Title: Government Affairs Manager, Children’s National Hospital, At-Large Councilmember – City of Bowie, Member, Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee
Industry:
Government Relations
A: I have been working from home since March but I still get up early every morning and get dressed as though I am headed into the office. I start my day with a prayer, review my to-do list and calendar, walk my dog, read and listen to the news, grab my coffee and get to work.
A: I help people. I advocate for children in my role as Government Affairs Manager for Children’s National Hospital; I advocate for the residents of Bowie as an At-Large Councilmember; I advocate for candidates and the voters as a member of the Prince George’s Democratic Central Committee; I advocate for the entire Prince George’s County community as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and, most importantly, as a Mother, I will always advocate for the needs of my children.
A: The last book I read was Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. My biggest takeaways were that to be a more effective leader you should cultivate collaboration, lead without judgment of others, lead without self-promotion, be honest, kind and listen to the people you serve. It is a great book that speaks to the principles that I believe in.
A: The pandemic has certainly changed how we do business and we must certainly remain vigilant in our efforts to remain safe. However, the one trend I predict that will continue to change how business is done is that people are becoming more introverted and less socially engaged. In this virtual environment, we have lost the personal touch and human connection. A handshake or hug meant you could look a person in the eye and connect with their energy. That handshake also solidified agreements and symbolically held you to your word. The in-person meetings allowed you to see, connect and informally engage with people. In virtual meetings, the connection sometimes seem perfunctory because you don’t have to turn on your camera, the host has the power to mute the entire audience, and you never have time to personally connect with everyone on the call. I believe this trend will continue because many people will no longer want to make that in-person connection due to the pandemic.
A: My favorite productivity habit is making a daily do-list and checking it off. I have always been a writer, so I physically write down my to-do list, prioritize it and check items off throughout my day. And, I have several lists for each “hat” that I wear to ensure I am keeping up with my tasks. I feel productive and on track instead of overwhelmed.
A: Talk less, listen more. Some people are so focused on what they have to say, they don’t listen to or really hear what others have to say. I believe the best leaders put their own interests aside and open their ears and their minds to others’ input, ideas and solutions.
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About Ingrid Scott Harrison:
Ingrid was proud to be elected in November 2019 to serve the citizens of Bowie in her first term as one of the At-Large Councilmembers. In her full-time job, she serves as the Government Affairs Manager for Children’s National Hospital covering Maryland and Washington DC. In this capacity, she is responsible for coordinating legislative efforts and developing relationships at the local, state and federal levels.
Ingrid is honored and proud to hold two elected offices. In 2018, Ingrid was elected by the citizens of Legislative District 23B (serving Bowie and Upper Marlboro) to serve on the Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee and held a position on the Executive Board. She also serves as the Prince George’s County Council Representative on the Board for the Liberty Sports Park. Her past board service includes the Board of Directors for Leadership Prince George’s, The Ivy Community Charities of Prince George’s County, Inc. and Women Business Owners of Prince George’s County.
In her elected capacity, she is also a strong workforce development advocate in partnership with Employ Prince George’s, where she worked as Outreach and Communications Manager from 2017-2020. Ingrid credits her work with the District 4 office of the Prince George’s County Council from 2007-2017 as the impetus of her drive to pursue elected office.
Ingrid served for four years as the 11th President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Gamma Omega Chapter, the oldest and largest chapter in Prince George’s County. In her role as the chapter President, she also served as President of The Ivy Community Charities of Prince George’s County, Inc. (Charities), the philanthropic arm of the chapter. She was awarded President of the Year award three years in a row for her work in the sorority.
In 2018, she was a proud recipient of the William Jefferson Jackson Award from her beloved alma mater, St. Augustine’s University, for her work in the community.
She is also a graduate of Leadership Prince George’s, Class 30 and The Washington Business Journal’s 2019 Business Class.
Ingrid is most proud to be mother to Alexander, 24 and Christina, 19 and when they are happy, she is happy.
