10 Questions with Stephanie Misar

Stephanie Misar is vice president of corporate support for Friends of South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB). A South Dakota native and South Dakota State University journalism graduate, she recently returned home after spending 22 years in Washington, D.C., building a career in marketing, sales and global partnerships. Now back in her home state, Misar is focused on connecting businesses and communities with SDPB and supporting the network’s more than 16,000 members.

1. What brought you back to South Dakota after living away for many years?

After more than 20 years in the Washington, D.C., area, I reached a point where being closer to family and having a different quality of life became increasingly important to me. Coming home also gave me an opportunity to think differently about the next chapter of my career and how I could bring the experience I’d gained elsewhere back to South Dakota. It’s been really rewarding to rediscover the state as an adult.

2. What has surprised you most about Sioux Falls since returning?

The energy and growth. Sioux Falls is a much more dynamic city than the one I remember from years ago. There’s an incredible amount happening here, from new businesses and development to arts, culture and food — I love global fare — and yet it still feels remarkably accessible. You can become part of the community very quickly, which is unusual for a city growing at this pace.

3. What makes a great leader?

I think empathy and the ability to truly listen are two of the most important qualities of a great leader. People want to know that they’re heard, understood and valued, not just for the work they produce, but as people. A great leader takes the time to understand different perspectives and recognizes that everyone brings different experiences and strengths to the table. When people feel genuinely heard and supported, you build trust, and I think that’s the foundation of great leadership.

4. What is something you are proud of?

I’m proud of the career I built over more than two decades and the fact that I’ve been able to bring that experience back home to South Dakota. I spent much of my career working globally in media, marketing and partnerships based in D.C., and there’s something really meaningful about being able to use what I learned there in service of the place where I grew up.

5. What do you think is one of Sioux Falls’ greatest strengths as a community?

Its momentum. Sioux Falls has grown tremendously, but there’s still a real sense of connection here, as well as a desire to build even more great resources for the people who call it home. People are open-minded and willing to have a conversation, make an introduction or get behind a good idea. That combination of growth and genuineness creates a lot of opportunity.

6. What do you think makes public broadcasting especially valuable to a community?

Public broadcasting is so much more than programming — it’s an essential public service. In South Dakota, we help support the backbone of the state’s emergency alert system, provide C-SPAN-like coverage of our state legislature, invest in science education that helps prepare the next generation of South Dakota’s workforce, and bring more high school activities and sports to audiences statewide than any other public broadcaster in the country. Alongside all of that, we create programming that tells South Dakota’s story, celebrating the people, places, history and culture that make our state unique. That blend of service, education, access and storytelling is what makes SDPB such an extraordinary community resource.

7. What do you value about being connected to the local business community?

I love people and I love connecting. As a super-curious individual — the reason I originally went into journalism — learning what people are building and thinking, what matters to them and why, is incredibly interesting to me. Businesses are such an important part of the identity and vitality of any community, and relationships between businesses, nonprofits and community organizations can create opportunities beyond our daily missions and expand access for all.

8. Is there a public radio or television program that you especially enjoy?

I’ve always appreciated programming that gives people the time and space to tell a story well. This American Life is a great example. It can take something incredibly specific or seemingly ordinary and reveal something much bigger about people and the way we live.

9. What might someone be surprised to learn about you?

I’m 6’1”, which genuinely surprises people until they meet me in person! But beyond the obvious, I’m ridiculously observant and use that to my advantage as a nature photographer. I love capturing beautiful things in places other people might drive or walk right past.

10. What is one Sioux Falls place, business or experience you’d recommend to someone new to the community?

I’d recommend spending time downtown without a particular agenda: walk the SculptureWalk, stop somewhere local for dinner or a drink and explore. Downtown Sioux Falls gives you a really good sense of what the city has become — creative, entrepreneurial and growing, while still feeling approachable.