By Karla Isley, United Way President & CEO

Contents

Whether it’s a Spiderman backpack, a fresh haircut, or that crisp new stylin’ outfit, we all can picture that classic image of a child—or that memory of ourselves—on the first day of school. A backpack and mind full of possibility and curiosity— the essentials for learning and growing.

But have you ever stopped to think about what leaders carry in their metaphorical backpacks? It’s not just coffee, a laptop, and a long to-do list. Great leaders pack the tools they need to keep learning, growing, and inspiring others.

In honor of Giving Hearts Day, and United Way’s goal to help kids reach their full potential, we asked the local leaders on United Way’s Board to share with us what’s in their “backpacks” when it comes to the things that fuel their commitment to life-long learning.

Let’s face it—the world moves fast. One minute you’re on top of the game, and the next there’s a new app or buzzword that can make you feel like you’ve stepped out of a time machine from 1999. That’s why the best leaders never stop learning—and find ways to stay sharp and stay ahead.

For kids, having the right classroom essentials, mental health support, a warm home, and food to eat, means their little hearts and minds can be prepared to succeed in school. For leaders, it’s the same idea. Their “backpacks” are packed with the essentials that keep their learning journey going—books on leadership and innovation, podcasts that challenge their perspectives, and access to life-changing training.

Imagine a child arriving at school empty-handed while all their classmates have full backpacks, their confidence and self-worth at a low point, trying to succeed on that first big assignment. Frustrating (and heart-breaking), right? Now imagine a leader navigating complex challenges without the knowledge, skills, and insights that come from ongoing education. It’s the same struggle.

This parallel is powerful: learning is universal. Kids need the support to build their foundations, and leaders need the tools to expand theirs.

So, whether you’re making a gift for Giving Hearts Day to fill a kid’s backpack with school supplies and confidence, or you’re filling your own metaphorical one with knowledge, the goal is the same: to empower learners to succeed.

After all, today’s well-equipped kids are tomorrow’s leaders in the workplace, and the best leaders are those who never stop learning. Let’s make sure everyone—big and small—has what they need to thrive. A gift of just $75 could provide backpacks chock full of school supplies for three local kids and $150 could make sure one student has food on the weekends for a year.

Learn more and give at givingheartsday.org

Mike Arnston, Head Coach, Cardinal IG, United Way Board Chair

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

Values-based leadership, because it aligns teammates around shared principles, fostering trust, collaboration, and accountability. This approach not only strengthens company culture but also empowers teammates to make decisions that reflect Cardinal IG’s values.

What trainings are most impactful for your business?

Leadership training, because it cultivates the skills and mindset necessary to empower teammates, improve communication, and foster a strong, values-driven culture. By investing in leadership development, Cardinal IG ensures that leaders at all levels can effectively inspire their teams, drive continuous improvements, and uphold the company’s standards of excellence.

Why do you believe that kids in our community deserve to have access to critical support such as nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship?

All these things are foundational to a child’s well-being, growth, and future success. Without these resources, children face barriers that limit their potential, while access to them allows kids to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially, creating stronger families and communities. People should give to United Way because their contributions directly impact these critical needs, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed. United Way effectively collaborates with local organizations to address these challenges, making donations go further and creating lasting change. By giving, people can be part of a collective effort to provide hope, stability, and opportunity to the most vulnerable members of our community.

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

“Trust: Knowing When to Give It, When to Withhold It, How to Earn It, and How to Fix It When It Gets Broken” by Dr. Henry Cloud

What podcasts have been most impactful for your business?

“Jocko Podcast— Leadership and Discipline”

Kimberly Busch, Director of Customer Experience and Delivery, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, United Way Board Member

What apps/software are most impactful for your business?

The most impactful are the ones which allow us to access and share information easily.

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

Healthcare is complex and our members are the guiding principle. Everyone understands it is within each role to help make it easier and more affordable for those we serve.

What trainings are most impactful for your business?

Trainings around acquiring and developing different frames of reference—such as having a growth, enterprise, agile, or inclusive mindset—have the potential to be the most impactful because they shift the energy and culture. When we learn these together, we can help keep each other accountable around shared language and habits.

Why do you believe that kids in our community deserve to have access to critical support such as nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship?

