Unscripted with Versique

He grew up in a small Iowa town and wasn't even sure he'd go to college. But that changed one day after stocking shelves at Hy-Vee, and led Chris on an amazing career journey that combined his curiosity and tech savvy with his endless appetite for learning and growth. The Fortra Executive Chairman sits down with Kathy & Dardy to offer why being a vulnerable and transparent leader resonates, and he shares why he took on the role of Mayor of Medicine Lake.

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Her journalism and mass communications degree (with three minors) at Nebraska led to a role in... sales. That pivot at the outset of her career put Tia Newcomer on an ascending path through with the titans of industry- Revlon, Clorox, Frito Lay, HP, and later venture capital. Ultimately, a "life quake" led her to join Caringbridge as CEO. In this episode, she sits down with Kathy & Dardy to share how she's adapted, and excelled, in very different roles.

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Her title reads CEO of Girl Scouts River Valleys, but in reality, she's a coach, cheerleader and accountability partner for her team and corporate partners. In this episode, Marisa Williams shares how she's channeled her strengths and transformed from a leader in the corporate world, to transforming the Girl Scouts across the Twin Cities and beyond.

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As many of us have experienced throughout our careers, the best way to learn is by doing- whether you have experience with the task at hand or not. Never led a private company into an IPO? No worries, you'll figure it out! In this episode MJ shares what inspired her career trajectory, and the unique challenges she's overcome thanks to her natural curiosity.

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He grew up near the farming community of Willmar in Western Minnesota, and despite deep family ties to a rural lifestyle Adam Duininck always aspired to live, work and move the needle in a big city. So how did a kid from the country become such a force in the city as President & CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council? In this episode, Adam explains how he navigates today's challenging political divide to build relationships and trust, to work toward common goals and civic projects that everyone can enjoy. 

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There's comfort in a C-Suite corporate role, but it can also trigger the question of "what if?" Andre Creighton has successfully played on both sides of the ball. He's a visionary finance leader, with high profile past roles at Cargill and SPIRE Credit Union. He's also launched a startup and now is charged with the CFO and revenue role at PB&J TV. In this download, Kathy & Chris explore Andre's unique career journey, and his commitment to the MSP community.

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Her unique background, experience, and curiosity led from academia to consulting, then leadership roles at Best Buy and Cargill. And then, in that "what's next?" moment, the opportunity to devote her experience to advancing women's leadership led her to Menttium. In this episode Missy Chicre joins Kathy & Dardy to retrace her path to professional success, while foregoing work-life balance to create one fulfilling journey.

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He followed in his father's footsteps, and during a decade at Mortenson rose from an intern to a market sector leader at the Minneapolis construction giant. David Wood could've settled in for a long and lucrative career with few career risks. Instead, he chose to start from scratch, founding his own construction company, Ancoats. In this revealing episode, Coats shares key events from his local upbringing that could've derailed his life, and his career. Instead, he leveraged setbacks into comebacks, and is now growing his own company.

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The word "entrepreneur" has become a cliche in a world where almost everyone has a side hustle. But Scott Burns in truly an entrepreneur in every sense of the definition: an individual who's created and built successful businesses from scratch, while assuming all risks of the enterprise. In this episode, the general partner at Mairs & Power VC shares insight from a lifetime of innovation at the intersection of the public and private sectors, including his most successful ventures, GovDelivery and Structural.

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While he wasn't a military brat, he moved like one in his formative years. That exposure to different people and cultures, his service to our country, and his career journey into the private sector have all shaped the inspirational leader that Craig Warren is today. In this engaging conversation with Kathy & Chis, Craig shares his life and career journey which has led him to a critical role in the future of children across the Twin Cities.

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