Community Catalysts

"Relationships Are the Currency of Leadership" with David Ramadan, Former Virginia Delegate & Professor of Practice, George Mason University

September 15, 2026·45 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

What becomes possible when we stop questioning the intentions of people with whom we disagree? David Ramadan, former member of the Virginia House of Delegates and Professor of Practice at George Mason University, believes relationships are the currency of leadership. Drawing on his journey from war-torn Beirut to elected office in Virginia, David shares how relationships helped him win across party lines, build bipartisan support for election reform, and work productively with people whose politics differed sharply from his own. Along the way, he makes the case that disagreement need not become distrust, that leaders don't need to pretend they know everything, and that the relationships we build before we need them may determine what becomes possible when difficult decisions arrive. LINKS Ask a Question or Leave a Comment: 602-688-2724 Send Matt a Note: Matt@SocialProsperity.us Apply to Be a Podcast Guest: CatalystGuest.us  On Substack: Democracy Runs on Dialogue™ Connect on LinkedIn: MattLehrmanProduced by Social Prosperity Partners

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