These are our kids in our schools, neighborhoods, and the future of our workforce. Imagine what our community would look like if every person knew, at any age, how much they matter and belong.

What podcasts have been most impactful for your business?

There are lots of great specific healthcare and/or customer experience podcasts; however, the ones I find most interesting are ones that tell a story or host guests from all different businesses. These allow me to find ways to be curious and apply it to my own work, leadership, or team. Some examples are “How I Built This” with Guy Raz, Adam Grant’s “Re: Thinking” and “A Bit of Optimism” with Simon Sinek.

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

“Crucial Conversations” by Stephen Covey

“Leading Change” by John Kotter

“Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell

Eric Christianson, Chief Operating Officer, Enclave, United Way Vice Board Chair

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

One of the most impactful business principles is fostering strong relationships with partners, employees, and communities. At Enclave, we look for intelligent, high-character individuals who can build strong relationships with multiple stakeholders.

What apps/software are most impactful for your business?

The real estate industry relies on extensive data analysis to optimize investments. We are committed to developing a data warehouse and enhancing business intelligence, enabling our leaders to visualize data and make informed decisions based on real-time analytics.

What trainings are most impactful for your business?

Leadership development and strategic planning training are especially valuable. As a rapidly growing company, it’s essential for us to chart our future course and tackle any challenges together.

Why do you believe that kids in our community deserve to have access to critical support such as nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship?

Kids in our community deserve access to critical support because it lays the foundation for their future success. Providing nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship ensures they have the resources needed to thrive. Supporting United Way during Giving Hearts Day helps create a stronger, healthier community for everyone.

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

One particularly impactful book is “Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times” by Nancy Koehn. The author examines five historical figures, showcasing people who faced immense challenges and emerged as exemplary leaders. Each story provides valuable lessons on resilience, adaptability, and the importance of courageous leadership.

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

“Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times” by Nancy Koehn

What podcasts have been most impactful for your business?

“A Bit of Optimism” by Simon Sinek

Randy Gerhold, CTO, Bushel, United Way Board Member

What podcasts have been most impactful for your business?

Recently I have been listening to podcasts that focus on AI and how it is being used to improve many aspects of our lives. I also read articles and listen to podcasts that focus on best practices and trends in cybersecurity. I guess this makes me a nerd.

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

We believe in an above-the-line mindset, always working with a strong sense of urgency and decisiveness. We encourage our employees to always demonstrate courage, heart, and teamwork.

What apps/software are most impactful for your business?

Slack is the most critical app we use for our office collaborations. Being a distributed workforce, it enables the type of collaboration needed to have effective and timely discussions, share fun wins, reach out for help and get it quickly, and pull people together quickly to address critical needs in an urgent and effective manner.

What trainings are most impactful for your business?

Most recently, we have provided training to help our team members build confidence in their ability to lead and influence others. Some of the training is focused on how to have crucial conversations, no ego discussions, book clubs, and, of course, the never-ending need to help people better understand how to keep our data secure and identify when bad actors could be trying to phish for ways to gain access to our data and systems.

Why do you believe that kids in our community deserve to have access to critical support such as nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship?

We are all very busy and it can be very time-consuming to do all the research needed to ensure that every dollar you donate is having the greatest impact on the most critical needs of our community. United Way does a fantastic job of determining these needs and identifying the organizations that can best address them. United Way partners, at times mentors, and continuously measures their impact. We focus on critical needs, such as access to nutritious food, mental support when needed, affordable childcare, and after school programs to help our children prosper and grow while allowing parents the ability to participate in the workforce and provide for their families. You can have high confidence that donating to the United Way will have the greatest impact on our community.

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

“No Ego” by Cy Wakeman

What apps/ software are most impactful for your business?

Slack

Karla Isley, President & CEO, United Way of Cass-Clay

What books are you reading/have you read that help you to be a continuous learner?

We recently had our leadership team do a book read of “Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter” by Liz Wiseman. This book focuses on how to build leaders who use their intelligence to amplify the smarts and capabilities of the people around them. This concept is so relevant to our team at United Way because of how we empower volunteers to achieve our mission and because we are a small team with big goals to find solutions to end the complex cycle of poverty. After reading this book, I wholeheartedly believe that the world needs more multipliers, especially now, when leaders are expected to get more results (sometimes with less) and move at a quicker pace to achieve goals.

