People love to talk about leadership like it’s a set of hacks. Sandy Piatz makes it feel simpler and harder at the same time: leadership is people, and the choices that matter most are the ones you make when nobody’s cheering. Sandy is the president and CEO of United Way of Cass-Clay, and her path there runs from a North Dakota dairy farm to major leadership roles in tech, including two stints at Microsoft.

We talk about what farm life really teaches: teamwork, process, accountability, and the kind of community where neighbors help neighbors because the work can’t wait. Sandy shares how those lessons show up later in marriage, parenting, and managing a career that demanded constant travel. One of the most honest moments is what it takes to admit “this isn’t working” and pivot toward work-life balance without losing your edge.

From there we get tactical on change management and nonprofit leadership. Sandy explains why leaders must handle change carefully, how to lead with data and heart at the same time, and what it feels like to support a team through job loss. We also dig into fundraising and donor development as modern “sales,” plus the LIFE framework for stewardship: labor, influence, finances, and experience.

If you care about community impact in Fargo Moorhead, or you’re trying to define success beyond titles and external validation, this conversation will land. Subscribe for more, share this with a leader who puts people first, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

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