In a time of deepening political divisions, Robert Traynham takes the helm of the Religion & Politics Institute with a uncommon mixture of diplomacy and conviction. As President and CEO, efficient February 17, 2025, he brings a perspective formed by his journey from Cheney College, the nation’s first traditionally Black faculty, to Georgetown College, the place he teaches management.
Tasked with main the institute’s Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama on the sixtieth anniversary of Bloody Sunday, Traynham steps into a job that calls for each strategic focus and ethical readability. A agency believer in listening earlier than main, he research viewpoints throughout the political spectrum—whether or not in newsrooms or Walmart aisles.
His strategy, mixing tutorial perception with on a regular basis realities, displays his perception that management is about greater than titles. At Georgetown, he teaches that true management begins with ethical integrity. Now, as he steps into this new function, that philosophy faces its best take a look at.
What made you select to be a pacesetter on the Religion and Politics Institute?
Thanks for that query, Munson. And I’m gonna again up for a second, I consider that we’re all leaders. I consider that we’re all CEOs. I don’t care when you’ve got the title of cleansing up after us, or washing our dishes, every one in every of us is a pacesetter.
I’ve at all times had this second. I’ve at all times recognized that I might love to have the ability to assist execute a imaginative and prescient, assist transfer the needle, assist have impression. It doesn’t matter what group it’s. I imply, it has, clearly it has to align to my values. However what actually issues is how can I transfer the needle? How can I’ve impression? And the way can I give again? I really stand on the shoulders of those that seem like you and I, which have struggled for years and years that by no means had the title of CEO or chief, though they have been.
The Religion and Politics Institute got here knocking on my door, I actually wasn’t wanting per se. However they got here knocking on my door and stated, “Hey, pay attention! Based mostly in your suggestions that you simply’ve given us during the last couple of years based mostly in your impression, let’s have a dialog.”
And I simply love that kind of relationship the place each side, it’s nearly like a relationship the place each side come to the desk and says, “Hey, I sort of such as you. Do you want me? As a result of in that case, let’s determine this out collectively.”
What would you recommend leaders align themselves with concerning being an empathetic listener in your group?
Yeah, so let me reply that query somewhat bit in a different way, as a result of you already know, one in every of my hats that I put on is, I educate management at Georgetown College in Washington, DC. So I’ve thought lots about this, and I actually educate this. At the start, it’s a ethical compass. I consider all of us have one.
Now I feel the query turns into is, whether or not or not you act on it. How typically do you act on that? However all of us have an ethical compass, and for me it’s from main from inside. And what do I imply by that, Munson, is doing the correct factor when nobody else is wanting, and what I imply by that’s that do you come the purchasing cart after the grocery store, or simply go away it within the car parking zone?
Do you clear up after your self? When else do you say thanks? Do you look the particular person within the eye that maybe possibly is asking for cash on the road, and says, “Right here’s how I can assist you.”
So it’s main from inside and doing the correct factor when nobody else is wanting. It’s not in regards to the accolades. That’s primary. Quantity two by way of the empathy that you simply talked about, it’s what? What’s that? It’s listening.
It’s assembly individuals the place they’re and displaying up in an genuine means by saying, “Hear, it doesn’t matter if I’m carrying a coat and tie, or you already know, if I’ve a home and a automobile, what issues is is that you’re hurting, or that you’ve got a difficulty, or that you’ve got one thing that you simply need to run previous me, that I’m supplying you with my full consideration, that I’m supplying you with the dignity and respect to hearken to no matter you must say, and supplying you with genuine suggestions.”
And so which means listening and displaying up in a means that your ethical compass tells you find out how to how to try this, and I can discuss extra about that. However hopefully, that solutions your query somewhat bit.
What traits do CEOs typically miss that may change and enhance the morale of a corporation?
It’s a few issues, Munson, the suggestions that I’ve gotten over time is “Robert, you already know you really pay attention. After we sit down and have a dialog with you, I flip my cellphone off. I put it on silent. I actually am supplying you with that eye contact in that respect. After which I’m following up.”
