Washington CORE organized a book talk with Marlene M. Johnson, former Minnesota lieutenant governor, to discuss her recently published memoir: Rise to the Challenge: A Memoir of Politics, Leadership, and Love. Invitees were mostly college students visiting DC for their summer internships, including former and current Washington CORE interns.

Lt. Gov. Johnson was Minnesota’s first woman lieutenant governor, cofounder of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Minnesota Women’s Campaign Fund, and executive director and CEO of the Association of International Educators (NAFSA).

After a brief introduction to her career and her latest book, Lt. Gov. Johnson took questions from the audience, which led to a wide-ranging discussion covering politics, leadership, advocacy, and international issues. One of the most powerful messages that Lt. Gov. Johnson had for the audience was that one can lead from anywhere, and all of us face leadership opportunities almost every day. Drawing on her own experiences as an entrepreneur, in state government and the nonprofit world, and in her personal life, Lt. Gov. Johnson emphasized that the core of leadership is the ability to listen constructively, navigate differences, and engage with teams of various backgrounds and beliefs. She also underscored the importance of each person finding their unique way to contribute to an organization or problem solving. Deeply inspired by the discussion, members of the audience left the event pondering over the various leadership opportunities in their own lives.

Rise to the Challenge
A Memoir of Politics, Leadership, and Love
By Marlene M. Johnson · 2024
https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Challenge-Memoir-Politics-Leadership/dp/1517917611