2026 Leaders Lab participant profiles

Leaders Lab is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage Minnesota’s developing business leaders. It will enhance your personal and professional growth, connect you with business leaders statewide, and provide understanding into what drives Minnesota’s economy and how policy affects the success of business in our state. To learn more about Leaders Lab, click here. 

Check back to this page as more of our wonderful 2026 Leaders Lab participants are profiled!  

Profiled on June 3

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
I fulfilled a longtime goal of launching my own residential interior design + styling business. 

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
Red Wing Boots. It's such a timeless, classic product. They have a great story and I love that they continue to operate in Red Wing. 

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in Foley, MN. My home was situated on 80 acres just outside of town and as a kid, I loved having so much land to play on. Plenty of space to build forts and play some epic games of Ghost in the Graveyard.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
 "It takes no creativity to be a critic." A very wise woman once told me this and it really resonated with me. I think it's a good reminder to worry less about the naysayers, believe in your ideas and keep pushing for innovation.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
My first major purchase after I got my first "real" job was a cocktail-style Ms. PacMan machine that sat at the foot of my bed in my small studio apartment. I have set high-scores at arcades all across the country.

Profiled on June 1

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
I have been able to successfully launch my new business and have been learning the power of artificial intelligence.

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
Apples, specifically the Honeycrisp, along with SweeTango®, First Kiss®, Zestar!®, SnowSweet®, Haralson, and Frostbite™.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew-up in Shakopee, Minnesota . That city is very unique to the Twin Cities and Minnesota as it shares resources with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and is known for entertainment alongside Canterbury Park, Valley Fair, etc.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
Do not be afraid to stand out from the crowd.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I am a USMC Combat Veteran (Served on Active Duty from 2001-2005.
 

Profiled on May 29

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
Jeg begyndte at lære dansk! I started to learn Danish; not with an app (although I use the apps for practice) but in a classroom. I love that this is time for me to learn something new that isn't work-related. Why Danish? Hvorfor ikke!

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
The wearable pacemaker! It was developed through a partnership between engineers at Medtronic and clinicians at the University of Minnesota.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in Richfield; my parents still live in the house I grew up in. Some say Richfield is Minneapolis's first suburb. But long before post-war ramblers and Best Buy HQ, it was the crossroads where wagon routes connected Fort Snelling to farming communities.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
 "A timely response doesn't always mean right away." I used to feel like I had to answer every email instantly, but a mentor reminded me that taking time to ensure my response is clear, thoughtful, and complete is ok. 

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I'm an only child and come from a small modern family. Growing up, my parents would tell me about my great-grandparents or great-great aunts and uncles because we inherited (read: I am from a long line of packrats) all their things (furniture, bank books, Norwegian or German bibles, photos etc.). I guess you could say I am something of an amateur family genealogist because of the stories and the everyday items that we still have and can trace my ancestors back to my 19x great-grandparents, born in the 1440s. 
 

Profiled on May 28

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
My daughter was born January 2025.

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
Honeycrisp apple. I have one every day! 

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
Fridley, MN. Fridley is a small town in the midst of the big Twin Cities filled with economic and ethnic diversity. Growing up there provided worldly view in small town form.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
My dad always says "It's not about what you know, it's who you know". Continuing to meet and learn from new people has taken me further in my leadership journey than any formal education.  

Profiled on May 27

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
I FINALLY perfected making sourdough bread—which, if you know me, you know this is excellent news.

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
My mom is from Roseau, so I've always loved that Polaris is headquartered and made here. 

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. One special thing about the area is that Judy Garland—best known for The Wizard of Oz—is also from Grand Rapids. 

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
The best advice I’ve received is to bring humanity back into leadership. People aren’t just roles or titles. Remembering that we’re all human—navigating work, life, and everything in between. Leading with empathy will take you further than anything else.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I love, love, love to travel. Over the past three years, I’ve visited over 20 countries, and one thing I always look forward to is trying the coffee in each place.
 

Profiled on May 21

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
Memories. 

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
Farmington. Incredible community to grow up in, where the concrete meets the fields. 20 minutes from a Twins game or concert, and outdoor and farmland activities in the town. The relationships built growing up still exist today, annual hunting and golf trips with lifelong friends I grew up with playing football at recess to making it to the state football tournament twice as a varsity team.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
In your career you will have wins and losses, more people are lost descending the mountain than climbing it.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
Being from the suburbs of the Twin Cities, I grew up vacationing in northern Minnesota and love the lakes, streams, and woods. I moved up to the Brainerd Lakes Area to live off a lake. 15 years later I am in the same home with a family and three kids. Through determination we now own additional land off of two lakes and 75 acres, and a cabin off another lake. Get to work every day at Madden's resort. Wouldn't have dreamed this was a possibility when making the leap, and feel we are just getting started :)
 

Profiled on May 20

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
Minnesota-grown food, especially anything tied to agriculture and family-owned businesses. There’s something special about products rooted in hard work, stewardship of the land, and multi-generational pride.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and what was special was the strong sense of community. It taught me the value of showing up for people, working hard, and staying grounded, lessons that continue to shape how I lead and build relationships today. I live in EP today and also love the quietness and green spaces. 

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
"You don’t have to have all the answers, you just have to ask the right questions.” That advice shifted how I lead, helping me focus on listening, curiosity, and bringing the right people together to solve meaningful problems.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I have a natural ability to read people and energy in a room, it’s something I rely on heavily in both leadership and relationship-building. It helps me connect authentically, anticipate needs and create environments where people feel understood and supported.
 

Profiled on May 19

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
One of the best things that happened to me this past year was joining API. It's been energizing to take on this new challenge.

