Reflections on Leadership

​First, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. And I look forward to gathering on December 9 for our Holiday Chamber Connect, to celebrate another successful year together.

I’ve been thinking deeply about leadership today. Leadership is both an art and a science, and is rarely perfect in practice. When leadership fails, the impact ripples through organizations and communities. On Monday afternoon, Minneapolis Regional Chamber's former president Jonathan Weinhagen pled guilty to fraud charges. It is a sobering reminder that trust is the cornerstone of leadership.

These moments challenge us to revisit what right-minded leadership looks like. Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner’s Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership offer a powerful framework:

• Model the Way
• Inspire a Shared Vision
• Challenge the Process
• Enable Others to Act
• Encourage the Heart

These principles remind us that leadership is not about titles—it’s about behaviors. It’s about modeling values, fostering trust, and creating an environment of respect and accountability. Today, I’m asking myself—and inviting you to ask yourself—how are we living these principles? How do we build trust, communicate openly, and lead with integrity? Leadership is a privilege, and it demands vigilance, humility, and a commitment to the greater good. Together, let’s strive to do better every day.

See you in the trenches,
B