If You're Not Living on the Edge, You're Taking Up Too Much Space: Leadership Lessons (not politics) with Commissioner Justin Douglas

Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas shares his journey from pastor to public servant, revealing how his diverse experiences across five states shaped his approach to leadership. With remarkable candor, Justin discusses his most challenging leadership moment—when he lost his pastoral position, church resources, and livelihood for standing up for LGBT inclusion. Now as a commissioner overseeing a county prison system in need of reform, Justin demonstrates how expanding our definition of "belonging" to include all stakeholders leads to better outcomes. He offers a refreshing perspective on political leadership, focusing on incremental progress, bipartisan collaboration, and viewing public service through a lens of relationship-building rather than partisan identity.

Justin shares stories that highlight the following key take-aways:

• Fight for what you believe in, even when it costs you. 
• The best solutions emerge when everyone belongs at the table. 
• Reject the zero-sum approach to governance. 
• Learn when to compromise without abandoning principles. J
• Hustle should be a season, not a lifestyle. 

"I think we need fighters, not fighters against, but fighters for—in a way that you're willing to sacrifice something, not in the way that you're willing to be against somebody." ~Justin Douglas

Justin Douglas BIO: 

Justin Douglas serves as County Commissioner for Dauphin County, PA, bringing over 20 years of non-profit leadership experience to public service. He gained national recognition when introducing President Biden at the launch of his 2024 campaign in Valley Forge. As Founder of The Belong Collective, Justin focuses on creating spaces of belonging and acceptance, working to bridge societal gaps across communities. His diverse background includes serving as a Lead Pastor and CrossFit coach, reflecting his holistic approach to community building. A published author of "Gratitude Devotional for Men," Justin balances his professional commitments with family life as a husband and father of three. 

Elected in 2023, Commissioner Justin Douglas lives in Conewago Township with his wife and three children and is honored to serve the residents of Dauphin County. Current initiatives include prison reform, transparency, improved pay for county employees, and reimagining how county systems can better serve the community. He has a long history of advocating for underserved and overlooked communities- his experience is proving valuable in overseeing the County departments under his jurisdiction and beyond.

For more info on Justin:

Linked In

Website

@commishdouglas (Instagram)

KIRSTEN YURICH BIO:

Kirsten is a licensed behavior analyst, speaker, author, and retired CEO who partners with business leaders to help them achieve more of what matters most to them. Kirsten’s clients are high performing CEOs, founders, and executives looking to “level up” in life and business.

Kirsten share’s her expertise in leadership, performance management, and learning with executives through coaching or consulting, peer groups, and speaking.

For more info, check out Kirsten Yurich HERE.