Our recent HQExperience visit to Donaldson Company on September 18, 2025, reinforced a fundamental truth about effective policy dialogue: authentic CEO leadership creates understanding that traditional approaches simply cannot achieve.
CEO Tod Carpenter’s direct, honest communication style resonated across party lines, demonstrating how business leaders can build credibility and genuine engagement when they speak authentically about policy challenges. One legislator noted the value of “hearing directly from a CEO about concerns with policies” rather than through intermediaries or formal presentations.
The visit showcased compelling innovation stories that made abstract policy concepts concrete. Legislators witnessed Donaldson’s groundbreaking research to replace PFAS in certain industrial applications, their disruptive beverage preservation technology, and heard from a University of Minnesota aerospace engineering graduate who started as an intern and has built a 17-year career with the company. These tangible examples transformed discussions about manufacturing competitiveness, environmental policy, and talent retention from theoretical debates into real-world applications.
The immediate impact was clear: strong bipartisan engagement during the visit and a representative committing on-site to attend our next HQExperience visit with The Toro Company. When legislators see policy in practice and hear directly from business leadership, it creates momentum for continued dialogue and deeper understanding.
The learning for our program is straightforward: prioritize authentic CEO engagement, focus on specific innovation examples rather than general company overviews, and create space for direct policy dialogue. This approach builds the genuine connections between Minnesota’s business community and policymakers that strengthen our state’s competitive advantage.