Sam Planta’s path to leadership was an indirect one. A child of the Air Force, Sam had attended 13 different schools by the time he finished high school. He started his undergraduate work at Oklahoma State University but transferred to Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) when, as he says, he “ran out of grades, money and girlfriends – in that order”.
Sam graduated with a degree in Physical Education. “If it rolled or bounced, I knew all about it,” Sam says. His first job after college was as a coach at Camp Gary Job Corps (now Gary Job Corps Center) in San Marcos. That’s where his journey as a facilitator began.
“That’s when I first kind of realized there was something there about regardless of your background, regardless of who you are, what label is put on you, you have value. That’s when I started gravitating to people and performance, using coaching as a metaphor.”
Sam began facilitating retreats for the Leadership Austin Essential program in 1992. In 27 years, he has only missed two sessions – the opening retreat on September 11, 2001 and the closing retreat in 2019 (he had pneumonia). We asked him how the cohorts have changed over time. “They haven’t, ” he said. “People are people. They want to know who is in the room. They want to feel safe. They want to meet people and they want to make a difference. We all want to live in a place where we feel valued and want to be a part of something. We have to figure out how to do that.”
Sam leading Day 1 of the Essential 41 – 2019 opening retreat.
Why has Sam remained on the Leadership Austin faculty for so long? “I like igniting people,” he says. “I like getting them going in a fast, safe way. Countless times I’ve seen people shift in just a few hours. They say, ‘I haven’t heard that story before,’ and they go from ‘here’s what I’m all about’ to ‘I want to hear more about you.’ We have to release the barriers we protect ourselves with.”
When identified as a leader, Sam demurs. “I’ve not done anything civically. The common denominator for me has always been being able to make people talk. I’m process, not issues.” But Sam’s legacy is beyond dispute. In 27 years, Sam has facilitated retreats for more than 1,600 Leadership Austin Essential participants. Multiplied by the impact that each alumnus has had in the community, Sam’s exponential status as an influencer becomes legendary.
The “setting expectations” exercise at the Essential 41 – 2019 opening retreat
Sam retired two months ago. “That lasted for a week,” he says. He was invited by some fellow “thought leaders” to join the team at Aspire, a nationwide strategic consulting firm. He still finds time to fish and golf, and he spends much of his time with four grandchildren who have “crazy” schedules. He has advice for other Leadership Austin alumni. “Look back, give back. If you got anything out of Leadership Austin – if it boosted your awareness or your contacts – that was a gift. See what gifts you have to give back – cash, your experience, volunteering. Because we’ve seen what happens when everybody gets together. It’s wonderful. The room has a special flair to it. We’re humble and enthusiastic. The brain trust is ridiculous. There aren’t many issues that can’t be improved upon with just the horsepower in the room.”
And advice for the current Essential and Emerge cohorts? “Speak your truth. A lot of us have been judged all our lives and are hesitant about speaking. We think people will think we’re stupid or that someone else will bring it up. Speak your truth.”
Sam is an alumnus of Essential 12 – 1991. He served on the Leadership Austin Board of Directors from 1998 to 1999. He received the the Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2012.
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