In this episode, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan shares her inspiring leadership journey and discusses the influences of her upbringing by strong women. She highlights the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in public service, the power of community, and the role of hope and activism in sustaining democracy. Flanagan also explores the challenges of motherhood and balancing personal and professional life while emphasizing collective action and storytelling.Mentions:Representative Esther AgbajePaul WellstoneTrista HarrisRena Moran Senator Bobby Joe ChampionV3 SportsAscension ChurchGeneral MillsJim WallaceGovernor Walz

Join Chanda Smith Baker in a powerful conversation with Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton—a seasoned HR executive, author, and transformational leader. Raised in Minnesota, Tonya reflects on her family legacy, including her grandfather’s founding of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, and how it shaped her belief in the power of storytelling. She shares what it means to lead as a Black woman in corporate America, the importance of diverse mentorship, and key insights from her book The Myth of the Fearless Leader. This episode explores how acknowledging fear can strengthen leadership, build trust, and drive authentic growth.To purchase book:https://a.co/d/2BqlKM3https://www.drtonyajackmanhampton.com/IG @drtonyajackmanhampton_authorhttps://conversationswithchanda.com/ IG @chandasbaker & @conversationswithchanda

In this powerful episode of Conversations with Chanda, former Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria “Rondo” Arradondo joins Chanda Smith Baker for an unflinching and deeply personal conversation about leadership, justice, and the weight of public service. As the first Black police chief in Minneapolis, Chief Arradondo reflects on his decades-long career, the crisis of George Floyd’s murder, and the decisions that defined his legacy — including the extraordinary choice to testify against an officer in his own department.Together, they explore the personal cost of doing what’s right, the limits of reform from within, and the role of moral clarity in moments of national reckoning. Drawing on their long-standing partnership in community, Chanda and Chief Rondo go beyond headlines to examine what it means to lead with humanity when everything is on the line.To Pre-Order Book: Out on May 13th! Chief Rondo: Securing Justice for the Murder of George Floydhttps://conversationswithchanda.com/   IG @chandasbaker & @conversationswithchanda

In this episode of Conversations with Chanda, Girl Scouts River Valleys CEO Marisa C. Williams and four-time bestselling author Luvvie Ajayi Jones shatter the myths of perfectionism and self-doubt. They dive into the transformative power of borrowed courage, revealing how women and girls can silence their inner critic and step boldly into their purpose. Girl Scouts River Valleys: https://www.girlscoutsrv.org/ Luvvie Ajayi Jones Books: https://luvvie.org/books/ https://conversationswithchanda.com/ IG @chandasbaker & @conversationswithchanda Twitter/X: @chandasbaker

Sharon Bush, President of Grand Victoria Foundation, joins Chanda Smith Baker to challenge leadership norms. She reveals why sometimes the most radical act is choosing stillness over noise. Learn how an introverted leader transforms communities by listening deeply, building strategic power, and centering Black abundance—not just surviving, but thriving with purpose. https://grandvictoriafdn.org/ www.conversationswithchanda.com IG @chandasbaker & @conversationswithchanda Twitter/X: @chandasbaker