The Power of Saying Yes: How Michelle Rogers Built a Career in Economic Development
In this episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast, Kaycee welcomes Michelle Rogers of Prince George County, Virginia, to discuss how she moved from marketing, advertising sales, and industrial equipment into an assistant role at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and built a career by asking questions, reading everything she could, and seeking chances to be “in the room.” Michelle explains that economic development has a steep learning curve, encourages newcomers to be curious, and describes how saying yes to helping on projects led to opportunities, including stepping into data center work as the industry grew. She connects curiosity to her leadership style, emphasizing meeting people where they are and teaching. Michelle also reflects on navigating career growth as a single mother, balancing travel and parenting, and redefining success and legacy for her sons.
In this episode, we explore:
- How Michelle went from marketing, advertising sales, and industrial equipment to a career in economic development.
- Why asking questions, reading everything you can, and volunteering for projects can open doors you never expected.
- How Michelle navigated economic development’s steep learning curve and stepped into the growing data center industry.
- Why meeting people where they are and helping them learn has shaped her leadership style.
- Michelle’s honest reflections on building a career as a single mother, balancing travel and parenting, and creating a legacy for her sons.
Quotable: “ …you see the whole industry changing because of these different perspectives and people thinking about things differently.”
Resources and Links
Kaycee Bunch, MA, CEcD
Michelle Rogers