This interview with Mark Toro,managing partner and chairman ofNorth American Properties — Atlanta Ltd., was conducted and condensed by Adam Bryant.
Q. Were you in leadership roles when you were younger?
A. One of the sayings my father would repeat when I was younger was “Always be a leader, never be a follower.” I think it was intended to keep me out of trouble — it wasn’t entirely successful — but it led me into leadership roles at a relatively early age.
I remember being the crossing guard in third grade. And in high school I played several sports, and I was often captain or co-captain of every team I was on. It wasn’t because I was a gifted athlete, because I wasn’t all that good. I just hustled, and I always felt that urge to be in front. There’s that saying that great leaders don’t make more followers; they make more leaders.
And tell me more about your parents.
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