Today on Ready: Leaders to Know, I sit down with Nick Zerwas, a former Elk River city council member, state legislator, and most recently a lobbyist representing a wide range of interests at the Capitol. Nick was born with a serious heart condition and wasn't expected to live past infancy - but Nick defied the odds. From serving in the legislature to building bipartisan relationships with candy in hand, Nick's story is one of grit, connection, and the courage of being his authentic self. In this episode, we talk about his journey, family, and what it really means to lead with courage.
Tune in each week for inspiring stories of leadership and change.
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Today on Ready: Leaders to Know, I sit down with Erika Helvik Anderson. Erika Leads public affairs at MNsure, where she’s dedicated to expanding access to healthcare for all Minnesotans. Raised by a mechanic and a stay-at-home mom, Erika learned early the value of hard work, problem-solving, and helping others. Her story is rooted in resilience, connection, and advocacy. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about leadership, advocacy, and the power of connection as we dive into her journey and how it influences her work ensuring healthcare access for those with pre-existing conditions.
Tune in each week for inspiring stories of leadership and change.
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Today on Ready: Leaders to Know, I sit down with Jake Loesch, Executive Director of Citizens League. Jake is a communicator, strategist, and bridge-builder shaped by curiosity, conviction, and a willingness to evolve. Raised in a politically conservative family in the Twin Cities suburbs, Jake began his career in Republican politics. But a pivotal moment came during the 2012 “Vote No” campaign, where his work in communications sparked a deep shift in both his values and his vision for leadership.
He is working to foster bipartisan trust, approaches leadership with humility, honesty, and a deep respect for nuance. Whether launching programs to bridge political divides or navigating the personal complexities of parenting, his story reminds us that meaningful change starts with connection and the courage to grow.
Tune in each week for inspiring stories of leadership and change. Follow us on Instagram @readyleaderstoknow
Today on Ready: Leaders to Know, I sit down with LeAnn Littlewolf, Executive Director of the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO). LeAnn leads with heart, courage, and a deep commitment to her Anishinaabe roots.Her father who instilled in her the importance of caring for others and a grandmother who taught her respect despite hardship, LeAnn’s leadership is all about empowering her community, fighting for housing, safety, and equity. She navigates the challenges of today’s political climate to ensure her people’s needs are met. Tune in to hear how LeAnn is shaping change with compassion, critical thinking, and courage.
Tune in each week for inspiring stories of leadership and change. Follow us on Instagram @readyleaderstoknow
Today on Ready: Leaders to Know, I sit down with Ben Baglio, a lobbyist for the Minnesota Nurses Association whose leadership journey began during the 2012 “Vote No” campaign against the marriage amendment. He helped register college students to vote on campus. Since then, Ben has become a fierce healthcare advocate, a father of twin girls, and a leader who shows up with empathy and grit. In this episode, we talk with Ben about his upbringing, family, education, and the challenges that shaped his vision of what it really means to lead with heart.
Tune in each week for inspiring stories of leadership and change.
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Leah Solo
Today on Ready: Leaders to Know, I sit down with Leah Solo, Executive Director of the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board. Raised in Mankato, Leah’s journey is one of resilience and learning. Her leadership journey spans from political campaigns in Indonesia to striving for better care for Minnesota’s elderly. In this episode, we talk about the challenges of leading through a crisis, staying engaged in democracy, and the importance of compassion in leadership.
Tune in each week for inspiring stories of leadership and change. Follow us on Instagram @readyleaderstoknow
Today on Ready: Leaders to Know, I sit down with Catherine Emmanuelle, Director of the Center for Restorative Practices at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Catherine is a former elected official, and a lifelong advocate for public service. From rallying for bedtime rule changes at age five to leading major civic initiatives, her leadership journey has been shaped by strong family values, creativity, service, and resilience. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation on what it means to lead with care, navigating the gray areas of policy, and finding joy on the other side of burnout.
Tune in each week for inspiring stories of leadership and change. Follow us on Instagram @readyleaderstoknow
Today on Ready: Leaders to Know, I sit down with Damon Shoholm, Partner at Ballinger, Leafblad. Damon, a leader shaped by a deep sense of community, equity, and resilience. Raised in a multiracial, matriarchal household in Saint Paul. Damon’s early life experiences and strong female influences helped form his inclusive approach to leadership. His journey, from frequent moves as a child to building a stable, rooted family life reflects a lifelong commitment to fighting for belonging and advancing equity. With a background in leadership studies and a heart for community, Damon brings a powerful perspective to what it means to lead with authenticity in today’s complex world.
