Robert Krueger

This Chief Influencer is a longtime educator and leader that has been recognized time and time again for her commitment to bettering her community. Dr. Monica Goldson is the CEO of the Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, one of the largest school districts in the nation. Dr. Goldson shares what she has learned about how to communicate with different groups of stakeholders, the importance of building trust as a leader, and knowing when to amplify other voices to make a greater impact.Takeaways:As a leader, you need to identify the stakeholders that you need to reach and the communication channels and formats that each prefers. For instance, Dr. Goldsons’ students primarily use Twitter and Instagram, so that’s how she alerts them of timely news or shares relevant messaging. Parents or teachers, on the other hand, rely on other forms of communication. To reach them, Dr. Goldson and her team use a wide range of tools including a weekly newsletter, automated phone messages, and “town hall” style meetings via telephone. One example of how Dr. Goldson embraced two-way communication with stakeholders is the town-hall style meetings she held with parents through the pandemic. By doing this, she could share the latest school-health updates, field questions from parents, and bring on doctors to educate parents on pandemic-related health issues.The message is just as important as the medium. Leaders should tailor their message according to what each group of stakeholders needs. When you are communicating with your stakeholders, it’s important to remember that you need to listen. Make sure that people feel heard and are able to ask questions freely. This openness is a building block of trust in your relationship with them.Consistency is also key to building trust. When you communicate consistently, people know what to expect from you, when to expect it, and through which channel. You will not always be the most impactful voice for sharing certain messages with a given group. For example, Dr. Goldson realized when discussing certain topics, such as drug abuse, students are more likely to listen to fellow students. This led to an effective student-made video outlining the dangers of using drugs. Don’t run from the media. Media outlets can be powerful allies to have in your corner as you lead your organization. Remember that media outlets do not only focus on negative stories; when you do something great, especially for others, reach out to see if there is interest amongst broadcasters in covering it. Quote of the Show:“Never let a good crisis go to waste.” - Monica GoldsonLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-goldson-ed-d-99770283/ PGCPS Fentanyl PSA: https://fb.watch/kQJAroxp_i/ PGCPS Website: https://www.pgcps.org/ Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0DjyDgAnBZ1Pgy4Lyojgs1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-influencer/id1688769403 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/27c24d98-1121-465a-bd8f-d7314a9a4482 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-influencer-podcast-5328948YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chiefinfluencer 

Today, we spoke with a special guest that is committed to creating opportunities for the next generation of music makers and lovers through touring live shows, assisting underserved schools, and providing free children's programming. Luke Frazier is the Founder and Music Director of The American Pops Orchestra. Luke shares his unique insights into envisioning a future unconstrained by the status quo, the importance of providing many points of entry for your audience, and the power of a community-focused organization.Takeaways:Challenge the predictable and formulaic elements of everything you do. For example, many people regard going to an orchestral performance as very expensive, however, Luke has worked to change that thinking by innovating his pricing structure. Creating a welcoming, accessible, representative environment allows you to connect with more diverse audiences. For example, consider how representation, through a presenter or performer, creates a more inclusive space.Don’t accept the status quo. Luke focused on incorporating diversity of all kinds into his concerts, both amongst those performing and what they were performing. By committing to diversity, even a simple concert can make a bigger impact.Consider how leaders in other industries have solved issues similar to those you might be facing. For instance, Luke shared he was influenced by subscription streaming services in developing the pricing strategy for his concerts.Financial transparency is crucial to Luke because it allows the communities he serves to see where their monetary support goes, whether it is better art or better administration. When an organization is supported by a community, instead of a few wealthy donors as is typical for orchestras, it is not beholden to the tastes of the fortunate few. Because of this, an organization can be more representative of the community at large and cater to their collective interests. If you want your marketing to reach the right audience you need to research them and meet them where they are. This is a much more sustainable way to grow than forcing people to go somewhere else just to communicate with them.Quote of the Show:“I believe all people need to have that voice and all people need to feel seen and represented from a stage.” - Luke FrazierLinks:The American Pops Orchestra Website: https://www.theamericanpops.org/ The American Pops Orchestra Twitter: https://twitter.com/theamericanpops Personal Website: https://lukefraziermusic.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukefraziermusic/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lukefrazierconductor/ Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0DjyDgAnBZ1Pgy4Lyojgs1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-influencer/id1688769403 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/27c24d98-1121-465a-bd8f-d7314a9a4482 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-influencer-podcast-5328948YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chiefinfluencer