CEO of Influence – Joy Luedtke – First Wave Group

Joy Luedtke, founder and CEO of First Wave Group, got her start in the working world making pizza at Godfather’s Pizza in high school. She learned quickly that hard work sets a person apart and by putting more effort in, more opportunities become available.

“That mindset has carried into my role as CEO — success isn’t just about talent, it’s about outworking the competition and taking ownership of your responsibilities,” she said.

“I can remember being 8 years old and worrying about how I would balance being a mom, a teacher and a CEO — even then, I knew I wanted to lead and create something meaningful,” Luedtke recalled. “That instinct never left me, and every role I’ve had has been a steppingstone toward where I am today.”

Today, Luedtke’s mission is rooted in providing stable housing for low-income individuals and helping give them the foundation needed to rebuild their lives.

“Being a CEO allows me to build a lasting legacy for my children and future generations,” she said. “I am rewriting my family’s history, breaking cycles that once held us back, and setting a new standard for success and leadership. By mentoring others, empowering women and creating opportunities, I am contributing to a culture of growth, resilience and impact — both within my company and the larger community.”

Luedtke’s path to success didn’t include a lot of traditional mentors. Instead, she learned through experience, books and the many hard knocks of business.

“Over the years, walking alongside business partners has provided invaluable insight,” she shared. “Later in my career, Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) became a powerful source of mentorship, helping refine my leadership and business strategy. Every job I’ve ever had has been a steppingstone to the next opportunity. Even if a job seemed unrelated to my overall goals. I treated each role as the seedbed for my next moment. Nothing has been wasted.”

Today, she said she leads with a growth mindset and aims to help her team see the bigger vision of the company.

Luedtke explained, “Our culture is built on transparency, adaptability and learning through mistakes. I believe leadership is about developing people, not just managing them, and that true growth comes from taking risks, owning failures and continually striving to improve.”

Her advice to other aspiring leaders is to always act, work and dress for where they’re headed — not just where they are.

“Have a clear vision for your goals but be willing to put in the time and effort — often longer than you think,” Luedtke recommended. “True leadership comes from resilience, persistence and a willingness to evolve. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.”

Away from work, Luedtke enjoys connecting with nature by biking, hiking, birding and unwinding in the hot tub.