Connecting with Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas

How have relationships influenced your professional development and leadership style??

Relationships have been grounding and crucial for my entire career and have heavily influenced both my professional development as a co-worker, manager, and leader, and in my leadership style, which I have then shared across sectors. My career is varied from my current full-time role at Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose ( CECP ) which works with the world’s largest companies on their corporate purpose strategies, to my 24/7 role as elected mayor of the City of New Brighton , Minnesota, to bridging academia and business at the University of Minnesota, to leading ESG strategies at The Mosaic Company, to my early positions in nonprofits, to the many boards I have served on, to the many start-ups I have mentored, to the many nonprofits that I have given my time, AND to the many mentors who have worked with me. You MUST have connections and relationships as the foundation of doing great work with one another. Your earnest inquiry in becoming a better person, working hard and cultivating your network benefits the growth in your career, as well as witnessing the differences in others helps you to evolve and develop your model. I am extremely grateful and privileged to develop and maintain relationships that have opened many doors to my own professional development and career trajectory. This is why my leadership style incorporates opening as many doors as I can for others who may have not had the same opportunities or vision for how their life could change.??

Do you have any tips for maintaining and building strong relationships??

To cultivate and sustain strong relationships, I accept that some will have depth and breadth, while others may have periodic connections; however, any connection is always one I can rekindle and share new opportunities. I develop strong connections through shared values, commitment to purpose, humor, new adventures, and delivering on commitments made, as well as being open to meeting new people and establishing new relationships. I also really enjoy going to industry networking events where I can meet other leaders in the field of social impact; I LOVE to visit with many people in a room and be extroverted…shake hands, laugh, and experience new ideas. After I engage with people in-person, I then take their information and follow up afterwards via email, LinkedIn, or Facebook. I am also mindful that building relationships requires trust from both parties, and both must come prepared to do the hard work together—be honest, be present, share concerns, and be willing to improve. That is authentic and honors that everyone comes to the partnership with different expectations—closing that gap helps to strengthen a relationship.?

How have you intentionally built inclusiveness into your circles??

I have appreciated understanding in my life and career that listening to many people and seeking others’ views is as important as it is for me as a leader to have a point of view. Engaging my circles means that I am hearing them, I use those insights to frame a bigger, broader world view. To launch a new strategy, do I know what our customers want? To increase employee retention, have our team members shared their ideas? To create an inclusive community, have I asked community members what makes them feel included? Being asked to contribute validates and brings others into the co-creation, co-leading, and co-ownership of the outcomes. Ensuring the truths of other stakeholders, in addition to my own, are actually included requires intentionality when I leave the engagement moments and I then pause to comprehend all that I now know. Inclusion means that I must think like others, represent others’ views when they are not at the table, and I must act on behalf of others. To develop the best concept and mitigate bias, it is crucial to understand different perspectives to make the most informed, inclusive decisions. This model of inclusiveness takes time; I must be persevering in engagement so I am thoughtful about who is (or is not) in the room, how are they involved, and what to do with their perspectives. But the results are so much better and much more valued when I do this! Inclusion is not just checking boxes that you have done something—it is the curiosity of knowing there is more to gain if you open yourself up to learning. Inclusiveness is one facet of bringing equity to your work and to the world.?

What community or communities are you proud to be a part of??

In my profession, I am proud of so many communities! I am continually involved on many issues, in conversations, and of service to my many communities. I am proud of CECP which started over 20 years ago and now has a leading network of corporate leaders advancing purpose-driven strategies and impact around the world. As mayor, I am proud to work with residents in my city on issues that are important to them and to advocate for topics that improve our community.? As a parent, I was proud to be a volunteer who supported my two sons’ activities, including their world-class marching band and drumline which honored me with an award. Hands on or skills-based, being a participant or a leader, from grassroots to systems change, you can find community if you join in the fun. Giving of yourself to others is how one builds community; shines your light from inside of you to bring joy, passion, and progress to organizations, people, and society.?

Who’s a Connector that's made a difference in your life? ?

I have had so many amazing connectors in my life! The connectors who always say “yes” are my role models and my people from whom I have learned so much. I have so many gifted global corporate responsibility/sustainability leaders with whom I speak daily--I have LOVED working with each of them in how they push boundaries of their C-Suite and employees, for their companies, and for their CSR/ESG/DEI programs in society. I have been grateful to work with Connie Rutledge and Jacquie Berglund who are building local and national social impact and advancing our world in innovative ways. I have appreciated thought-partner connectors such as Anil Hurkadli who refuse to accept systemic inequities and have gifted me intellectually challenging conversations on policies to open my new neural pathways to advance inclusion and equity.?

Susan McPherson is a serial connector, seasoned communicator and founder and CEO of?McPherson Strategies , a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships.

Follow Susan on?LinkedIn ,?Twitter ?and?Instagram ?and order her new book,?The Lost Art of Connecting , also available on Kindle and Audiobook.