To me, leadership is all about leading by example. I use the term “show coaching,” which I strongly believe in. Throughout my various leadership roles, I’ve realized that taking the time to understand and connect with the people I work with is essential. Observing their strengths and weaknesses helps me to identify what needs to be done and guide them in accomplishing tasks themselves. I’m open to taking on any responsibility, whether it’s picking up a mop or conducting meetings with executives. I believe in uplifting everyone around me and am willing to get my hands dirty to ensure the team’s success.
As a part of our interview series about the things that should be done to improve the US educational system I had the pleasure to interview Mackenzi Mondesir.
Mackenzi Mondesir is a Topeka resident with a long history in banking and finance. Throughout his career, he has made it a priority to incorporate social good into his work — whether that be creating DEI programs for his employees, providing loan guidance for small business owners or serving as a mentor to youth groups. He is co-founder of For the Culture Fest, a three-day celebration of Black Excellence in Topeka, Kansas, on July 28–30, 2023.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I am the Relationship Manager | Diversity Equity & Inclusion Program Creator at U.S. Bank. My career in the banking industry began after high school. After graduating and realizing playing football in college wasn’t an option, I started a job search. A friend suggested I consider working at a bank because of my interpersonal skills. Though hesitant, the attractive salary of $25,000 a year convinced me to join Citibank in 1999.
Initially, my responsibilities were limited to basic transactions. However, after six months, the bank introduced referral goals, which presented a challenge for me. After discussing my concerns with my ex-wife, I had a pivotal moment of realization. She asked me a simple question, “What’s a referral?” and I explained that it was about identifying someone’s needs and providing them with relevant information, whether they were aware of those needs or not. Her response was, “What’s wrong with that?” This shift in perspective allowed me to overcome my fear of rejection and focus on the true purpose of my work — helping people by addressing their needs.
With this newfound confidence, I exceeded my referral goals, achieving 100 in just one month! This success cemented my commitment to the banking industry, and after 23 years, I still value the importance of addressing customer needs in my career.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
An impactful experience that led me on the path of doing advocacy work was when I took my children to visit where I grew up in Chicago — a tough neighborhood. We came across a young child, who looked about three years old, walking alone on a summer day without shoes or a shirt. This sight shocked my children, who were young themselves, because they had never witnessed anything like that. They questioned why a child was alone and lacked basic necessities.
It was a moment of realization for me. I understood that I had a responsibility to make a difference, to support and guide children like the one we had encountered. I decided to embark on a journey to create programs and initiatives to help vulnerable children and communities. I started working with various organizations, such as Junior Achievement, and dedicated my time to supporting communities in need.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I was a young banker and my manager asked me to take his place at a golf outing. First of all, I knew nothing about golf at the time — literally had never even hit one ball in my life. The guys that I was teamed up with were all either clients or prospects to the bank — our job was to show them a good time and close business. Well let’s just say neither one of those things happened. I had no golf education — who knew that when you hit a ball that’s heading towards another player, you’re supposed to yell 4! I never got a chance to yell 4. To make matters worse, we came in last place and I felt like I had everything to do with that.
I learned two valuable lessons from that golf outing: when you finally get an opportunity, you better be ready for it … and don’t forget to yell 4.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
I’m excited to share that I’m organizing the For the Culture Fest in Topeka, Kansas, this July. It’s a three-day festival celebrating African American culture and supporting Black artists and businesses. My advocacy work and career have led me to focus on four key pillars of social impact: education, empowerment, mental and physical health, and business literacy. The last one is particularly meaningful to me, given my background in the financial industry.
Ultimately, our vision for the festival is to create a platform for education, dialogue and opportunity by bringing many people to Topeka from across the state and abroad, not only to appreciate African American culture but also to learn more about our history. Understanding each other is the most important thing we can do to create a better world.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
Rather than discussing someone I helped, I want to focus on someone instrumental in helping me with my advocacy work, which has significantly impacted the community. Mr. Alonzo Harrison of Topeka-based HDB Construction, a Black-owned and longest-running civil construction company in Kansas, has become For the Culture Fest’s biggest cheerleader. Over the years, we have built a strong relationship, and he has witnessed firsthand the impact of my advocacy work in the community. When I came up with the idea for the festival, I knew I could count on him for guidance, and he didn’t disappoint. He loved the idea, joined our Advisory Board, and has been a constant source of support ever since.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
- Connect with others so you can learn.
- Be intentional with your goals and what you hope to achieve.
- Take action to be part of the solution.
Many people may think I’m crazy for organizing a three-day festival in just six months, but I felt the need to do this for our community and took action. It’s not always easy to take action, especially when others may doubt your efforts, but sometimes, we must trust our instincts and do what we believe is right.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
To me, leadership is all about leading by example. I use the term “show coaching,” which I strongly believe in. Throughout my various leadership roles, I’ve realized that taking the time to understand and connect with the people I work with is essential. Observing their strengths and weaknesses helps me to identify what needs to be done and guide them in accomplishing tasks themselves. I’m open to taking on any responsibility, whether it’s picking up a mop or conducting meetings with executives. I believe in uplifting everyone around me and am willing to get my hands dirty to ensure the team’s success.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why.
When I first started organizing the For the Culture festival, there were several things I wish someone had told me. First, I wouldn’t be sleeping! Balancing a full-time job and a family while organizing a three-day festival in a short amount of time has kept me up. Second, my friendships would suffer. The festival has become my top priority, leaving little time to nurture my relationships. Third, my ADD would be in overdrive! Staying focused and organized has been challenging, but I’m learning to adjust. Fourth, mistakes will be made, but correcting and learning from them is important. Finally, organizing a festival is a marathon rather than a sprint. It’s important to pace yourself and stay committed to the end goal.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
Easy — the For the Culture Festival! The first-of-its-kind celebration of Black culture will include a business panel highlighting a range of entrepreneurs; a wellness panel featuring experts in mental health, nutrition, and more; choir hour with participation from five different churches; a two-hour African American history bus tour led by local Topeka historians, Sherri Camp and Donna Rae Pearson; an art exhibit at the historic Jayhawk Theater; and scholarship giveaways of $1,000 to three local high school students. It’s all happening in Topeka, Kansas — a location that has played a vital role in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. The event follows the 69th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court ruling that ended legal segregation in public schools in May 1954 — Brown v. Board of Education. The Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Site is located inside Topeka’s Monroe Elementary, the segregated school involved in the court case, and features interpretive programs to educate and engage visitors on local and national issues relating to civil rights. Other landmark sites available to tour include The Ritchie House and Constitution Hall.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
A saying that resonates with me is, “You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep trying.” When I was growing up, I felt like I had to be the best at everything I did. I put a lot of pressure on myself, which wasn’t healthy. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and the George Floyd murder, I struggled with my mental health. I realized sharing your struggles with others is important instead of pretending everything is okay. Nobody is perfect, and it’s okay to make mistakes. Mistakes are guaranteed! We need to talk about our challenges with others in order to grow.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
There’s someone who comes to my mind immediately, and that person is President Barack Obama. I have always been in awe of how he managed to lead the country with such grace and composure, particularly during a time when being the first Black president came with its own set of challenges. The chance to talk with him and gain a deeper understanding of his experiences and perspectives would be an incredible privilege. There’s so much I could learn from him, and it would undoubtedly be an unforgettable moment.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can find out more about For the Culture Fest here and connect with me on LinkedIn!
Thank you so much for these insights! This was so inspiring!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Mackenzi Mondesir of Culture KS Fest Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.