Brittany Thurston: City of Minot's Leadership Development Cohort

Joseph Blackman welcomed Brittany Thurston, a program manager in HR for the public sector, back to the podcast to discuss her creation of an internal leadership development cohort designed to provide genuine comprehension over traditional management theory. Brittany described the program's origins from an employee survey and its focus on self-management, personal values, and the "why" of public service. Key talking points included the curriculum's practical exercises—such as a trust-building "capture the flag" game using Nerf guns and "bounding overwatch" principles—as well as the importance of peer interaction and internal credibility. Brittany also highlighted the program's significant return on investment, costing less than $200 out-of-pocket compared to expensive external consultants, and concluded with advice for "internal entrepreneurs" to take risks and build tangible proposals to address organizational gaps. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.