We were proud that Pahoua was asked to be the keynote speaker at yesterday’s Minneapolis Regional Chamber Annual Meeting. Pahoua spoke about “the deficits of conversation” we tend to have in the business, professional, and policy spheres, especially at an event like an annual meeting.
“As leaders of companies and organizations, we all know we should be doing more to call out the need to make real and meaningful connections. But then we leave this lunch and go back to our jobs and find 10 emails to answer and 5 calls to make and we won’t do the thing unless we resolve to do the thing,” Pahoua said. “Sometimes it takes a fellow organization leader to stand before you to say it out loud. I’m happy to have that role today.”
She challenged attendees to a homework assignment: Leave today knowing something about someone else in this room that’s not on their business card or Linked-In profile.
We hope to get video from the Chamber to share with our members and supporters. In the meantime, here’s a sampling of what people were saying on social media:
.@pahoua has the #mrc2019 crowd in rapt attention! Congrats on a thought provoking, funny and tender speech. “Structure your organization to listen more.” – love that. @MplsChamber @CitizensLeague pic.twitter.com/2KQqvGWxv0
— Marion Greene (@MarionGreene) January 17, 2019
The @CitizensLeague’s @pahoua discusses the deficit in conversation, and how we should all move beyond our business cards, LinkedIn profiles and titles to make real and meaningful connections. #MRC2019 @MplsChamber pic.twitter.com/NrFdd2dIxo
— Weber Shandwick | Mpls. (@WSmpls) January 17, 2019
All eyes on @pahoua at the @MplsChamber #MRC2019. She may be “a woman of color of less-than-average height”, but she’s a BIG deal in our community. pic.twitter.com/Hb2JTCkwF2
— Meng W Yang (@meng0s) January 17, 2019
I’m kinda geeking out that I have my friend and @CitizensLeague Executive Director @pahoua as featured speaker at @MplsChamber Annual Meeting! #MRC2019 pic.twitter.com/J1PtxKGbgi
— Jonathan Weinhagen (@jweinhagen) January 17, 2019
How can we solve the challenges and bridge the divides that hold us back? @CitizensLeague @pahoua are tackling the deficit of conversation in the world today. What motivates us? Who are we beyond the 1st impression? @MplsChamber #mrc2019 pic.twitter.com/Loz3rvbkn7
— Judy Johnson (@judyinplym) January 17, 2019
“Let’s go back to our goal: finding ways to step above divisions and get stuff done.” @pahoua #MRC2019 #mpls @MplsChamber @CitizensLeague pic.twitter.com/Ky0it75Gmf
— Ashley Ibach (@AshleyIbach) January 17, 2019
Thanks to @pahoua – friend, daughter, partner, small business owner, volunteer, woman of color, civic leader, @CitizensLeague ED, Led Zeppelin fan, and many other wonderful things – for challenging folks to make the time for true conversations in 2019. Gauntlet thrown! #mrc2019
— Matt Lewis (@LewisMinn) January 17, 2019
“Your homework today is to get to know something about someone here that isn’t on their business card or LinkedIn profile,” says @pahoua #MRC2019 #citizensleague
— Aaron Pearson (@apearson) January 17, 2019
Truly, kudos to @pahoua for presenting so engagingly that you got 1,000+ businessfolk to stay OFF their mobile devices in the middle of the work day. Proud to be an alum of @CitizensLeague. (& I will definitely bring my jeans with holes in…interesting places…to Sew Simple!) https://t.co/czSeYmekHJ
— Dani Fisher (@DaniKFisher) January 17, 2019