In 2021, Southlake Style had the privilege of welcoming Anne Chow, then-CEO of AT&T Business and the first woman – and woman of color - to hold such a position at the company, as the keynote speaker for our Women’s Luncheon. Known for her inclusive approach to leadership and her ability to inspire through candor and courage, Anne has left a lasting impression on our community. Since then, she’s embarked on a new chapter she calls “rewirement,” embracing a portfolio career as an author, advisor and thought leader. As we prepare for our upcoming luncheon, we caught up with Anne to see where this extraordinary talent’s journey has taken her.
SPEAKING AT THE WOMEN’S LUNCHEON… was such a privilege. The Southlake community is deeply engaged, and that day gave me the chance to connect with so many people. I was asked to talk about courageous leadership, which felt especially timely.
NOT EVERYONE AGREED WITH ME… and that’s good. I’ve always believed growth comes through discomfort and exposure to different perspectives. That luncheon created space for exactly that.
SINCE THE WOMEN’S LUNCHEON… I retired from AT&T in August 2022 after more than 32 years, including my last role as CEO of AT&T Business. But I don’t call it retirement — I call it rewirement. I had done all I had wanted to do — all I had dreamt of — at that company and in that industry. I just wanted to do something different.
TODAY, I’M LIVING WHAT I CALL… a “portfolio life.” I created my own LLC, The Rewired CEO, and now my days are filled with speaking, writing, serving on boards, advising companies and nonprofits, and championing leadership in all its forms. It’s a very different pace, sometimes even busier than corporate life, but it’s work I choose with intention.
AT ITS BEST, LEADERSHIP IS… not about titles, power or ego. It’s about people. True leadership is inclusive by definition. It means choosing to lead not only those who agree with you, but all people. Leadership is not an exclusionary practice. My passion lies in developing the next generation of leaders and encouraging practiced leadership — leadership demonstrated through actions, not just words.
AI IS ALREADY TRANSFORMING EVERY ASPECT… of business and daily life. Leaders today aren’t just leading human teams; they’re also leading digital workforces. That means thinking about how to optimize both human and AI contributions. Done well, AI will free people to focus on the uniquely human work — creativity, empathy, judgment — that machines cannot replace. But that shift makes inclusive, adaptive leadership more important than ever.
I’VE ALWAYS SAID THAT… it’s people and culture that matter most in life – and in business.
[MY HUSBAND AND I] TEND TO LIKE UNIQUE, ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCES… like restaurants that feel like home, where the food and people are both memorable. Favorites include Malai Kitchen, Istanbul Cuisine, Malacca Cafe and Sushi Zen. Pacific Table is another go-to here in town. In Colleyville, Napa Thai and Loveria Café are gems. We’ve also been longtime fans of Dan’s Bagels — from the days when it was a cottage bakery to now. If you really want to find me, though, the safest bet is probably the airport!
BOTH OF MY DAUGHTERS GRADUATED FROM… Carroll, and we moved here specifically for the public school system. Their teachers and counselors were simply amazing — it was the launchpad for their college years and now their professional lives. Time has flown, and the community looks very different today than when they were in school. But I’ll always be grateful for the strong foundation Carroll gave them and the way it connected our family more deeply to Southlake.