Hamse Warfa: From Refugee Camp to Presidential Appointee & Transformational Leadership

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.

Williametta Piso Saydee-Tarr: Refugee Leadership, Women’s Rights & Public Service

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.

Shannon Glenn: Homelessness, Pets & Keeping Families Together

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. 

Ben Goldfarb: Organizing, Climate, Democracy & Movement Leadership

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.

Beirut Abafogi: Women’s Rights, Political Organizing & Leadership

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.

Shannon Watson: Bipartisan Leadership, Political Dialogue & Finding Common Ground

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.

Sumair Sheikh: Immigrant Leadership, Education & Community Development

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.

Terri Thao: Community Development, Housing & Women in Leadership

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.

Maureen Ramirez: Labor Advocacy, Education Access & Public Service

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.

Aaron Klemz: Environmental Advocacy, Debate & Finding Your Voice

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.

Willie Pearl Evans: Recovery, Civic Engagement & Leadership Through Lived Experience

In this episode of Ready: Leaders to Know, we’ll meet Willie Pearl Evans. In our conversation, Willie Pearl shares her journey from her childhood in the Robert Taylor housing projects in Chicago, through addiction and recovery, to passing key legislation on the opioid epidemic in Minnesota. She shares how her mother’s commitment to civic engagement through voter registration, voter education, and community organizing taught her the skills and strength to lead. Willie Pearl’s journey is a powerful example of the leadership of lived experience. I hope you’ll enjoy the conversation.

Eric Meyer: Nuclear Energy, Climate Change & Turning Activism Into Leadership

In this episode, Bill talks with Eric Meyer, Falcon Heights City Council Member and Founder and Director of Generation Atomic, a nuclear power advocacy and awareness organization. In this conversation, Eric shares how activism turned into leadership as he realized the potential for nuclear energy to impact climate change and how he went from singing opera about advanced nuclear energy to founding Generation Atomic to organize globally.

Ray Camper: Military Service, Trauma, Education & Leadership

In Episode 7 of ‘Ready: Leaders to Know’ Bill talks with Ray Camper. Ray is an advocate for social services, a veteran, a poet, and Educational Leadership PhD candidate. Ray grew up in a large family whose nomadic lifestyle led to a homeschool education. As the eldest of 10 siblings, he carried responsibility from a young age. Ray was deployed to active military duty, serving in Iraq for 16 months and processes his experiences in his book of poetry, Shadowland America. As a trauma survivor, he believes change is possible and that holistic education is key to creating a better world. Don’t miss this compelling journey to leadership.

Lisa Norton: Local Leadership, Mentorship & Practical Politics

Lisa Norton stepped into local leadership first on the Lent Township Board and then to serve as Mayor of Eagle Lake, Minnesota. In this conversation with Bill Graves, Lisa shares her journey from growing up on a farm in greater Minnesota to activism and politics. She has relied on mentorship and learned by doing while supporting Mark Koran’s state senate campaign. From Mark, she learned values like transparency and fighting to provide access to resources for all who need them. She’s an advocate for practical, solution-oriented leadership and for leaders who listen and work for all constituents.

Jim Paine: Community Leadership, Public Service & Showing Up

Since 2017, Jim Paine has served as mayor of Superior Wisconsin. Before becoming mayor, he was the vice chair of the Douglas County Board. Jim talks about the importance and meaning that comes from his deep connection to Superior. He sees leadership as showing up, whether it be washing the dishes at the church fundraiser or leading Superior’s dragon boat festival.

Bob Blake: Tribal Renewable Energy, Environmental Advocacy & Leadership

In Episode 4, Bill talks with Bob Blake, founder of Solar Bear, a solar energy company that advocates for tribal renewable energy. Bob grew up in St. Paul and is a member of the Red Lake Nation. Bob’s family has led in Minnesota’s Native American community since his grandmother, Nelly Spears, founded the St. Paul American Indian Club in 1960. From leadership lessons gained as bodyguard to Minnesota music legend Prince to charting his own path through environmental advocacy, Bob’s journey is totally unique. Don’t miss this one!

Lisa Thompson: Worker Organizing, Childcare Advocacy & Finding Your Voice

In this episode, Bill talks with Lisa Thompson. Lisa was appointed by Governor Walz and serves as the Ombudsperson for childcare providers in Minnesota. She shares her path to leadership, from growing up in a family who knew the importance of workers and learning the power of organizing from her grandmother, a restaurant server who independently organized an emergency fund for servers, to becoming a home childcare provider and following in family footsteps to found and lead a union of her peers.

Lisa reminds us that leading begins with showing up and speaking out whether it’s in the church basement or the capitol rotunda. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or on the link in our bio!

Kirsten Kennedy: Women in Leadership, Public Service & Taking Risks

In Episode 2 of ‘Ready: Leaders to Know’ Bill speaks with Kirsten Kennedy. Kirsten served two terms as Mayor of North Branch, MN, was a Democratic nominee for Congress in 2018, and currently leads the Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership as its executive director. 

Kirsten describes how her Father’s experiences as a young child in Nazi occupied Norway as well as his service in the Norwegian military prepared her to take risks for things she believes in. A single mother of five, Kirsten discusses balancing the demands of leadership and parenthood.

Jake Spano: Political Leadership, Local Government & Lessons in Responsibility

In this episode, Bill talks with Jake Spano. Jake is the outgoing mayor of Saint Louis Park and founder of Spano Group Advisors. Bill and Jake discuss Jake’s wide breadth of experience in Minnesota politics, from keeping up with Senator Klobuchar to learning how to take responsibility from Mayor Chris Coleman, to what’s happening right now as he closes out his final mayoral term.

Exploring the people, moments, and experiences that shape how leaders lead.

Ready: Leaders to Know is a leadership podcast hosted by Bill Graves, featuring Minnesota leaders who lead with courage, care, and conviction.

Each episode goes beyond the job title to explore the people, experiences, mentors, and challenges that shape how leaders lead. Through honest and personal conversations, Bill explores the moments that forge values, influence leadership, and shape a commitment to community.

From public service and politics to nonprofits, philanthropy, advocacy, education, and community organizing, Ready: Leaders to Know explores what it really takes to lead today, and the stories behind the people doing the work.

Whether you're a nonprofit professional, public servant, advocate, educator, community leader, or someone interested in leadership and civic engagement, you'll find conversations about purpose, resilience, service, and the human experiences that shape leadership.