And that exhibits that I’m listening to clearly regardless of the dialog is. I’m additionally genuine and telling the reality. I consider that one of many traits, one of many unhealthy traits of a pacesetter is that you simply at all times say sure to every thing. It’s really straightforward to say sure to lots of issues. And clearly you’re making an attempt to appease individuals. I get that.
However the actuality is that while you say no, or when you say “that’s a very good concept, however I’m undecided that’s the place we need to go, and right here’s why.” And the explanation why I say that’s as a result of it’s the relentless and the ruthless prioritization on behalf of the group by saying no, you’re really saying sure to different priorities. And so one, it really offers lots of precedence to the employees.
Two, hopefully, it creates lots of area to maneuver that litter out of the way in which and three, it brings lots of readability to you and to the workforce. Now, that isn’t one thing that lots of people like to listen to.
I get that most individuals need to hear sure to lots of their concepts, however what I’ve heard is the suggestions that I’ve gotten is “thanks for telling me the reality, thanks for listening to me, and thanks for being actual,” as a result of it simply manages my expectations.
That’s the one attribute, fairly frankly, that’s ignored is listening, telling the reality and being genuine while you say sure, and while you say no.
How ought to younger CEOs align and create objectives and benchmarks all year long?
I’ll reply this query this manner, lots of people just like the title of President and CEO, or chairman of the board, you already know, who doesn’t need that title? However when you’re pushed by that, you’re within the mistaken enterprise since you’re actually pushed by your ego, and also you’re pushed by ambition. And that’s a recipe for failure.
If, actually, you prioritize and says, “Hear, I’m aligned with this group. That is one thing that I essentially consider in. What are the three particular issues that I would like to perform this week?” One, two this yr, and three, possibly 2 to five years from now.
What’s the speedy aim? What’s the medium aim? And what’s the long run aim and concentrate on these 3 issues the place you’re managing right down to your employees. You’re managing as much as your board, or whomever you report into. However you’re additionally managing your self, as a result of on the finish of the day. For my part, being a CEO is operating a marathon.
You’re not operating a dash. You’re operating a marathon, and so it’s 26.2 miles. This isn’t 6 miles. Anybody is aware of who runs marathons. You must tempo your self, as a result of when you don’t tempo your self what you get burnt out in a short time, and then you definitely begin hyperventilating. You begin gasping for air, and you already know what occurred, as a result of your physique is shutting down.
Mentally, you begin to shut down, and then you definitely’re bored and your employees are like, “nicely, what’s the focus right here? He’s everywhere in the map. I don’t know what the priorities are.” Therefore, once I return to my level round saying no, and likewise saying sure.
These 3 particular objectives, the quick time period, the medium aim, and a long run aim, are a very powerful. Now to your second a part of your query, how do you measure that success?
There must be key milestones and deliverables the place you’re setting benchmarks round, the way you’re measuring their success across the medium, the lengthy and the quick time period objectives, and really be trustworthy with your self. Candidly, and this goes again to my genuine management types, telling the reality with your self. what? I actually screwed that one up, this was a stretch aim we didn’t get there.
I’m being trustworthy with myself and likewise with my workforce and likewise with my board, we set this aim. We acquired right here. We didn’t meet it. However let’s speak about why we didn’t meet it. We didn’t meet it, as a result of, frankly, I didn’t shoot excessive sufficient, or regardless of the case could also be, so, being weak, being trustworthy and genuine.
With respect to your key, milestones and deliverables, I really assume, is without doubt one of the most key traits {that a} chief ought to have.
Why is it essential so that you can share and educate future leaders whereas instructing at Georgetown?
I’ve a sneaky suspicion, and it’s twofold. One, most individuals who sit within the seat wouldn’t have like some job description, or like a handbook that claims, “Do that, do that each single day.” That usually doesn’t occur. Numerous this can be a lot of really feel. It’s lots of suggestions out of your board. It’s lots of suggestions, fairly frankly, simply your personal widespread sense. You must determine it out by yourself proper.
