When Leaders Lead

Law firm executive Lisa Krigsten takes the reins of the Civic Council with twin goals of promoting equity and engagement of the business community. 

She won’t be directing day-to-day functions of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, but as the public face of it in the role of chair, Lisa Krigsten knows the task ahead of her for the next two years is not a one-woman show.

“What Kansas City has—and I don’t know how many cities have it at this level—is so many engaged leaders,” said Krigsten, who took the baton from another law firm managing partner, Madeleine McDonough, in August. “The opportunity to talk with engaged leaders, hear their viewpoints, even if they are not part of the Civic Council, it’s all about lifting people up.”

So if you’re among the 249 executives featured in this edition—in addition to Krigsten, the managing partner for the Dentons law firm here—she’s encouraging you to speak out. “I would value the conversation and opportunity to learn more about the business community and other parties, so we make sure that as we chart a course of prosperity for this community, it is inclusive on every level,” she says.

On that score, she’ll need the additional input. The council itself traces its roots to the urban unrest of the 1960s, when race riots ripped at the fabric of American society, along with Kansas City’s. It speaks to the intractability of the underlying social issues that the council today is still pursuing remedies for things like violent crime, administration of justice, economic disparity and chronic joblessness.

The core mission of the council is to enhance the prosperity of the entire region. What Krigsten will bring to her duties is an even sharper focus on making sure more people have a chance to access that prosperity. 

“The council convenes Kansas City’s most engaged and accomplished leaders, who are driving action not only for their own companies but for the betterment of the region,” Krigsten says. “Central to that mission is to foster prosperity that is inclusive. And that’s everyone—every person, every family in the community, and every property owner—who can attract additional economic investment. That intertwines with a couple of concepts at the center of my professional life, in a community I love and call home.”

She’s tapping into a powerful constituency: All four current board members can be found in this edition of the Ingram’s 250—all of whom earned their place here based on their business achievements—and of the 74 members listed on the council’s website, two-thirds are i250 alumni or current honorees. 

They have their work cut out for them, but Krigsten is counting on results.

“We’ll have some exciting new initiatives to build on a legacy of success,” she vows. “We have a health-care ecosystem that’s thriving, we have the Animal Health Corridor, and we have other parts of the community that came from Civic Council decisions and wouldn’t exist without prior Civic Council action. Our goal is to build on that success.”

What’s important now, she says, is to ensure that the region is at the center of an emerging new economy in the U.S. 

“When you look at aspects of our community, we’re a destination for health care from around country, in large part because of institutions that are national in design, like the KU Cancer Center,” she says. “We’re one of the Top 10 for rail freight, we’re a transportation hub, we have a large concentration of auto workers, and we’re taking a lead in the generation of clean power. We’re Top 20 for direct foreign investment, so we’re getting the attention of global investors. We’re leaders in design and construction, we have world-class research institutions, we have defense institutions, and all of it is driving economic innovation.”

It’s not like she has a lot of spare time in her calendar; leading the local office for one of the world’s largest law firms can keep anyone busy. It speaks to her commitment to the city that she’ll be adding this role to her duties.

As a former federal prosecutor who pursued civil rights matters at the Justice Department, she says she understands what it means to “be at the forefront of enforcing laws,” and that means appreciation for the fair administration of justice. It’s not an Olympic-level long jump to go from there to understanding the role of equitability in policing, criminal justice, access to capital and banking services for underserved communities.

She’s convinced that her longer-term membership with the council, combined with the chair’s duties and her professional experience, “can lead Kansas City to this inclusive prosperous future. It’s a joy to be able to take on this role.”