In this episode of Beyond the Ledger, I sit down with Felix Lozano, who spent nearly four decades in public accounting — including 27 years at Whitley Penn, where he retired as Chief Growth Officer. Felix’s story is a masterclass in how relationships, not just skills, build a lasting career.
Felix opens up about growing up as a first-generation college student in Fort Worth, learning to read people while valeting cars and running the bell stand at the Hyatt Regency, and how those early lessons in trust and communication carried him all the way to partner. He also shares the bike accident that broke his collarbone — and the wake-up call that shifted his focus from himself to serving others.
From handing out food to 350 cars every Saturday in South Dallas, to medical mission trips in Uganda, to 31 years with the YMCA, Felix shows what it really looks like to lead with humility and live “beyond the ledger.”
🎧 Whether you’re early in your accounting career, leading a team, or thinking about what comes after the career, you’ll walk away with practical wisdom on relationships, presence, and purpose.
🎯 Key Quote:
“My past can refine me, but it won’t define me.”
⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Welcome
01:56 – What LinkedIn Doesn’t Show About Felix
02:54 – 31 Years with the YMCA
04:32 – How Relationships Shaped His Career
07:27 – First-Generation College & Learning to Communicate
10:28 – The Accident That Changed Everything
11:39 – Serving South Dallas During COVID
15:22 – Philanthropy: Uganda, Guatemala & Peru
17:18 – Advice for the Post-COVID Generation
19:59 – Presence, Proximity & Saying Yes
22:55 – Two Years Into Retirement
24:13 – Becoming the “CEO of Me”
28:48 – What Gets You Noticed and Promoted
30:25 – What Felix Is Excited About Next
Subscribe for more leadership conversations that go far beyond the numbers.
👉 Watch the full episode now!
🎧 Listen here:
Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-relationships-build-a-career-deepen-service/id1843448325?i=1000772017767
Spotify
Connect with us:
Felix Lozano on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felixlozano
Organizations websites:
YMCA Dallas – https://ymcadallas.org/
BigTex – https://bigtex.com/
Other organizations Felix supports:
Engage Hope Ministries – https://www.engagehope.org/
Christian Hands in Action – https://www.chiamissions.org/
Hope Farm – https://hopefarm.org/
Troy Ashby on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyashby/
Troy Knows Talent Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/troyknowstalent/
Troy Knows Talent Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/troyknowstalent/