And my second concept is that folks that don’t seem like you and I, who traditionally go to an Ivy League faculty or went to an Ivy League faculty, or maybe possibly have their father or their grandfather as legacy those that have been CEOs, they really have a job mannequin. They’ve somebody that they might really look to, or maybe possibly get recommendation from.
More often than not, those that seem like you and I don’t have that. We simply merely don’t have that. So, in my opinion, I’ve a accountability. I’ve a elementary accountability for those who seem like you and I, but in addition any marginalized neighborhood. And generally that’s even simply the working poor the place I’ve to say, “Hear, I taught myself find out how to fish.”
I’ve an ethical accountability to show you find out how to fish, too, and I’m not suggesting that it is advisable do it my means on a regular basis, or what I’m suggesting is that you simply simply check out how I do it, and then you definitely discover your personal rhythm. You discover your personal means to do that, however these are among the fundamentals that you could be need to take into consideration while you sit into this seat.
So, in different phrases, I simply have a really sturdy obligation, in my opinion and accountability, to provide again and to show individuals find out how to fish, who, fairly frankly, simply don’t have these sources, or didn’t have these sources.
What are you seeing within the market as enterprise leaders must future-proof themselves?
I view it as nearly like strolling by a landmine with a complete bunch of booby traps, and also you don’t know the place the booby traps are. So you must typically sort of stroll, and what I imply by that’s that, look right here, we’re in 2025. The world has modified in actually the final 5 months for the reason that Presidential election.
We are able to see that unfolding as you and I communicate proper, but in addition right here domestically, and we don’t have to enter all of the politics, however we all know that the present management goes in a special route. And what does that seem like for DEI? What does that seem like for the financial system? What does that seem like for? I imply, you simply taking place the record?
As a CEO one you must preserve, you’re true to the mission of the group, however you additionally must navigate these booby traps as greatest as you may. However you additionally want to guide and to handle your employees, and in my case, as operating a nonprofit, additionally, donors who had their very own emotions and ideas round across the present political winds.
There’s lots of needles that you must thread. And what I additionally inform individuals is that it’s okay to fail. Give your self that grace. Give your self that skill. If you’re operating the marathon to decelerate somewhat bit, it’s possible you’ll fall by no fault of your personal. Chances are you’ll fall, however the query is, how do you rise up? And the way do you acknowledge that?
That I fell and acknowledge that and hold shifting ahead. That’s a key piece of that is, it’s okay to stumble somewhat bit. However the actual query is, while you stumble, how do you rise up and acknowledge that, and transfer ahead and be taught from that.
How do you keep sharp and proceed to be a life learner?
I’m going to go somewhat sort of lowbrow with you, after which somewhat intellectual. First a lowbrow, I like listening to different individuals’s conversations. I like sitting on an airplane or ready for my flight on the airport, or frankly at Walmart, or wherever, and listening to different individuals. And albeit, what I’m listening for is their struggles round, “ what, honey we will’t afford this fridge.
We acquired to place this again,” or “ what? Let’s attempt to get it cheaper possibility versus dearer one,” as a result of what I’m listening to is anecdotally their struggles, I’m listening to and seeing it firsthand. In order that’s one thing that I’m extraordinarily delicate to. That’s somewhat bit extra of the lowbrow.
I simply get pleasure from being a fly on the wall and sort of metaphorically strolling by different individuals’s footwear. The intellectual is, I learn lots. So within the morning I’m lucky that I’m naturally curious. I hearken to a few podcasts within the morning. I learn CNN, New York Occasions, Fox, the Weekly Normal.
I additionally learn a wholesome dose of the far proper media, and likewise a wholesome dose of the far left media, and I do this for two causes. One, I acknowledge that we’re in a divided nation proper now, and there are lots of people that learn one facet. And I need to ensure that I perceive each side of a specific situation. In order that’s one.
Two, I really encompass myself, I purposely encompass myself with those that assume in a different way than me. I don’t need to be in an echo chamber, the place I’m solely getting the data that I’m used to proper. That’s why, the day after the election I wasn’t 100% stunned that Vice President Harris misplaced.
