Ling Becker leads a team of 80 employees in Ramsey County, Minnesota, that provides workforce services and programs to jobseekers while also supporting businesses. This is no small challenge in a region with significant disparities based on race, and a workforce system that often falls short.
In the face of these systemic issues, Ling brings an unusual amount of energy, connection, and out-of-the-box thinking to her work. I asked her how she does it, and here is what she shared.
What is your approach to changing systems?
One approach I rely on a lot is bringing others along the way with me. Many times different people along the continuum that help to bring services and resources to our community are removed from the impacts that their role makes. I think it is absolutely critical that all along the journey of our work, everyone has a chance to see the critical role they play.
An example is in the deployment of the county’s 2020 CARES Act funding. From day one, it was going to be a big lift to get these resources out to the community. However, the more everyone from our Procurement area, Information Services, and Communications Departments could understand who were helping and why we were doing what we were—it really helped to get significant buy in.
In our government work, we constantly have to remind ourselves that our work isn’t just about contracts, numbers, spreadsheets, names on a list—but rather these are real people, families, individuals who all need us to do our roles well, quickly and efficiently.
What has been most challenging for you in this work?
I think the challenge is that it often times it feels like we are never doing enough. A colleague of mine recently provided me some coaching to remind myself that in most situations two things can be true at the same time. I am constantly telling myself, yes—systems are broken, but yes—we are doing a lot of good work to try to make change.
What keeps you going?
What keeps me motivated is continually recognizing the impact of even changing one life. We have significant economic and employment disparities in Ramsey County. I feel very fortunate to have an opportunity every day to make an impact and change personal outcomes for our residents but also lead systems change to ensure we are able to advance outcomes more equitably in the future for all residents.
How do you handle the hard days?
I probably have not been doing very good at this. I’m really trying to remove my emotions more from my work. I take some time to reflect before I respond when I’ve had a hard day. I check in with people I trust to see if perhaps I need to look at things from a different angle. It is truly critical to have people that will hold you accountable.
Herocrats use their superpowers – connection, courage, and creativity – to lead change. Which of these do you use?
I really love connection. I get super motivated in talking to others who also want to make impactful change. Ultimately the work we do cannot be done by one individual. Rather, we need to have a multitude of players all doing their part to collectively move the dial to ensure that we build a more equitable economy for all in our community.
What else would you like to add?
One additional thing I have been reflecting on is that we all go farther when truly no one cares who gets the credit. I’ve seen time and time again the rewards of putting a full effort into something that is really created collectively. I am learning a lot lately about seeding things, supporting, uplifting and then at a good time—moving away and seeing it bloom.
It feels good to realize we don’t need the credit and sometimes we are in a particular role for just a part of something that is a much bigger whole, but we don’t have to do all of the work.
We have to let everyone do what they are meant to do!
Ling Becker is the Director of Workforce Solutions for Ramsey County and Executive Director of the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County. Ling oversees a department of 80 staff who deliver workforce services and programs to residents and businesses of Ramsey County.
Prior to that role, Ling was the Executive Director of the Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation serving the NE metro connecting businesses and local governments on economic development projects and programs. In that role, Ling lead several award-winning workforce partnerships with local school district and community colleges.
Ling is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Morris and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University where she was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. In 2018, she was a recipient of Minnesota Business Magazines REAL Power 50 Award for her work in helping businesses grow and expand in the NE metro area.