app03 Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:44:08 +0000 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) The Leading Ladies of Economic Development® - Episodes Tagged with “Personal Growth” https://www.llofed.com/tags/personal%20growth Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 This podcast is a safe place for female economic development professionals to share stories, insights, and challenges of the economic development industry. We hear from women leaders across the country about their careers in ED and how you can apply their experiences to your own economic development career goals. en-us episodic These are the women leading economic development across the US. Kaycee Bunch This podcast is a safe place for female economic development professionals to share stories, insights, and challenges of the economic development industry. We hear from women leaders across the country about their careers in ED and how you can apply their experiences to your own economic development career goals. no economic development, econ dev, development, community development, women, leadership Kaycee Bunch kayceegbunch@gmail.com The Power of Saying Yes: How Michelle Rogers Built a Career in Economic Development https://www.llofed.com/season3-episode15-michelle-rogers fbe30007-c287-4b54-b106-ce05e665acaf Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 Kaycee Bunch full 3 Kaycee Bunch 31:06 no <p>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.</p> <p><strong>In this episode, we explore:</strong></p> <ul> <li>How Michelle went from marketing, advertising sales, and industrial equipment to a career in economic development.</li> <li>Why asking questions, reading everything you can, and volunteering for projects can open doors you never expected.</li> <li>How Michelle navigated economic development’s steep learning curve and stepped into the growing data center industry.</li> <li>Why meeting people where they are and helping them learn has shaped her leadership style.</li> <li>Michelle’s honest reflections on building a career as a single mother, balancing travel and parenting, and creating a legacy for her sons.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Quotable:</strong> “ …you see the whole industry changing because of these different perspectives and people thinking about things differently.”</p> <p><strong>Resources and Links</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rogers-17bb8aa/" rel="nofollow noopener">Connect with Michelle Rogers on LinkedIn</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.princegeorgecountyva.gov/" rel="nofollow noopener">Prince George County, VA</a></p><p>Special Guest: Michelle Rogers.</p> Leading Ladies of Economic Development, Michelle Rogers, economic development, women in economic development, women in leadership, career growth, career pivots, professional development, leadership development, curiosity, saying yes to opportunities, career advice for women, economic development careers, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Prince George County Virginia, tourism, data center industry, networking, mentorship, single motherhood, work-life balance, women in business, career success, leadership lessons, personal growth, building a legacy 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

Connect with Michelle Rogers on LinkedIn

Prince George County, VA

Special Guest: Michelle Rogers.

]]> 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

Connect with Michelle Rogers on LinkedIn

Prince George County, VA

Special Guest: Michelle Rogers.

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