Another good book is “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High” by Kerry Patterson. This is a good read because it teaches you how to handle the conversations that matter most: those that involve high stakes, opposing opinions, and strong emotions. I have often come back to the principles covered in this book throughout most of my career.

What podcasts are most impactful for your business?

We recently invited Connor Johnson, Business Coach with Hatch Coaching, and Working Genius Certified Coach to pinpoint each of our individual team member’s natural strengths and talents through the lens of “Working Genius.” Since that experience, I have encouraged our team to listen to “The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni.” Connor was recently a speaker at the DisruptHR FM event in 2024, so I also encourage others to watch or listen to his presentation on Working Geniuses he gave at that event. I would also recommend listening to Emma McIntyre’s talk on “The Power of Belonging.” Emma is a team member at one of our United Way Verified Impact Partners, Folkways, and her perspective on belonging reminds me so much of the work we do at United Way together with Emma and her team. Honestly, I would recommend listening to all the presentations from the talented presenters who were a part of DisruptHR as I love learning from other local leaders.

What software/apps are most impactful for your business?

Implementing the use of the project management tool Asana has been life-changing for our team members because it has increased our efficiency and ability to collaborate. Utilizing this platform along with our new approach to project management has allowed us to provide better volunteer experiences, more closely connect with our donors, execute better events, and streamline team communication, and even improve team morale!

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

During my time as Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at Noridian, we utilized the “Lean Six Sigma” approach to improve business processes and develop solutions. In solving any problem, it is important to ask “why” at least five times, so that you can uncover and understand the root cause of the problem—that way you can address the problem upstream and from a proactive approach. This philosophy is especially important when it comes to our work at United Way to solve community issues like homelessness, student mental health, hunger and explore solutions to poverty. The Lean Six Sigma approach is even more critical when it is human lives and trauma that are at stake.

At United Way, our expertise is investing in the programs and innovative solutions best positioned to end the complex cycle of poverty, so applying proven business principles is crucial to achieving our purpose. At United Way, we envision a vibrant, welcoming community where everyone can thrive—we live by this principle each day and every dollar we invest in the community is based on this vision and principle.

Our values at United Way are authentic, caring, creative, impactful, and magnetic—these are how we show up as a team and at our events to come together as a community.

Why do you believe that kids in our community deserve to have access to critical support such as nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship?

I think that one thing we can all agree upon is that every person—and especially every child—deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential and thrive. At United Way, our mission is to inspire and activate our community to improve lives. We do this by cultivating solutions to end poverty.

One in seven kids in our community lives in poverty. This makes it a challenge for them to get the resources and support they need to grow into successful adults. United Way of Cass-Clay understands the complex cycle of poverty— and the critical window of opportunity we have to give kids the support they need to reach their full potential and break the cycle of poverty for their future.

I believe in United Way’s work because I see it from different perspectives, from the vantage point of a mom to two young boys who I want to see succeed in life as well as from the vantage point of a community member and business leader who wants to see this community thrive today and into the future. United is the way we help more kids succeed.

What books are you reading/have you read that help you to be a continuous learner?

“Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter” by Liz Wiseman

“Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High” by Kerry Patterson

Ashton Hansen, Director of Executive Recruitment, Curtis Food Recruiters, United Way Board Chair Elect

What podcasts have been most impactful for your business?

I regularly listen to Lewis Howes’ “The School of Greatness,” which offers valuable insights on leadership and life. The podcast features a diverse range of guests and covers a variety of topics related to leadership and workplace trends that I find intriguing.

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

Our core values—grit and tenacity, commitment and care, honesty and integrity—are the foundation of our business practices. These principles guide us to do the right thing for our team and clients with compassion and empathy, ensuring a greater positive impact.

What apps/software are most impactful for your business?

Monday.com has been an invaluable tool for project management and team communication, especially for our remote workforce. It enhances visibility, streamlines priorities, and keeps everyone aligned in one central platform.

What trainings are most impactful for your business?

The food industry is dynamic and fast-paced, making it essential to attend industry events and conferences. These experiences keep us informed of emerging trends and ensure we remain a valuable partner to our clients.

Why do you believe that kids in our community deserve to have access to critical support such as nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship?

