RISING ICON #93: Shannon Watson
photo credit: Leslie Plesser from Shuttersmack
What name do you prefer to be called?
Shannon
What gender pronouns do you use?
she/her/hers
Where did you grow up?
Wichita, Kansas. (Not on a farm. Although my mom’s side of the family does have a farm.)
What city are you currently based in?
Minneapolis
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
Awkwardly
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I swear I know who you are, even if I can’t remember your name.
Who do you help?
Hopefully everybody, eventually. I focus a lot on elected officials at the moment. They’re leaders in this movement whether they want to be or not.
What are you building now?
The idea that collaboration in government should be a rule, not an exception.
What were you building ten years ago today?
I think 10 years ago was when I ripped out my kitchen and didn’t have a functional one for a whole year. So literally building Ikea cabinets. Other than that, a Twitter following and a network of neat people. The network is going much stronger than Twitter is.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
I probably still won’t remember people’s names. But as you get older, you kinda get a pass on that kind of thing!
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
The volunteer opportunity Donna Moss got on the first Bartlet for America campaign doesn’t exist. Get on the doors, Donna.
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
The kind of division and ugliness that’s rooted in our political system isn’t normal, it isn’t healthy, and it isn’t sustainable. And most people who are trapped in it would like to get out of the trap.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
My baby sister. “If you’re angry at somebody, have a snack. Sometimes you’re not really angry.”
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
It’s hard to beat the TEDx talk “Why We’re Divided and What You Can Do About It” ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkGtCWCADXg )
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
Someday the Washington Post is going to publish one of my op-eds. It hasn’t happened yet but I’m going to keep sending them drafts.
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Jon Stewart. (Or Aaron Sorkin, but I’d want him to talk the entire time.)
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
Who Benefits from this Conflict?
What award would mean the most to win?
Presidential Medal of Freedom
What makes zero sense to you?
Drivers who don’t use turn signals. Seriously, people. Gimme a heads up.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
Mandate
What game are you changing?
I’m making it ok to work across the aisle.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
Silly Question Saturday – it’s an effort to demystify government by deliberately creating a casual and open environment for learning in spaces that are confusing and intimidating. (https://www.majoritymiddle.com/event-details/silly-question-saturday-at-the-minnesota-state-capitol-4 )
Where can we follow you online?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwatson/
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
A well-developed sense of humor
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Shannon, 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 key opinion leadership 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 elevating your leadership profile, FIT(lite). RISING ICONS is made possible by grant funding from Knight Foundation.
“The kind of division and ugliness that’s rooted in our political system isn’t normal, it isn’t healthy, and it isn’t sustainable. And most people who are trapped in it would like to get out of the trap.”
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