The Power of Possible: Leadership Edition

Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation exists to bring communities together, harnessing collective energy to make the biggest dreams possible for our state. In The Power of Possible: Leadership Edition, Foundation President and CEO, Chanda Smith Baker, invites listeners into an honest exploration of leadership as a daily practice — one shaped by values, lived experience and courageous decision-making. Drawing from her journey as a seasoned executive and nationally recognized thought leader, Chanda examines how leaders hold vision in uncertainty, stay anchored to purpose and expand what’s possible for the people they serve.

Episodes

  1. Episode 1

    Welcome to The Power of Possible: Leadership Edition

    We’re excited to release The Power of Possible: Leadership Edition, a brand new, binge-worthy content series on all things leadership.  In this 8-episode series, Foundation President and CEO Chanda Smith Baker joins Dr. Tashion Macon for an honest exploration of leadership as a daily practice — one shaped by values, lived experience and courageous decision-making.   Drawing from her journey as a seasoned executive and nationally recognized thought leader, Chanda examines how leaders hold vision in uncertainty, stay anchored to purpose and expand what’s possible for the people they serve.

    Welcome to The Power of Possible: Leadership Edition

  2. 16 Jun

    The Power of Possibility: Why is This Important in Leadership

    This is the opening episode of the Power of Possible: Leadership Edition, an eight-episode leadership podcast and video series featuring conversations between leadership coach Dr. Tashion Macon and the Foundation’s President and CEO, Chanda Smith Baker. Created for this moment — and for the leaders navigating it — the series offers listeners candid conversations on leadership growth as it happens, in real time, shaped by lived experience, tested by uncertainty, and strengthened through relationships.   In this first episode, Dr. Tashion Macon sits down with Chanda to explore what it means to lead with possibility. Chanda reflects on how growing up in North Minneapolis shaped her perspective as she watched strength, creativity and resilience take root in places often overlooked. Those experiences helped her understand that possibility isn’t defined by circumstance; it’s something leaders can see, cultivate and carry forward in the way they show up. This conversation offers an honest look at leadership as an ongoing journey of growth and self-discovery.   Throughout the episode, Tashion and Chanda reflect on the idea that leadership isn’t something you switch on for certain moments — it’s who you are everywhere. They underscore the importance of self-awareness, strong relationships and staying grounded in your values, especially when navigating challenges. At its core, the conversation expands the idea of possibility beyond individual success, emphasizing how stepping into your own potential can create pathways for others. With reflections on humility, humor and the realities of leadership along the way, this episode sets the tone for the series: a powerful, grounded invitation to lead with intention and to keep stretching what feels possible — for yourself and for the communities you belong to.

    The Power of Possibility: Why is This Important in Leadership

  3. 16 Jun

    Unscripted Leadership: Where does one’s leadership journey begin?

    In this Unscripted Leadership episode of the Power of Possible, Dr. Tashion Macon invites listeners to take a deeper look at where Chanda Smith Baker’s leadership was first shaped. Their conversation traces back to her childhood. Growing up among neighbors with diverse lived experiences and in a family that welcomed disagreement taught Chanda to listen, question assumptions and stay connected to others. Chanda opens up about stepping into her first CEO role during a season marked by personal loss and community crisis, and how those experiences pushed her into a more honest, vulnerable way of leading. This is a grounded, unfiltered conversation about what it looks like to lead in community, to carry complexity and to keep showing up with intention, even when the path isn’t clear.

    Unscripted Leadership: Where does one’s leadership journey begin?

  4. 16 Jun

    The Ripple Effect: How do leadership decisions drive change?

    In this episode of the Power of Possible, Dr. Tashion Macon and Chanda Smith Baker reflect on what it takes to lead with steadiness when everything around you feels uncertain. Grounded in moments when Minnesota was thrust into the national spotlight, Chanda shares how she resisted the pull of urgency and instead leads with a long view, recognizing that while situations can feel out of control, leaders don’t have to be. It’s a perspective rooted in experience, discipline and a deep belief that meaningful change requires patience, clarity and a commitment to community over headlines. A key thread throughout the episode is the role of generosity in driving lasting change. Chanda challenges the idea that impact is always immediate or easily measured, instead pointing to the long arc of giving — where investments made today may not reveal their full value for years or even generations. Through personal stories, she illustrates how acts of generosity, whether in moments of crisis or through sustained commitments, create ripple effects that shape lives and communities in ways we may never fully see.

    The Ripple Effect: How do leadership decisions drive change?

  5. 16 Jun

    Being the First | How does identity shape the way we lead?

    In this episode of the the Power of Possible: Leadership Edition, Dr. Tashion Macon and Chanda Smith Baker explore the often unspoken weight and responsibility of legacy in leadership. This is a conversation about what it means to lead as your full self in spaces that weren’t necessarily built with you in mind. As the first Black CEO at the Foundation, Chanda reflects on what being “the first,” carries: not just visibility, but expectation, complexity and a deep responsibility to open doors wider for those coming next. At the same time, she reframes leadership in a powerful way — moving away from having all the answers, and toward being grounded in community, where answers already exist if you’re willing to listen.   Chanda shares the daily practices that make leadership sustainable, including music, stillness, reflection, sisterhood and staying connected to herself beyond her role. She speaks openly about identity, representation and the reality of navigating race, class and gender in leadership spaces. For Chanda, leadership isn’t about perfection or control, rather it’s about staying present, staying grounded and continuing to evolve. Legacy, in this sense, isn’t just what you leave behind; it’s how you show up, every day, in the work and with the people around you.

