Rising ICON #58: Karla Henderson
Photo Credit: Ashley Kramer
What name do you prefer to be called?
Karla but my nieces & nephews call me Auntie Kar Kar which I love
What are your pronouns?
she/her/hers
Where did you grow up?
Detroit
What city are you currently based in?
Minneapolis
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
Hi, my name is Karla
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
That just because I moved here from Detroit, I am not used to this cold Minnesota weather. Minnesota weather is its own brand of cold.
Who do you help?
Professionally, I help people in communities that have been forgotten, left out or overlooked.
Personally, I help black and brown women be the best they can be.
What are you building now?
I am building affordable housing and creating equitable development opportunities.
What were you building ten years ago today?
I had just completed serving as the Group Executive of Planning and Facilities for Mayor Dave Bing in the City of Detroit. It had been an exhilarating and exhausting 4 year journey as a political appointee. During our last year in office the Governor-Appointed Emergency Manager filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy. It was the largest municipal filing in US history. After the term ended, I began to dip my toe in the consulting world working with economically distressed cities in the midwest and was working at a non-profit in Detroit called Ponyride, a diverse community that fostered opportunities for socially conscious artists, entrepreneurs, innovators and manufacturers.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
Still making an impact in communities and for people that need it the most.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
Nonprofits providing affordable housing are operating in a broken system and are very much in need of capital funds. We are still wrestling with the severe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
Our PPL President, Paul Williams, often says ‘if not for us, then who?’. I believe that answers the question asked.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
I have had some great mentors along my career journey but right now my mentor is Bill Griffith, a shareholder at the Larkin Hoffman Law Firm. He has been instrumental to me as a sounding board, confidant, strategic partner and overall great friend. He has also been a supporter in my work and made introductions to key stakeholders in the MPS region. He has provided me great advice that has been in confidence but the best piece of advice he gave me, that I can share publicly, was to rethink how we look at housing people experiencing homelessness.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
This article was published 8 years ago about my leadership in Detroit and the organizations I had played a small role in transforming. I loved how the writer talked about my journey and shared my story.
Karla Henderson's varied career in Detroit leadership (modeldmedia.com)
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
Oprah
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Oprah - notice a theme?
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
“Do it with passion or not all all”
What award would mean the most to win?
I really don’t have an answer.
What makes zero sense to you?
Minnesota nice
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
“Affordable” housing
What game are you changing?
I strive to change policies that lead to economic growth so that they are inclusive with expanded opportunities for everyone, especially those who have been historically left out.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
For golf lovers, we are hosting our 2024 PPL Classic on Monday, August 5, 2024. The PPL Classic is a golf scramble played at the historic Town and Country Club, the oldest golf course in Minnesota. You get to leverage your passion for golf to help raise funds for the individuals and families served by Project for Pride in Living. Details are here: https://www.ppl-inc.org/events/2024-ppl-classic
Where can we follow you online?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karla-henderson/
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Adversity
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Karla, for sharing your story!
LAUREL is a media relations partner for bold leadership. For nearly a decade, we’ve helped leaders build effective strategies for scale and growth specializing in digital executive presence and go-to-market strategy for emerging brands. To follow along with the RISING ICONS series, nominate a leader or subscribe to our weekly email newsletter. To accelerate your own rise, get our free guide to visibility, FIT(lite).
“Do it with passion or not all all.”
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 innovation leaders. We’re convinced, the future is bold.
