Leading with Cultural Bravery

Dear RSI Friends,

I’ve seen so many great photos and videos from the Real Solutions Summit we hosted on May 6, 2025. Although I generally dislike seeing pictures of myself, one keeps drawing me back: a candid moment of Erica and me laughing during a panel conversation. What resonates the most with me is what that laughter represents. My job as Vice President of Operations is to create and protect the structures that enable R Street’s passionate people to do extraordinary work. This photo is proof that it’s paying off. When the right systems are in place, we can all experience the deep satisfaction—even joy—that comes from doing meaningful work together.

The Real Solutions Summit was our public event that week, but we spent the rest of the week reflecting, engaging, and collaborating with the entire R Street team during our annual, in-person fly-in. I’ve thought a lot about both experiences, the culture that supported them, and what it takes to maintain that workplace culture in today’s world. At R Street, we talk often about “cultural bravery”—the idea that we should seek to engage about different perspectives, welcome healthy conflict, and remain open to ideas that challenge us. We’ve been intentional about building and supporting that cultural bravery; it’s core to who we are.

When my colleagues and I encounter discomfort, we lean in. We stay open, remain curious, and keep listening. We make space for disagreement and invite challenge because we know true pluralism makes our ideas sharper, our policy work stronger, and our civic life healthier.

Cultural bravery requires discipline and daily practice. This shows up in the ways we engage with each other, how we give and receive feedback, and how we empower people to apply their expertise. It also shows up in how we approach conflict—as an opportunity to clarify our values and enhance our work.

Political volatility, emerging technologies, and evolving workplace expectations remind us how complex the world is becoming. Thriving in this environment requires equal parts resilience and creativity—qualities already baked into our culture. They give us the freedom to test ideas, collaborate across differences, and build trust. R Street’s culture welcomes organic chuckles at an event or spontaneous connections over Zoom, and we view those moments not as detours from our work, but as essential elements for doing our best work.

We’ve built that culture with intention, and it’s worth protecting—not just because it feels good (though it does!), but because it gets results. When we invest in trust, curiosity, and cultural bravery every day, we honor one another and create the conditions for great work to happen.

With respect,

Chad