    Being the First | How does identity shape the way we lead?

  6. 16 Jun

    Leading a Community Foundation | How can we amplify our impact?

    In this episode of the Power of Possible, Dr. Tashion Macon and Chanda Smith Baker take listeners inside what it means to lead a community foundation. Chanda describes a community foundation as the place where generosity meets purpose and legacy, bringing together people who care deeply about their neighbors and want to make a meaningful difference. At its core, the work is relational — connecting donors, nonprofits and communities in ways that turn care into action. Leading this kind of organization requires more than strategy; it demands a commitment to partnership, service and staying grounded in the belief that, despite differences, people ultimately want the same things: stability, opportunity and a better future for the next generation.   As the conversation unfolds, Chanda reflects on the role of leadership in building connections — especially across difference and across generations. She shares how her approach is shaped by listening: to community, to peers and especially to emerging leaders whose perspectives challenge and expand her own. The episode highlights the importance of creating space for new voices, borrowing courage when needed and remembering what it felt like to be earlier in your journey. In doing so, it offers a grounded, hopeful reminder: when leadership is rooted in community and guided by purpose, it has the power to both meet immediate needs and shape a stronger future for everyone.

    Leading a Community Foundation | How can we amplify our impact?

  7. 16 Jun

    Leading with Trust and Vulnerability: How do we best lead across differences?

    In this episode of The Power of Possible, Dr. Tashion Macon and Chanda Smith Baker explore what it really means to lead with trust and vulnerability—especially when working across difference. The conversation centers on the idea that effective leadership isn’t about avoiding discomfort but learning how to stay in it long enough to understand it. Chanda reflects on how she approaches difference not as something to overcome, but as something to learn from—listening deeply, seeking out multiple perspectives, and staying curious even when values or experiences don’t align. For her, working across difference is not optional; it’s essential to building meaningful solutions and stronger communities.    Chanda emphasizes that trust grows in moments when things don’t go as planned, when people feel safe enough to speak up and work through challenges together. She also reflects on the importance of courage in leadership, encouraging listeners to intentionally put themselves in unfamiliar situations as a way to grow. Ultimately, the episode is a grounded look at what it takes to lead in relationship with others—showing up with authenticity, staying committed to understanding, and building trust in ways that create lasting connections across teams, communities, and differences.

    Leading with Trust and Vulnerability: How do we best lead across differences?

  8. 16 Jun

    Leading From the Middle: What does “middle” leadership look like?

    In this episode of The Power of Possible, Dr. Tashion Macon and Chanda Smith Baker explore what it means to “lead from the middle” — a leadership approach grounded in relationships. Rather than trying to fit a traditional mold of leadership, Chanda shares how knowing yourself becomes a true leadership advantage, even when it requires courage to show up fully. The conversation invites listeners to rethink what leadership looks like — shifting from perfection and performance to authenticity, self-awareness and connection.   Chanda also discusses her own journey of growth, including overcoming self-doubt, redefining imposter syndrome and building confidence through practice and support. She highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with people who challenge and reflect your potential back to you, and of stepping into spaces where you’re still learning. The conversation also extends to donors and community members, emphasizing that generosity and leadership are accessible to everyone. Whether you’re giving time, resources or simply showing up, leading from the middle means being in relationship — people, with community and with the possibility of creating impact that ripples outward in ways you may not fully see.

    Leading From the Middle: What does “middle” leadership look like?

  9. 15 Jun

    Hope, Joy & Possibility: How do leaders hold a future vision in chaos?

    In this episode of The Power of Possible, Dr. Tashion Macon and Chanda Smith Baker explore what it means to hold on to hope — and even joy — when the future feels uncertain. Their conversation is grounded in a powerful question: how do leaders stay connected to a larger vision when the present moment feels heavy or chaotic?    The episode also reframes imagination as a critical leadership practice. Chanda describes how she looks for patterns not in numbers, but in conversation, community and across experiences to better understand where solutions might exist. Throughout the conversation, there’s a steady reminder that leadership isn’t about agreement, but commitment — to each other, to the work and to future generations. By staying grounded in that commitment, leaders can create space for hope, sustain their energy over time and continue building toward a future that may not always be visible.

    Hope, Joy & Possibility: How do leaders hold a future vision in chaos?
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    8 Episodes

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About

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation exists to bring communities together, harnessing collective energy to make the biggest dreams possible for our state. In The Power of Possible: Leadership Edition, Foundation President and CEO, Chanda Smith Baker, invites listeners into an honest exploration of leadership as a daily practice — one shaped by values, lived experience and courageous decision-making. Drawing from her journey as a seasoned executive and nationally recognized thought leader, Chanda examines how leaders hold vision in uncertainty, stay anchored to purpose and expand what’s possible for the people they serve.

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