail horse, and is so kind that I happily let kids climb on her.
Aiden may never be a horse that wins the Olympics, but she’s taught me more than many far more talented horses ever did. She’s what riders lovingly call a “heart horse.” When I’ve had a hard day, one look at her makes everything feel better. If I make a mistake in the saddle — flop, pull, lose my balance — she forgives me. She seems to focus on my intentions rather than my mistakes.
And that’s a powerful reminder.
Sometimes the best ones are the diamonds in the rough.
I wasn’t afraid to take a chance on Aiden because of something I saw my dad do when I was a kid. I grew up in Sedona, and one evening, my dad took the family out for frozen yogurt at TCBY (“The Country’s Best Yogurt”). The young woman behind the counter was working her first job, but she was sharp, kind, and exceptional with customers. My dad was so impressed that he offered her an interview at our hotel right there on the spot. She didn’t have a fancy résumé. No degrees. No special credentials.
But she had the most important things: attitude, work ethic, and potential.
Marissa went on to become one of our most loyal and talented employees, eventually working her way into senior management roles within the company.
Years later, I found myself doing something similar. One day, I picked up my dry cleaning and drove away — only to turn the car around and go back. The gentleman who had helped me had been incredibly kind, courteous, and full of positive energy. Something about him stood out. So I offered him a job at my then-new startup, TouchPoint Solution.
Ten years later, he’s still with us — now serving as our Head of Business Development, and is one of the most valued members of our leadership team.
The lesson is simple. Whether you’re in the barn or the boardroom, don’t overlook the diamonds in the rough.
Talent is wonderful; credentials can help. But attitude, heart, and trainability are often far more powerful predictors of success. Sometimes, the horse that can’t canter becomes the most reliable partner you’ll ever have; sometimes the person without the perfect résumé becomes the leader you can’t imagine running the company without.
And sometimes the best decisions start with a simple instinct: There’s something special here.
Don’t be afraid to take the chance.
About the Author
Vicki Mayo is the CEO and Founder of TouchPoint Solution, a serial entrepreneur, author, and adult amateur dressage rider based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her professional journey has spanned founding and leading multiple companies, while her personal journey has brought her back to the saddle after a two-decade hiatus. Today, she blends lessons learned in the arena with leadership insights from the boardroom, sharing her belief that trust, resilience, and connection are at the heart of true success – in business, in riding, and in life.
