Rising ICON #31: NeTia Bauman
What name do you prefer to be called?
NeTia
What are your pronouns?
She/Her
Where did you grow up?
Lidgerwood, ND, small town in the Southern Valley
What city are you currently based in?
St. Cloud, MN
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
Hi, I’m NeTia. It’s nice to meet you!
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
People always ask about my name. NeTia rhymes with Shania, as in Shania Twain. My mom couldn’t decide between two names so she combined them. Despite popular belief (because of my name), I am neither Russian nor French. I have a “take-out name” when I order food to simplify things. It’s Linda – no one says or spells Linda wrong.
Who do you help?
Communities and the people that live within them. I have a passion for startups and small businesses, and I like to build communities through business opportunities.
What are you building now?
I am working with my team to launch a new startup and small business ecosystem-building effort to cultivate collaboration and innovation in Central MN.
What were you building ten years ago today?
A counterterrorism research program that tracked, monitored, and educated security practitioners on extremist ideologies.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
I hope I have an electric RV so I can travel the country all summer long. I love scoping out quaint downtowns and finding obscure attractions. Of course, I’ll still be helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, too.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
There are several strange facts about economic development but one that sticks with me is The Big Mac Index. It’s a legitimate and widely recognized economic indicator created by The Economist magazine. It compares the prices of Big Mac hamburgers across different countries to assess purchasing power parity (PPP)and determines whether currencies are overvalued or undervalued.
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
Economic development fosters prosperity, promotes social well-being, and creates opportunities for a sustainable future. It is THE industry that can bridge the gaps between government, business, and individuals, to solve challenges and make a better world for all of us.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
Hands down, Annie Deckert. She is an economic developer and my former boss. She has this subtle way of teaching and empowering you without you even knowing it. For me, humility is a key leadership trait, and I learned the importance and impact it can have on the entire team and culture from her.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
We were just featured in the February edition of ‘Business in Focus’ (page 54): https://mags.businessinfocusmagazine.com/e_mag/BIFNAFeb2024/#page=1
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
Entrepreneur or Inc. magazines after successfully implementing entrepreneurship-led economic development (ELED) into our regional strategy.
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Jordan Harbinger, he’s a podcaster.
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
The Introverted Economic Developer
What award would mean the most to win?
I have no clue!
What makes zero sense to you?
Wearing OUTDOOR shoes INSIDE the house. It’s a crime in my house.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
Performance Measurements – Not the term but the actual performance measurements or requirements for incentives. Performance-based incentives for attracting and retaining business in our state need to adapt to align with our fluid economy. With unprecedented unemployment rates and a tight labor force, why are we requiring new job creation to incentivize new starts or expansions? Let’s be more forward-thinking.
What game are you changing?
I’ve been integrating progressive strategies like Entrepreneurship Led Economic Development (ELED) into traditional economic development methodologies. It’s a game-changer, especially for rural communities and economies!
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
Our Thrive MN initiative aims to foster a strong startup and small business ecosystem in Central MN. We’re launching customized strategy coaching, resource matchmaking, a resource library and so much more.
Where can we follow you online?
LinkedIn is best! https://www.linkedin.com/in/netiabauman/
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Humility!
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, NeTia, for sharing your story!
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“Economic development fosters prosperity, promotes social well-being, and creates opportunities for a sustainable future.”
Notice: It’s important for our readers to understand the origin of the interview content. The featured ICON contributed responses that were not edited from the original submission. All claims are made solely by the contributor and do not reflect the views of LAUREL or its partners. Thank you for supporting rising leaders. The future is bold.