United Way creates a profound and lasting impact on the future of our community by supporting children. By providing access to essential resources, we enable an opportunity to help children flourish and reach their full potential. Investing in children with United Way ensures a stronger, brighter future for everyone in our community.

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

“Hidden Potential” by Adam Grant

“Multipliers” by Liz Wiseman

Stacie Heiden, EVP for Government Markets and Enterprise Analytics, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, United Way Board Treasurer

What podcasts have been most impactful for your business?

I like to listen to topics discussed on podcasts from associations that I belong to, such as the American College of Healthcare Executives or the Healthcare Financial Management Association. The topics are very current and relevant to the challenges stakeholders across the healthcare industry are facing, and when listening to these, it helps me think about what we can do through our organization to have a positive impact.

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

Our ruthless priority in our organization is to provide exceptional customer experience and to do this, we work hard on building and maintaining a strong culture of wellness and accountability where our employees can thrive and, in turn, enable our customers to experience us at our best.

What apps/software are most impactful for your business?

I would say that at the heart of our business, we have a software platform and tools that facilitate timely and accurate payment of health claims and accessing related health management information important to our members. Most impactful are the integrated digital tools we are beginning to launch in 2025 that will give our members a modernized experience in managing their health.

What trainings are most impactful for your business?

We invest significantly in leadership training for learning and development. We have a complex organization that requires leadership at every level of the organization, formal and informal, and we honor the importance of maximizing everyone’s potential.

Why do you believe that kids in our community deserve to have access to critical support such as nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship?

All children deserve to realize their full potential, and to do this, they must first have their foundational needs met. By investing in our community’s children, we strengthen our community for today and the future. Needs are greater than ever, and not every child is fortunate enough to have their needs met and the means to unlock their potential—investing in the potential of a child is investing in the potential of all of us.

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

“Move: How Decisive Leaders Execute Strategy Despite Obstacles, Setbacks, & Stalls” by Patty Azzarello

Lynn Johnson, EVP/Retail Banking, Bell Bank, United Way Board Member

Lynn volunteering at the United Way school drive.

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

Our values of promoting a family atmosphere, providing unequaled service, and paying it forward in the communities we service with our bottom line of “Happy Employees, Happy Customers.”

What trainings are most impactful for your business?

Customer service training—how you treat people matters.

Why do you believe that kids in our community deserve to have access to critical support such as nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship?

All kids deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential and early childhood services play a vital role in promoting nutrition, health, safety, and education. Your investment will allow United Way to make an impact on the lives of our local kids in need.

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

“The Obstacle is in the Way” by Ryan Holiday. The book teaches you how to turn obstacles into opportunities, leading to personal and professional success.

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

“The Obstacle is the Way” by Ryan Holiday

Tiffany Lawrence, President & CEO, Sanford Fargo, United Way Board Member

Tiffany’s children on the first day of school.

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

One of my current reads has been “Multipliers” by Liz Wiseman. I’m always looking for leadership reads not to inform differently, necessarily, but to find commonalities and also drive continuous improvement.

What podcasts have been most impactful for your business?

“The Vizient Podcast” does provide comprehensive healthcare topics pertaining to strategy, quality, and patient care.

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

Accountability and gratitude: We care for patients, and we are accountable to our patients, families, and to each other in the care we provide. It is a privilege to care for patients and we are grateful for the opportunity to care for patients and our community.

What apps/software are most impactful for your business?

Our EPIC electronic medical record software has probably been the most impactful platform. It is continually changing to meet the future needs of our clinical teams and patients.

What trainings are most impactful for your business?

I would say overall continuous development to improve patient care and implement new technologies. It is our responsibility to ensure we are challenging ourselves every day.

Why do you believe that kids in our community deserve to have access to critical support such as nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship?

Our kids are our future, and all kids deserve an opportunity to succeed. I give to United Way to help provide needed services like mental health support and childcare support to give all kids access to services that are critical to their success!

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

“Multipliers” by Liz Wiseman

What podcasts have been most impactful for your business?

“The Vizient Podcast”

Laetitia Mizero Hellerud, Executive Director, Jeremiah Program Fargo-Moorhead, United Way Board Member

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

“Man’s Search For Meaning” by Viktor Frankl.

