Secrets of a Reluctant Leader, Tishaura Jones

Sometimes we are called upon to lead when it doesn’t seem ideal. Sometimes we say NO many times before we say YES. But maybe the reluctant leader has something to teach us all. Hon. Tishaura O. Jones is the first woman to hold the office of Treasurer in St. Louis and the founder of a citywide children’s savings program.

Jones started her political career in 2002 as Democratic Committeewoman of the 8th Ward in the City of St. Louis. She served two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives, and was selected as the first African American woman in Missouri history to hold the position of Assistant Minority Floor Leader.

In her tenure as Treasurer, she launched the Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) to help St. Louisans make better financial choices, as OFE’s College Kids Program has helped over 16,000 public school students through educational savings accounts. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx