Last updated on September 13, 2025
Early in my career, I thought leadership meant proving myself. If I worked hard enough, studied long enough, and carried enough responsibility, success would follow. Over time, I learned that the most meaningful achievements rarely come from individual effort. They come from collaboration.
Two people in particular drove that lesson home for me: Jorge Lomeli and Doug Foote.
I met Jorge in 1999, when I made a leap of faith from the security of a $100 billion corporation to join Long Term Care Group (LTCG), then just a three-year-old start-up. It was a high-risk, high-reward move, the kind where the hope of success outweighed the probability of achievement. Although I had experience in workers’ compensation and disability, I knew little about long-term care insurance.
Jorge, on the other hand, had grown up in the industry. He knew product design, operations, and IT inside and out. He could have viewed me as a competitor, but instead he chose to lift me up. He shared his expertise, taught me the nuances of the industry, and helped me find my footing. What began as mentorship grew into a partnership. Together, we contributed to LTCG’s success at a time when every decision mattered.
Jorge taught me that success is not a zero-sum game. His willingness to collaborate reminded me that lifting others up does not diminish your own achievements. In fact, it multiplies them. By sharing knowledge and working together, we amplified our strengths and built something greater than either of us could have accomplished alone.
A few years later, another collaborator entered my life: Doug Foote. By the early 2000s, LTCG had grown from fewer than 100 employees to more than 1,000. Scaling that quickly created new challenges. We needed stronger leadership in project management, someone with the discipline and structure to balance entrepreneurial energy with operational rigor. Doug was exactly that person.
Doug did not come from an insurance background, but his ability to lead complex projects and implement strategic initiatives was just what we needed. His attention to detail was extraordinary. Where I brought persistence and execution, Doug added discipline and structure. Together, we balanced each other’s strengths and found ways to turn ambitious goals into measurable results.
Working with Doug was not only effective, it was enjoyable. We trusted each other, leaned on one another’s strengths, and managed to have fun in the process. In large part because of his contributions, LTCG transitioned from a promising venture into a thriving, well-structured business.
Looking back, I realize how much Jorge and Doug shaped my understanding of leadership. From Jorge, I learned that generosity in sharing knowledge strengthens everyone. From Doug, I learned the value of structure and the power of precision. And from both, I learned that collaboration is not just helpful, it is essential.
The truth is, organizations rise or fall on collaboration. Companies that thrive are not the ones with a single superstar at the top, but the ones where people share responsibility, combine strengths, and celebrate collective wins.
When I reflect on my career, I am grateful for colleagues like Jorge and Doug who chose to collaborate rather than compete. They reinforced a lesson that continues to guide me today: real success is not about personal achievement; it is about what can be built when collaboration wins.
About the Author
David Vega is the author of Fool for Thought: Reflections on Life, Identity, and Open-Mindedness and CEO of Rockwall Capital Group, which owns The Rockwall Times. His weekly Life Happens column reflects on perseverance, leadership, and purpose, inspired by his own journey from humble beginnings to executive leadership. Active in the Rockwall community, David serves on several non-profit boards and enjoys giving back to the place he calls home with his wife and children. Learn more about his work at foolforthought.life