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
As a lifelong Minnesotan, it's hard to choose. I want to say the Vikings, though they give me equal parts joy and heartbreak. Instead, I'll pick the Honeycrisp apple as my family and I go through them almost daily!

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota. Besides the well known Mall of America, most people don't know that Bloomington has nationally award winning water.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
The best leadership advice I've received is to lead by example and to genuinely understand and empathize with the people you work with.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
 I'm a big film fan, and while abroad, I once won a prize for recognizing movies purely by their theme song.
 

Profiled on May 18

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
Probably Summit Brewing or other craft beer breweries.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
Savannah, Ga.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
Leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge. 

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I spent just under a decade as a firefighter.
 

Profiled on May 7

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
My wife and I welcomed our second son in September 2024. Throughout 2025, we valued spending quality time with him and his older brother by visiting new parks, going to the zoo, and enjoying extended weekends at the family cabin.  

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I spent my early years in New Hope, MN before moving to Bloomington, MN in high school. Changing schools let me experience two communities, highlighting how meaningful family, friends, and community are to personal growth.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
One piece of advice that continues to impact me is to not be afraid of asking for help or input, especially as a leader. If you have the willingness to learn and expand your knowledge it is most appropriate to ask questions. I view this as a strength rather than a weakness for developing and existing leaders.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
As a dedicated cyclist, I set yearly distance and training goals. In 2025, my 4-year-old son began riding, so we now plan shorter trips together to new parks and playgrounds in our city.
 

Profiled on May 6

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
In 2025 I proposed to my girlfriend and she said yes! Now we're in the middle of planning our wedding in October 2026.

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
Does a Jucy Lucy count? If so, that would be it.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in small town of Leonard, ND. What made it special was the community feel and the majority of the residents knew each other. Also, the night drives on the gravel roads with corn fields on each side was magical.   

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
Stay curious: Keep growing / learning.  

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
Each year my siblings and I plan a trip to a place we've never been to. This is a time we use to catch up with each others life and go on an adventure, two birds one stone.
 

Profiled on May 4

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
This past year I was able to take two family vacations to Park Point in Duluth Minnesota and had an amazing time. 

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
JonnyPops 

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in Ham Lake, Minnesota and the special part was that there is in fact a lake that is shaped like a bone in slice of ham.   

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
One thing I have been told to do when things don't go as planned is to review what I could have done better as a leader before providing feedback to those I lead. 

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I am a triplet.
 

Profiled on April 30

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
I loved watching Jordan Stolz, a speedskater from a small town in Wisconsin, win the Olympic gold this year. From wobbling around the pond in his backyard to flying through the rink in Milan--he's an inspiration!                 

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
My favorite thing will be Mesabi Metallics' Direct-Reduction grade pellets--coming summer 2026. They will be perfectly positioned to power the Green Steel revolution across the globe, significantly reducing carbon emissions from steel production. 

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in Yankton, South Dakota--the first capital of the Dakota Territory. What made it special for me was having access to a uniquely sophisticated ballet school. Our school's owner and director, Dorota Dannenbring, trained from a young age at the Warsaw School of Ballet in Poland. Beyond teaching us the Russian techniques of classical ballet, she also taught us traditional Polish dances, like the Mazurka. 

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
To recognize what you admire about other leaders (how they think, how they respond, how they handle themselves in challenging situations) and be intentional about modeling that behavior with your own team. 

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I play the oboe, flute, piano, guitar and when I'm lucky, the organ and the harpsicord.  
 

Profiled on April 29

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
A long-time client of mine reached out for permission to use past communications from me as the "gold standard" examples of consultant-client-regulatory communication in their internal training program through out the country. This made me feel really appreciated!                    

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
Formerly, Northland Fishing tackle.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
Elk River, Minnesota. Elk River is special because it is a mix of rural and suburban communities. It is a place where city and county come together. The city of Elk River is located at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi River. I spent a lot of time on the river growing up, the Mississippi River has and always will be special to me!    

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
Understand that everyone is different, thus, there is not a one size fits all approach to leading an effective team.     

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I have been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness many times and believe it is one of the more powerful things a person can experience for several reasons.  

Profiled on April 28

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
A piece of good news from this past year is that I started a new role as a start-up manager for a large project at our plant. I am really excited about this opportunity and feel grateful to be part of this venture. It has been energizing to work with a talented team and help guide an important project through commissioning. I am looking forward to learning even more and making a positive impact!                

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
One of my favorite things made in Minnesota is Yetti Fish Houses. Ice fishing is something my husband and I both enjoy, and it’s even more special because our three little girls love fishing too. The Yetti makes it easy and comfortable for our whole family to spend time together out on the ice, turning cold winter days into fun family adventures.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in Esko, MN, a small town with a close-knit community. What is special about Esko is how everyone knows each other and comes together to support one another, whether it’s at school events, sporting events, or local gatherings. It’s a place where I made lifelong friends and learned the importance of community and connection.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
One piece of advice that has most impacted me in my leadership journey is to “always listen first.” Taking the time to truly hear others, whether it’s team members, colleagues, or customers, helps build trust and often leads to better solutions. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t just about making decisions, but about understanding and valuing different perspectives.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
Something interesting about me is that my husband and I have hosted four weddings at our home. It’s been such a special experience to help friends and family celebrate their big day in a place that means so much to us. Each wedding has given us amazing memories and brought our loved ones even closer together.

Profiled on April 24

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
My family were able to enjoy a norshore escape to Lutsen Mountains with 0/3 kids on ski training leashes.

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
The timeless creativity and funky jams of Prince.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
Minnetonka/Hopkins - able to bike from friend's house to friend's house using only landlines to check in with my parents.  

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
Learned from the solitude of the BWCA and woven into my career culture is to leave the campsite better than I found it.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I have swum in Lake Superior 125 consecutive months.