Message From the Chair

Preparing to Pass the Baton

Across the country, we are witnessing a unique shift in the corporate landscape: CEOs and senior executives are staying in their roles, on average, seven to nine years longer than previous generations. While this provides our organizations with seasoned stability, it also creates a widening “opportunity gap” for a next generation that is hungry, intelligent and eager to get their shot at the helm.

As we look toward the future of Sioux Falls, we have a profound responsibility to bridge this gap. At Think 3D, we often say that leadership isn’t about a title or a position — it’s about influence. By that definition, every one of us has the opportunity to lead exactly where we are. However, the long-term success of our city depends on how intentionally we equip these emerging leaders with the core elements that have made Sioux Falls a national outlier: Connection, Community, Collaboration, Vision and Service.

In recent years, we’ve noticed a decline in per capita volunteering. This is a trend we must reverse. When we look at the leaders who built the Sioux Falls we enjoy today, their common thread was a relentless willingness to lean in wherever they identified a gap. Our challenge now is to tap into that wealth of experience and tether it to the fresh ideas of our young professionals.

I think back to the Visionary Dinner this past October, where nearly 30 past Chamber Chairs sat in one room. That is a gold mine of institutional wisdom. Imagine the impact if we systematically connected that level of expertise with the ambition of our current YPN members. This isn’t just about “mentorship”; it’s about ensuring our civic DNA is successfully transferred.

I am incredibly optimistic about our next generation of leaders. They possess a level of intelligence and a desire for impact that can move this city forward in ways we haven’t yet imagined. But this evolution won’t happen by accident. It requires the “incumbent” leaders to open doors and the “emerging” leaders to be ready to walk through them with a spirit of service.

By bringing our five core values to the forefront, we create a roadmap for success. When we cultivate our talent, provide the right opportunities and empower our young professionals with the tools of collaboration and vision, we ensure that Sioux Falls remains the greatest place to live, work and play for generations to come. The baton is coming; let’s make sure the handoff is seamless.