The rationale why I say that’s as a result of some members of my household, a few of my buddies, I purposely listened to their a part of the dialog within the lead as much as the election round their very own ideas and values round the place this nation was going, and fairly frankly, it was very divided.
I simply knew that going into the election Sales space, and I wasn’t pleasantly stunned once I wakened and heard the information that President-elect Trump turned President Trump. My level is is that I purposely don’t stay in a single lane. I intentionally, intellectually attempt to go in several lanes, so I’m listening to numerous elements of the dialog which, by the way in which to provide you a primary instance.
It might be Valentine’s Day. However there could also be 2 interpretations of that, relying on who you’re speaking to? So I wish to hearken to each side.
Why is curiosity so essential as a pacesetter?
As a result of hopefully, you’re studying a special perspective or a special facet of a view that you might have not have heard earlier than. Hopefully, by deductive listening, you’re studying your self.
“Oh, I by no means considered that. Possibly I ought to take into consideration how I take a look at this situation,” or “It’s fascinating. I’ve by no means been to Nebraska earlier than. However now, listening to from Nebraskans, I need to take into consideration programming that straight impacts them, and different those that dwell in elements of Nebraska,” or “I’m a product of an HBCU traditionally Black School College. I’ve by no means been to an Ivy League faculty assembly academically, however listening to their perspective, I’ve a special perspective.”
That fixed thirst for studying candidly, that fixed thirst to be related within the dialog, and that fixed thirst in my opinion, to not be stunned. Once more, I am going again to the Presidential election, listening and asking questions from one other perspective. I’ve to say, often I’m not stunned now.
I might be miffed about one thing, however as a result of I’m always listening and asking questions, I’m usually not stunned with regards to most occasions.
What myths would you need to dispel about operating and being a CEO of a nonprofit?
Two issues. One, it’s exhausting, you may have. There’s lots of masters that you must serve your board of administrators, your donors. It’s not straightforward per se. Nor ought to or not it’s. The very first thing is that, in most incidences the CEO has acquired 5 or 6 totally different conversations happening of their head, based mostly on the board based mostly on donors based mostly on the exterior surroundings.
They’re always having to navigate that so it could seem like this CEO is vacillating. It might seem like the CEO is flip-flopping, possibly, and possibly that’s on function. So there’s a technique or rhyme behind that proper? That’s the primary misnomer. The second that I might say is that it may be lots of enjoyable while you and the mission are aligned, and so, due to this fact, getting as much as work shouldn’t be a burden.
It’s extra of, it’s nearly like being a member of the family forward of the member of the family, the place you already know I like my household, and I need to do that. And listed here are the the reason why, I hear lots of occasions lots of CEOs say, “Properly, that is essentially the most loneliest job,” or “ I by no means needed this.” I don’t really feel that means in any respect, actually, fairly the other.
I’m invigorated by this work, and I achieve this as a result of it goes again to me being aligned to the mission, and likewise simply being naturally curious.
How did you deliver your earlier experiences into your present management function?
I might say, being my genuine self. At the start, I’m authentically black. I’m a product of an HBCU, so that’s my lived expertise, and I’ll at all times carry that into the day I die.
I communicate up round a mistaken. I’ll supply my perspective if it’s applicable. And so I carry that all through all of, I’ve carried that all through all of my jobs to supply that perspective and that uniqueness. I might say to your viewers on the market, be your genuine self. Don’t be afraid of that. You must at all times be skilled, however at all times present up and provides your perspective when it’s related to the dialog.
That’s been my ethos all through all of my jobs is, how can I contribute? What’s my impression? And figuring out, happily, I feel truthfully, even when I didn’t look the way in which I look, I really assume I might be a perfectionist, regardless, however due to the way in which I look, I set the bar excessive for myself, and the explanation why is as a result of my grandparents and my dad and mom at all times set the bar excessive for me at all times.
I do know nothing much less however to provide it my all, however then one other 15 to twenty%. In order that’s simply that to me, that’s simply one thing that’s innate in me that, what I’m making an attempt to say is having a excessive work ethic, being a perfectionist and being not exhausting on myself, as a result of I’m type to myself, but in addition simply having that prime bar has actually served me very nicely.
