Lesley Lopez

In this episode of Chief Influencer, guest host Lesley Lopez sits down with Francesca Ioffreda, Maryland’s first-ever Chief Innovation Officer. With a career spanning roles at Harvard University, Brookings Institution, and the Greater Washington Partnership, Francesca shares how her mission to expand economic opportunity led her to this groundbreaking role. She discusses how Maryland is tackling complex challenges like childhood poverty and economic mobility through human-centered design, data, and cross-sector collaboration.A key driver behind this work is the state’s partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, which helped stand up Maryland’s innovation team and enable a new model for how government can operate. This conversation highlights a broader lesson about influence: the most effective leaders don’t just introduce bold ideas—they build trust, convene stakeholders, and co-create solutions with the people they serve. From launching tools like the Maryland Community Business Compass to working across government and applying AI to help agencies improve public-facing resources and work more efficiently, this episode offers a blueprint for leaders looking to turn vision into practical, measurable impact. Takeaways:Innovation Is About Solving Problems, Not Just Building Technology: Technology matters, but it is only part of the answer. The strongest innovation begins with understanding people’s needs and building solutions that respond to real challenges.Put People at the Center: Human-centered design and community engagement help leaders create solutions shaped by lived experience.Data-Driven and Heart-Led Wins: Great leaders combine rigorous analysis with empathy and lived experience.Influence Means Innovating With Community: The strongest leaders do not innovate in isolation. They build trust, stay close to communities, and shape solutions with the people they are meant to serve.Trust Is Built Through Showing Up: Relationships are built in community meetings and gatherings, over coffee, and through consistent engagement—not just in launch announcements.AI Should Free Humans to Be More Human: Used thoughtfully, AI can remove friction, save time, and allow public servants to focus on serving people.Results Build Momentum: Early wins and visible progress help build trust, strengthen confidence, and bring more people along.Quote of the Show:“A core part of our theory of influencing is also allowing ourselves to be influenced by Marylanders. It's not just us innovating for others; it's that we are innovating together.”Links:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/francescaioffreda Maryland State Innovation Team Website: https://innovation.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx Maryland Community Business Compass: https://compass.maryland.gov/ 

In this special episode of Chief Influencer, we feature a new leader at our partner The George Washington University. Lesley Lopez is the Director of the Graduate Program for Public Relations and Communications at the Graduate School of Political Management.An elected Maryland State Delegate, Lesley is a Chief Influencer in her own right. She recently transitioned from her role as an adjunct professor to lead the Graduate Program for Public Relations and Communications, where she is developing new approaches to engage professional students about the issues that matter in today’s world. Lesley emphasizes the importance of two-way influence, coalition building, and authenticity in politics. She also highlights her innovative initiatives at GW, including a focus on AI in communications and social impact, and invites listeners to engage with the program and its offerings.Takeaways:Embrace Authenticity in Leadership: Be genuine in your interactions and share real experiences to build trust and credibility.Develop Your Unique Leadership Style: Reflect on your personal strengths, passions, and experiences to carve out a leadership style that feels natural to you.Master the Art of Conflict Resolution: Understand where others are coming from and build bridges despite disagreements to foster cooperation and inclusive decisions.Be Transparent and Accessible: Regularly engage with your audience, even informally, to demystify your role and build a deeper connection with your constituents.Leverage Social Media for Genuine Connections: Use social media to share personal stories and behind-the-scenes glimpses into your life, making your digital presence more relatable and engaging.Balance Visibility with Humility: While being proactive in sharing your work is important, demonstrating humility and serving genuinely can resonate deeply with the public.Continual Learning and Adaptation: Stay informed about new trends in communications, technology, or public policy, and be prepared to incorporate them into your leadership toolkit.Quote of the Show:“You have to step outside of that image of who you think a politician is supposed to be and just be a real person. Just speak from the heart.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesleylopez/ GW College of Professional Studies Website: https://cps.gwu.edu/ Shout Outs:Master’s in PR at the Graduate School of Professional Studies at GW: https://cps.gwu.edu/prc  Bianca Prade: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancaprade/ Washington Business Journal Shannon Watts: https://momsdemandaction.org/shannon-watts/ Moms Demand Action: https://momsdemandaction.org/