Strategic Planning with the Baucus Institute

Written by Jennifer Mulholland & Jeff Shuck | August 17, 2022

We were thrilled to welcome Ambassador Max Baucus, his wife Melodee Hanes, and leadership team of the Baucus Institute to HeartSpace this year. After a legacy of leadership as U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China and U.S. Senator of Montana for thirty-five years, Ambassador Max and Melodee co-founded the Baucus Institute to actively build the next generation of public servants in Montana and beyond. They were referred to Plenty from the strategy work we did several years ago with Senator Harkin of Iowa for his Harkin Institute.

We couldn't be more psyched to facilitate conversations of alignment, impact, and growth to help the Baucus Institute provide students with opportunities to engage in public service and to gain exposure to cultures, academic pursuits, and social mores that they would not otherwise have the chance to experience.

Together, we were immersed in our two-day Compass culture workshop to re-invigorate and re-inspire their team. In our experience there are five fundamental keys to creating a healthy culture: strategy, leadership, wellbeing, community, and funding.

We were highly inspired by this group, their thoughtfulness, dedication, and big thinking. It feeds our own souls to not only work on such large issues with global change makers but to help them clarify what's really meaningful and authentic to them.

Here is an excerpt from the Baucus Institute Quarterly Newsletter, recapping how our partnership has propelled them forward.

"This spring, the Baucus Institute traveled to Park City, Utah for a strategic planning session with Plenty Consulting. Principals Jennifer Mulholland and Jeff Shuck led Ambassador Max Baucus, Melody Hanes, Jim McCray of the Bannack Group, Institute Director Sam Paneralla, and Program Manger Mel Brittler Wells through activities aimed at distilling the Baucus Institute's
current and future plans.

After filling the space with several flip chars, brisk walks on the mountain trails, and many shared meals and discussions, the final agreement was "We open our doors for young people to see, serve, and lead." Our three areas of focus are public service, climate, and US-China relations. We have more, so stay tuned for more communications about our exciting plans!"

Click here to learn more about the Baucus Institute.

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