Why did you select to attend an HBCU, and what did you achieve from that have?
I went to Cheney College in Cheney, PA. The primary HBCU within the nation. In 1837, simply outdoors of Philadelphia. I grew up simply outdoors of Philadelphia. So it’s about 45 min away from the place I grew up.
I selected an HBCU for lots of causes. One, I used to be lucky. After I grew up within the suburbs of Philadelphia, we have been one of many uncommon African Individuals in our neighborhood. My dad and mom moved to an built-in neighborhood in Nineteen Seventies.
I used to be often the one, or possibly one of many few African Individuals in my faculty. I needed that authentically black expertise as a result of I didn’t have that outdoors my household. I didn’t have that in a faculty setting, so I used to be drawn to that. I used to be very a lot drawn to that.
I’ve been lucky. I acquired my grasp’s diploma from a predominantly white faculty and my PhD from a predominantly white faculty, however there’s nothing like an HBCU expertise. The category sizes are very small. The professors, I genuinely turned buddies with them. They have been my mentors.
They have been my buddies, they have been my! They pushed me to limits that I didn’t know I might be pushed earlier than. I realized or turned far more in tune with my historical past and my function in it. As African Individuals I realized about African American entrepreneurs. I realized in regards to the Chicago defender. I realized in regards to the nice migration from the South.
I imply simply issues that I didn’t be taught in elementary faculty and junior highschool. I had a novel appreciation for that.
The opposite factor that I realized, too, that truly, now, resilience that I nonetheless carry by all through all of my jobs, giving a novel perspective on the African American expertise when applicable.
And in addition, the opposite factor that an HBCU taught me was an unabashed love for this nation, however with one caveat. However our historical past and our impression is and was distinctive. And so, ensuring that that’s heard all through company America is unimaginable, as a result of oftentimes it’s not, is commonly. It’s one thing that I deliver for my HBCU expertise.
I might not commerce it for something on the planet. I’m grateful to going to a different majority faculty for my PhD and masters. However I might not commerce going to an HBCU. It really was transformational in my life, very a lot so.
Why is it essential to realize superior levels in in the present day’s skilled panorama?
I feel, before everything, I need to be actually private. For a second I acquired my grasp’s and my PhD from me for my very own private progress from my very own, as a result of I’m simply naturally curious. I needed that for myself. Nevertheless, I might additionally say that for the younger particular person on the market which may be watching this, it’s only a great progress expertise for you.
It’s simply great to stretch and to be taught a lot extra. I realized find out how to construction my ideas in a really concise means. I turned a greater author once I acquired my superior levels, as a result of I needed to write lots, and my writing simply acquired higher over and time and again.
My public talking expertise, turned much more sharper, the extra educated I turned, and the extra experiences that I had to have the ability to do this in grad faculty, my skill fairly frankly to have the ability to maintain my very own intellectually. I’m not suggesting that I’m the neatest particular person within the room. I’m not.
I wouldn’t say that, however what I’ll say is that if I do know what I’m speaking about, I’m not afraid to say it and say it in a really constructive means. What I additionally honed my expertise on in graduate faculty was a degree counterpoint. So most individuals would know this in any skilled setting, however primarily in white collar settings, is there’s another person that’s simply as sensible as you, that has a special perspective.
So how do you argue? How do you shuttle in an mental level counterpoint the place you’re making your level, and the opposite particular person is making their level, and also you meet someplace within the center versus turning into emotional and elevating your voice, and it’s turning into very a lot a special dialog.
My level is, is getting superior levels, at the least for me, helped me to make rational arguments that have been thought upsetting, that have been substantive, that have been by no means emotional.
There’s a distinction there, as a result of, as it’s possible you’ll know, at the least, I can communicate for me. I’m very delicate to elevating my voice. I don’t assume I’ve the freedom to boost my voice in white collar settings.
I don’t assume I’ve the freedom to get offended. Luckily, I’m a fairly low key, man, but it surely’s simply totally different for those who seem like you and I versus another person once they increase their voice within the office.