What podcasts are most impactful for your business?

I need to invest more time in using podcasts as a personal/professional development resource. Currently, I am only listening to “Unlocking Us with Brené Brown” and “Dare to Lead Podcast with Brené Brown.”

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

The Jeremiah Program uses a two-generation approach to empower single mothers and their children through higher education, career advancement, early childhood education, safe/affordable housing, and leadership development. Guided by principles of equity, inclusion, and community support, it focuses on data-driven strategies to achieve sustainable and measurable impact to break the cycle of generational poverty.

What apps/software are most impactful for your business?

At the organization level, we love SharePoint for document management and internal communication. As a manager, OneNote is a helpful tool for weekly check-ins and collaboration with my direct reports.

What trainings are most impactful for your business?

Training opportunities for the Jeremiah Program could include advanced trauma-informed care and data-driven impact analysis for staff, alongside financial empowerment, leadership development, and digital literacy for participants. These are just examples that illustrate targeted training that can enhance the program’s ability to address systemic barriers, foster resilience, and achieve measurable, sustainable outcomes.

Why do you believe that kids in our community deserve to have access to critical support such as nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship?

Children in our community deserve access to essential support like nutritious food, mental health services, and quality childcare because these resources are crucial for their growth, stability, and future success. Donating to United Way during Giving Hearts Day helps provide these opportunities, ensuring every child has the chance to succeed and build a better future.

What podcasts have been most impactful for your business?

“Unlocking Us with Brené Brown”

“Dare to Lead Podcast with Brené Brown”

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

“Man’s Search For Meaning” by Viktor Frankl

Sarah West, Owner, Light Consulting, United Way Board Member

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

Leaders are readers so I listen to a lot of books. Some of my favorite tactical books are “Traction” by Gino Wickman and “The Advantage” by Patrick Lencioni. “The Traveler’s Gift” by Andy Andrews was my first self-improvement book and a good read if someone is looking where to get started.

What podcasts are most impactful for your business?

The “Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast” makes things simple to understand and pulls it back to scripture.

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

Relationships > transactions because there will always be more work to do—doing it with people you love and respect makes it enjoyable.

What apps/software are most impactful for your business?

QuickBooks Online
Microsoft 365
Reach Reporting
Canopy

We attempt to automate what we can, and humanize what we must.

What trainings are most impactful for your business?

Discover Leadership’s Master Graduate Leadership Program and High Impact Presentations from Dale Carnegie are the two that have been the most helpful.

Why do you believe that kids in our community deserve to have access to critical support such as nutritious food, mental health support, quality childcare, after-school programming, and mentorship?

In order to make the world a better place we need to set up people for success. Removing barriers for children so they can grow up to be confident, resilient adults is beneficial for all of us. There is a greater lasting impact when we reach their hearts and minds while they are young.

What books are you reading/have you read that help you to be a continuous learner?

“Traction” by Gino Wickman

“The Advantage” by Patrick Lencioni

“The Traveler’s Gift” by Andy Andrews

What podcasts are most impactful for your business?

“Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast”

What apps/software are most impactful for your business?

QuickBooks Online

Microsoft 365

Reach Reporting

Canopy

Julie Whitney, Commercial Manager, Bremer Bank, United Way Board Member

What books have you read that have been most impactful for your business?

I’m currently reading “Ego Is The Enemy” by Ryan Holiday. So far, it’s a great take on the virtues of pursuing something bigger than one’s own success.

What podcasts are most impactful for your business?

My new favorite is “Sales Hangover” featuring five FM area sales leaders. I listen to “Marketplace” almost daily. And throughout 2024, I found “Left Right and Center” to be an informative listen with a balanced perspective.

What business principles are most impactful for your business?

Bremer’s purpose of Cultivating Thriving Communities is my north star. It speaks to who we at Bremer want to be and why, for the benefit of our customers, communities, and each other.

What apps/software are most impactful for your business?

Salesforce, it’s the diary of all of my team’s great work.

What trainings are most impactful for your business?

Personally, United Way’s Poverty Simulation was a profoundly enlightening “training.” Going through this experience helps gain a better understanding of the realities of living in poverty. You get the opportunity to experience and understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family, working hard to survive month to month and succeed. If you’re a business leader in the FM area, I highly recommend it.