Values-Led Growth in a Changing City

Values-Led Growth in a Changing City
By Emily Taylor

In Oklahoma City’s fast-moving landscape, it’s not enough to ask what we can build next — we must ask who we want to become. For organizations like our club, the question of identity is essential. Anchored by “Service Above Self” and the Four‑Way Test (“Is it truth? Is it fair? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”) we have a framework for growth built on values, not just volume.

City growth, creative industry expansion, talent wars, and civic reinvention—all demand more than ambition. They demand authenticity. When Rotary brings together business leadership, creative sectors, education, and service, we move beyond networking into shaping a future defined by integrity and impact.

Here are three strategic actions we can embrace now:

• Anchor values in action: Make the Four-Way Test our decision filter for projects, partnerships and communication.
• Translate values into partnerships: Connect our creative economy to service initiatives and talent pipelines through Rotary’s platform.
• Measure and communicate impact: Growth means more than headcount or dollars — it’s about community capacity, new sector engagement, stronger narrative for OKC.

For me, operating at the intersection of marketing, film production, workforce development and civic engagement, this isn’t abstract. It’s business strategy, brand positioning and legacy work all at once. Our city is entering a pivotal chapter: one where creative infrastructure, inclusive growth and civic leadership converge. Rotary’s role is not optional—it’s essential. When we lead from service, when we measure by uplift and when we anchor ourselves in principle, we not only adapt to change—we direct it