Jaimie Trussell

When I was a young professional, I attended a networking event where I had the opportunity to share a table with some pretty impressive community leaders including Dr. Hal Higdon, who introduced himself by saying,  “I work at OTC.”  As if anyone there that day didn’t already know he was the new president of the largest technical college in the state of Missouri! I told him I was honored to make his acquaintance. What I didn’t say is how greatly his humble introduction affected me. Here was a well-respected CEO, taking the time to introduce himself to those of us randomly gathered. Dr. Higdon demonstrated that respect is about much more than accomplishment, position and title. It’s also how you treat others. Being genuinely interested in whomever is placed in your path is an incredible leadership trait I’ve noticed in all the great leaders I know, and seems uniquely abundant within our community. 

My personal calling is to help feed hungry children. I was able to do that around the world with Convoy of Hope and now I get to serve locally through Crosslines. Some days I can’t believe I get paid to do this! I would have to say my proudest accomplishment is successfully bringing the 10 outreaches of the Council of Churches under one roof in our new headquarters at 3055 E Division. Now, we are literally as well as figuratively, #BetterTogether! In the last twelve months, our redesigned “one stop shop” served more than 100,000 neighbors in need!  

Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger. My biggest take-a-way: leaders will meet challenges they never imagined. Bolsinger speaks eloquently of the struggle between learning to trust your team and having your heart broken when your trust is broken. That was a lesson for which I wish I had been better prepared. 

First, at the end of the day, your family has to be your “first team”. I work long hours and it’s pretty stressful in the world of social services. To decompress, I spent as much time as possible outside. We live on a farm with lots of animals (including a ridiculous mini-goat). Find a way to be there for your people. Second, don’t believe your own press. You are not as terrible as some people think and you are not as wonderful as other people think. The truth is somewhere in the middle. As a leader, you will hear a lot of “feedback”. You have to find your “true north” and lead from that. The hard lesson is that you learn as much from those who are throwing rocks, as you do from those who are cheering you on.