Tune in each week for inspiring stories of leadership and change. Follow us on Instagram @readyleaderstoknow
Today on Ready: Leaders to Know, I sit down with Marcus Pope, President of Youthprise—a leader whose journey is rooted in community, compassion, and a deep commitment to equity. Raised in the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul, Marcus grew up witnessing the impacts of poverty and systemic injustice firsthand. From early jobs as a camp counselor to earning a PhD while leading a nonprofit, Marcus has dedicated his life to empowering young people and dismantling inequities. In this episode, we talk about navigating intergenerational leadership, managing through polarization, and the importance of keeping your heart in the right place.
For today’s podcast, Bill is joined live at Metro State’s Great Hall by Minnesota State Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy. A past Executive Director of the Minnesota Nurses Association, Erin was selected as the Senate Majority Leader in February of 2024, after the health-related resignation of Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic. They discuss Erin’s time growing up in Wisconsin, what she learned as a surgical nurse, and how navigating the health care system on behalf of her ailing mother helped her find her ‘why’ to enter political life.
Today on the podcast, Bill talks live with Hamse Warfa, best selling author, U.S. presidential appointee and Somali refugee. This conversation takes place at the International Institute of Minnesota, in celebration of the launch of Hamse’s second book The Transformational Leader: Twelve Practices for Driving Lasting Change. They discuss how his family helped shape his approach to leadership, his path from refugee camp to presidential appointee, and his reflections on leadership at the non-profit, state, and national level.
In this episode of "Ready: Leaders to Know," we’ll meet Williametta Piso Saydee-Tarr. Piso shares her fascinating journey from her childhood in Liberia, through civil war and her experiences as a refugee to her work as the Deputy National Campaign Manager on Media and Communications for Candidate George Weah in the 2017 Liberian Presidential Election and her appointment as Minister of Gender, Children & Social Protection.
On this episode of "Ready: Leaders to Know," Bill talks to Shannon Glenn about her work to keep people and pets together. Shannon has been a long time advocate of pet-friendly shelter policies, helping people who are experiencing homelessness stay connected to pets that are often a key source of connection and comfort. She learned leadership from her mother, a nurse who worked on behalf of patients and caregivers. Shannon exercises that leadership in her current role as executive director of My Pit Bull is Family, working with families to push back on restrictive pet policies in rental housing.
On this episode of "Ready: Leaders to Know," Bill’s guest is Ben Goldfarb. Ben’s leadership journey began with his parents’ commitment to civic advocacy and activism and continued through his discovery of “organizing” as a field. His organizing has spanned work with indigenous communities in Montana to election campaigns in Ireland. He’s run the Klobuchar campaign and Wellstone Action and is currently working with the McKnight Foundation and excited about their bold shifts on climate and democracy.
On this episode, Bill talks with Beirut Abafogi, Director of Operations at the Senator Klobuchar for MN campaign office. Beirut’s journey to leadership was guided by a family that valued education. Her father led schools in Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia, and encouraged his daughter in her pursuit of law school, laying a foundation for her future work advocating for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, at the United Nations Human Rights Agency, and finally in political organizing and campaign management in the US.
On this episode of "Ready: Leaders to Know," Bill talks with Shannon Watson. As the oldest daughter of the chief of police in Wichita, KS, and the founder of Wichita Women’s magazine who were in a bi-partisan marriage, Shannon says she learned bi-partisanship at the dinner table. In recent years that experience inspired her to found Majority in the Middle, an organization that brings people of different political persuasions together for conversation, highlighting where we overlap and agree.
In this episode, Bill speaks with Sumair Sheikh, Executive Director of LISC Duluth. As the son of Indian and Pakistani immigrants, Sumair’s family found community in the upper Midwest. Sumair studied biology but ultimately decided to become a teacher and taught in classrooms in Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. He became involved in education policy, advocating for teachers of color in Minnesota public schools. His degree in public policy led him to his current position as Executive Director of LISC Duluth and leading their efforts in community development.
In this conversation, Bill introduces Terri Thao. Having grown up as the eldest daughter of six siblings, Terri learned leadership early. Her mother was educated and ambitious and passed that “bad-ass” energy to her daughter. Terri’s career has touched many lives. She led at Nexus Community Partners, is currently on the MN Housing board, has served on the St. Paul Planning Commission, and leads now as the Program Director, Local Initiatives and Opportunities at the Margaret A Cargill Foundation.
In this episode, Bill speaks with Maureen Ramirez, Chief of Staff to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. As the child of a union machinist and teacher, Maureen learned the value of advocacy and organizing from her parents. Inspired by her grandmother’s life in America as a Mexican immigrant, Maureen has worked to increase educational access through positions on the UofM Board of Regents and as a school board member in West St Paul and for employment access at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
In this episode, I speak with Aaron Klemz. Aaron balances his role as the Chief Strategy Officer at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and teaching communications at the university level.
During our conversation, Aaron shares how high school debate and speech gave him the tools to push back against bullying and unexpectedly prepared him to advocate for our environment and people impacted by environmental abuses.