Leadership Forum: The Podcast

Mo Wright hopes anyone who works in the public sector does so with a servant-leader mentality. He builds up other leaders through his business, RAMA Consulting, and community organizations such as the African American Leadership Academy. His advice: Live your life by design and not default: Know what you want, why you want it and what you’re willing to sacrifice to get it. Then, to create a mission-focused culture, model your passion. Manage effectively by keeping your finger on the pulse of your workers to understand where they’re coming from. And maintain both a microscopic and telescopic perspective: Watch performance indicators, but keep your eyes on the horizon to anticipate large-scale organizational shifts. 

Aftab Pureval, mayor of Cincinnati, sees opportunity for building back the strength of our democracy through local offices. Hear how the leadership nuances in persuasion, collaboration, risk tolerance and more give him the opportunity and platform to improve the lives of Cincinnatians. 

As the past city manager of Sanibel Island, Florida, Judie Zimomra has great insight into a local government’s response to and recovery from crisis. On the heels of Hurricane Ian, Zimomra shares with us ways analyses of past crises and efficient use of modern technology enable stronger preparation and response. Other considerations toward a faster recovery, she says: competent local government, solid and talented employees, and proper disaster education and information dissemination for the public.  

Ray Justice, administrator for learning and talent development in the Ohio’s Department of Administrative Services, knows how continuous learning — connected to employees’ passion for their particular area of public service — supports recruitment and retention. He shares tips for leaders to show their own commitment to professional development, provide their team with relevant practical applications and demonstrate the positive results to foster employee engagement and fulfillment.

In our latest Leadership Forum: The POWERcast, Elizabeth Edwards, founder and managing partner of H Venture Partners, shares how policymakers and investors can demand that companies factor into their operations good environmental and social standards as well as diversity and transparency in governance. Brands with a strong sense of purpose tend to attract quality employees, more consumers and better supplier partnerships — and outperform other companies in investment returns. 

As a scientist, educator and president and CEO of Columbus’ Center of Science and Industry (COSI), Frederic Bertley applies the organization’s motto — “Science is Everywhere and for Everyone” — to leadership. He meets the audience where they are to form effective connections and creates synergistic partnerships for indelible results. By following the scientific practices of achieving clarity through data, analysis and objectivity, he says, you can get to “next” in a very powerful way. 

Reginald Wilkinson, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, now advocates for higher education, including as an Ohio State University trustee. He discusses the parallels in any leadership position — higher education, prisons, hospitals, the military — and the responsibility to make sure anyone who enters your organization leaves better off. Tune in as he explains how leaders can influence change toward social justice. 

Transformative change in our communities requires innovative, committed leaders. In this Leadership Forum: The POWERcast, Erica Crawley, president of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, and Elizabeth Martinez, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, share how leading with authenticity, bringing community voices to the table, finding collaborative partnerships and taking risks all result in sustainable success.

Irv Dennis, former CFO of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, discusses how leaders can navigate the most difficult bureaucracies to get things done. He shares the core areas — governance, people, process and technology — that leaders should evaluate to understand an organization’s strengths and weaknesses. Leveraging those findings, you can plan structural change, motivate your team, improve policies and procedures and build resources toward success. 

Experts on the gender pay gap and its impact on our communities, Barbara Smoot and Rep. Monique Smith know the barriers in standing up for change. In this Leadership Forum: The POWERcast, these women share tips and tools to help you gain confidence — whether you’re battling daily challenges such as public speaking or leading organizational transformations, including fair pay practices.