Kate Snyder, Mayor, City of Portland
What have you learned about the responsibilities of leadership in a time of crisis?
“Leadership in a crisis is about communicating honestly, consistently and effectively, while also doing what needs to be done to the best of your ability to help take care of your community. Listening, caring, and doing my best to stay calm in situations that are anything but calm is what I remind myself to do every day. People are legitimately anxious and upset these days, and leadership needs to be the voice of assurance as we manage our way through this, making clear that decision-making is grounded in facts and data while being responsive to community needs. My goal is to communicate information and guidance people need, share how we’re navigating the various challenges and decision making, and instill confidence that we’re taking care of our citizens in the best way we possibly can.”