Managing Partner | Founder | Commercial Real Estate Developer | Author & Speaker | Sustainability Champion | Working to build an ecosystem of support for emerging female CRE developers
Last week at the Mackinac Policy Conference, we heard yet another prominent leader say that "Michigan is not telling its story well enough." Our approach to filling leadership positions has been to import talent from elsewhere. We convince ourselves that some other city/county/state is doing it right and we are not. So we seek out talent, and we bring them here to solve the problems Michiganders face. But these leaders struggle to tell our story. Because it is hard to tell a story when you haven't lived through the chapters. We need leaders ...that have experienced the resilience of Detroit first hand and respect the women that rule its neighborhoods. ...who have beheld the raw natural beauty of Pictured Rocks, Copper Harbor, Iron Mountain or Sault Ste. Marie. ....who have thrown on a kilt and thrown back a pint at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. ...who have celebrated at Farrell's, shopped at Eastland Mall or Northland Center, went to Thomas M. Cooley High, or rode the boat to Boblo Island as a kid. ...who have witnessed the determination of Flint, the pride of Benton Harbor or the potential of Pontiac. ...who have at least three extended family members employed by the auto industry. ...who have found serenity at that gorgeous beach at the end of that skinny road in the Village of Empire that leads to Lake Michigan, and the most beautiful sunset imaginable. These are Michigan's stories. With new talent comes innovation, new ideas and solutions we haven't identified. We need new talent. But some of the best leaders in Michigan are the ones who have lived these stories.... and can share them with pride and joy. #PureMichigan #MichiganBusiness #MPC2024 #MichiganLeaders #Innovation #GrowMichiganTalent #MichiganPride Amy (Joseph) Hovey Emily Doerr Malinda Jensen Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges Shannon Selby Maureen Donohue Krauss, FM Christine Roeder Katharine Czarnecki Merritt, EDFP, MURP Stacy Esbrook Shannon Morgan Jeanette Pierce Lori Mullins, EDFP, ASLA Brittney Hoszkiw Sarah Latta Rainero, EDFP Jennifer Kanalos Jennifer Tucker Leigh Young, AICP
Tony SAUCEDO
7mo
Is it an insecurity?
I went to Thomas M. Cooley High. Worked at Musicland in Northland. I have experienced others also. Thanks for this post. Herstory matters.
Malinda Jensen
6mo
Wonderful article and you're right, being an economic developer at its essence requires being able to authentically tell the story. Too many people who don't have first hand experience fail at this over and over again. While I have relocated to Arizona, a part of me will always be able to tell the Detroit, Michigan story!
Mark Yost
7mo
I think you mean "beheld" the raw natural beauty of Michigan instead of "withheld."
Jeanette Pierce
7mo
Love this!! 👏👏👏
David Palmer
7mo
The leaders you seek are here, persisting, doing the work. This happens despite the costs associated with a political class that is (politely) less than responsive to the policy demands of those doing the work.
Brinda Devine
7mo
Thank you Jill for writing this amazing and beautifully written post. Too often leadership reaches for the new shiney option, rather than taking an assessment of the people (old and young) that live in the places they are to serve. Effective leadership starts with listening to real people in real places with real life experiences.
But why ever would we cultivate local talent when we can import someone with six Ivy League degrees from the West Coast?! The preoccupation with credentialism here is pretty wild in that regard. Michigan complains it can't hold onto talent but then doesn't value its own people (or much else other than Car).
Shophouse Park
7moMichigan has an incredible advantage with our rural and urban assets, and we need leaders who understand the complementary opportunity to combine these to reconnect our economies. The leadership in the U.P. has become a monopoly of false proxy, determined to prove we don't need Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing to grow our economy, exacerbating our geographical divide into an economic disparity. This leads downstate leadership to believe we have only pasties, fudge, and lighthouses and promotes them accordingly. We have become so enamored with parading around our fancy cart that we have lost sight of the quality of apples. Connect our industries, connect our communities, connect our economy. Do good for all.