Tag: Leadership

Posted in: Podcast Season 3

EP 36: The Essence of Great Leadership Is Influence; Not Authority — With Crystal Wagar, Mayor of Miami Shores

Excited to welcome back, Crystal Wagar, the first African American woman to serve as the Mayor of Miami Shores Village! During her first visit on Britt Happens in 2019, Mayor Wagar had recently began her term. Fast forward to mid-way through 2021, and we had a colorful and honest discussion about the challenges of running a city through a pandemic while also being a mom, the historic George Floyd movement in the Shores, new projects and economic development in her city, white allies to combat racism, and much more!

Posted in: Podcast Season 3

EP 32: One Vision; One Mission; One City — With Esmond K. Scott, City Manager, North Miami Beach

Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm, but rough seas require creative, transformative leadership. Most of us want a leader with passion and energy to make things happen; but we also want to know that when crisis hits, our leader will take decisive action in a calm and professional manner. If “Cool, calm, and collected” was a person, you’d be looking at my next podcast guest and friend, Mr. Esmond K. Scott, City Manager of North Miami Beach, FL.  Esmond is as hilarious as he is shrewd, worldly, super sharp, and charmingly unassuming.

North Miami Beach is the epicenter of Northeast Dade, a hidden gem, and mini paradise within our diverse County.  NMB is a city bursting at the seams to take off and finally gain its own earned identity and personality. Tune in as we discuss Mr. Scott’s vision, challenges, and plans to further elevate his City to the destination of choice in South Florida!

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 18: You Were Not Born To Be Someone Else: Carve Your Own Niche; Blaze Your Own Trail — With Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan

Good leaders are trailblazers, making a path for others to follow. Great leaders, however, inspire their people to reach higher, dream bigger, and achieve greater. I had such a great time and was honored to be joined by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara Jordan, a walking community treasure chest of knowledge, insight, and experience.

Commissioner Jordan has enjoyed a distinguished 35-year career with Miami-Dade County, serving in numerous capacities including as a Public Administrator, Assistant County Manager, and Vice Chairwoman of the Miami-Dade County Commission. She been the people’s voice of reason over the years and demonstrated the political will to take on the known challenges of her community.

Tune is as we discuss industry diversification for an improved economy, funding for infrastructure investment, and address the brain drain, crime, community re-investment, and accountability and transparency. She also drops gems on leadership qualities necessary for long-term success, what she’d tell her younger self, and her dream plan if she had a 100% chance of success!

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 15: Stand Up Miami: We Don’t Break; We Bounce — With Mayor Francis X. Suarez, City of Miami

This episode features a very special guest, Francis X. Suarez, the Mayor of my hometown paradise, Miami, FL, one of the fastest growing and most dynamic places in the world.  In addition to year round enviable weather, nightlight, and cuisine, Miami is the only major U.S. city founded by a woman, the second most entrepreneurial city in the US, and a cultural crock pot teeming with unique flavor and energy. It is no wonder we are known as The Magic City!!

Tune in as Brittany Sharpton and Mayor Suarez discuss how his personal experience with COVID-19 influenced his approach on public policy, his plan on re-opening Miami, how traffic, technology, and a pandemic, surprisingly, go hand-in-hand, his current thoughts on parks overlaying highways, mass transit, and the SMART plan (Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit Plan), the after effects of the coronavirus on future building design & development, and….a potential future presidential bid??!

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 10: Great Leadership: Being Consistent In Your Drive to Realize Your Vision — With Bertha Henry, County Administrator for Broward County (FL)

Today’s special guest is Bertha Henry, County Administrator for Broward County, Florida, the second-most populous county in the state of Florida and the 17th most populous county in the entire United States.  Tune in for a powerful message from this accomplished history maker and wildly successful County CEO. We discuss effective, humble, and balanced leadership, exciting upcoming projects within Broward County, how to navigate the complex world of social media and public opinion, and why it’s so important to always remain unapologetically you.