Chiquisha Robinson on Collaborative Leadership - Chief Influencer - Episode # 034
Chiquisha Robinson is a career public defender with nearly two decades as a top attorney at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. As a Deputy Chief for the Prisoner and Reentry Legal Services Program in the Community Defender Division, she manages a team of attorneys to support and advance the rights of incarcerated adults and those living with a criminal record. To further help her most important stakeholders, Chiquisha authored the DC Reentry Navigator, a 900-page comprehensive compilation of expert knowledge and reentry resources for people arrested, charged, tried, and/or convicted under District of Columbia law. She is also an Adjunct Professor at The George Washington University. Chiquisha joined Host Anthony Shop in her personal capacity to discuss how leaders and communicators can learn to utilize their platforms for positive change, engage stakeholders early on, and navigate the delicate balance between promoting a cause and self-promotion.
Takeaways:
- Leaders should bring stakeholders on board at the inception of a project. Making them part of the creation process boosts ownership and ensures its successful distribution.
- True leadership involves empowering others to reach their potential, whether a service provider, family member, or client. Leaders should inspire and encourage others to develop and put their talents to use.
- If you have information that can help others, you should be willing to share it, not withhold it. You have the responsibility to make sure the right information reaches the people who need it.
- Leaders should reexamine their relationship with ambition and consider scaling the impact of their work as an ambitious goal. Leaders should not view ambition as a way to boost their ego but as a means to scale their impact.
- Leaders have a significant opportunity to use their personal and professional brands to share important messages.
- Be mindful to recognize and respect the individual journeys and experiences of others. Everyone deals with their unique struggles and challenges. Compassion and empathy will make a leader more approachable and trustworthy.
Quote of the Show:
- “When you don't go from potential to producing, you are imprisoned by your idea” - Chiquisha Robinson
Links:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiquisha-robinson/
- The D.C. Reentry Navigator: https://www.pdsdc.org/resources/client-resources/d.c.-reentry-navigator
- Public Defender Service for the District for Columbia: https://www.pdsdc.org/
Creators and Guests
Host
Anthony Shop
Anthony Shop believes in the power of people-centered branding and marketing to create a bright future. He chairs the National Digital Roundtable, the premier convener of digital innovators, leaders and policy shapers. Anthony also is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Social Driver, a digital services firm that helps companies and non-profits establish winning strategies with social media, websites, creative, and advertising. An enthusiastic presenter and teacher, he has led executive-level training for Amazon, PepsiCo, NASA, The British Embassy and the Bipartisan Policy Center. He has been recognized as an “OUTstanding LGBT Role Model” by The Financial Times, “40 Under 40” by The Washington Business Journal, and Business Leader of the Year by the DC Chamber of Commerce. A former newspaper reporter, Anthony was the first new media professional elected to the National Press Club’s Board of Governors. He currently serves on the boards of Leadership Greater Washington and LearnServe International. He earned his MBA from The George Washington University School of Business, where he teaches as an adjunct lecturer.
Guest
Chiquisha Robinson
Chiquisha Robinson is a career public defender with nearly two decades as a top attorney at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. As a Deputy Chief for the Prisoner and Reentry Legal Services Program in the Community Defender Division, she manages a team of attorneys to support and advance the rights of incarcerated adults and those living with a criminal record. To further help her most important stakeholders, Chiquisha authored the DC Reentry Navigator, a 900-page comprehensive compilation of expert knowledge and reentry resources for people arrested, charged, tried, and/or convicted under District of Columbia law. She is also an Adjunct Professor at The George Washington University.
Producer
Robert Krueger
Robert is an Executive Director for The Communications Board, an organization with the mission of providing high-quality professional development for every communicator in every location. He is also the Global Lead for Partnership Communications at Gensler, the world’s largest architecture and design firm. Prior to his current role, he performed executive and CEO communications for Gensler, and was the senior director of public relations and social media at the Urban Land Institute. He obtained an MA in Communications and an MA in History from George Mason University. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In addition, Robert has taught communications at universities including George Mason University, West Virginia University, and the University of Florida. Robert currently serves as Immediate-Past President for the Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) -- the nonprofit’s largest chapter.