Debbie Stanton: Leadership Greater Topeka

TK: What do you hope your legacy will be? Why? 

Building bridges. I hope to help every person I meet feel a little more connected and welcome in our community. When people feel connected to a community, they’re more likely to get involved, give back and treat others with compassion.  

TK: What was your first job and what did you learn from it? 

My first job was in the kitchen of a family-owned pizza restaurant. I learned that colleagues can become friends, and even sometimes feel like family. I also learned that hard work is extremely rewarding. 

TK: What is your theme song? 

Almost every day when I open the door to work I’m humming the theme song from Indiana Jones. It gets me energized and ready to face whatever challenges the day holds with a sense of adventure.

TK: How has the current situation impacted your thoughts on leadership?In this time of crisis, I've seen some incredible local leadership on display. There have been difficult decisions to make, and I see our local leaders thoughtfully deliberating the trade-offs of the choices they've had to make. Most importantly, I see them putting the safety of the community first, even before their own interests.

TK: What will you do differently after the pandemic?During the Safer At Home order, I realized how much I've taken for granted our local businesses, assuming they would always be there keeping our economy vibrant. Seeing many of them struggle to stay open without the regular foot traffic, but also seeing their innovation during this time, it's inspired me to do more of my shopping locally.