Marcia

“For new workers in Minnesota, networking is all part of the game” | Star Tribune | November 2022

“How to network without being annoying” | CNN Business | November 2021

“Networking helps grow careers. Here’s how to do it during COVID-19” | Los Angeles Times | August 2020

“Networking tips for those who really don’t like networking” | Star Tribune | May 2020

“Big Minnesota nonprofits kick off 2020 with new leaders” | Star Tribune | January 2020

"Hometown Hero Marcia Ballinger: Changing the Job Landscape Through Connections" | AARP MN | May 2017

"Hiring Outside the Box" | Nonprofit Quarterly | Feb 2017 

"Headhunters reshaping leadership at Minnesota nonprofits" | Star Tribune | Feb 2017

"Ones We'll Be Watching in 2017" | LinkedIn | Dec 2016

Served as a judge for Minnesota Business magazine's "Community Impact Awards" | Dec 2016

Delivered keynote for "Grow Your Career Through Networking" | Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal University | July 2016

"8 Common Networking Disasters (And How To Avoid Them)" | Fast Company magazine | April 2016

Marcia and Lars interviewed by Minnesota Business magazine, "Q+A with Marcia Ballinger and Lars Leafblad"| October 2015

Interviewed by Capella University on "Networking Success in 20 Minutes: An Expert's Tips" | August 2015

Featured in Pioneer Press op-ed, "St. Paul: From one age to the next, transition" | July 2015

Served as judge for Eide Bailly's Resourcefullness Award 2015 | July 2015

Served as a panelist for MN High Tech Association's "Women Leading in Technology: Building Your Professional Network" event | May 12, 2015 

Marcia and Nathan A. Perez release "The 20-Minute Networking Meeting: Graduate Edition" | Dec 2014

Marcia keynoted Pollen and Carlson School of Management "The Unraveled Network" event | Nov 6, 2014 

Marcia and Lars profiled in Twin Cities Business for "Two Former Colleagues Reunite to Launch Exec Search Firm"  | July 8, 2014

Included in “The (Real) Power 50 of 2014”
Minnesota Business Magazine  |  April 24, 2014

Lars

“Backyard 'office sheds' gain in popularity with Minnesotans working from home” | Star Tribune | July 2022

“Q&A: Meet Lars Leafblad, for whom the holidays are also a season of recovery advocacy” | Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation | December 2021

“6 Ways to Approach Your Job Search with Confidence” | Carlson School of Management - Executive Education | November 2019

“Looking back at 25 years of 40 Under 40: The high achievers who kept rising” | Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal | March 2019

Quoted in Star Tribune story, "What's next for Walker Art Center? There's a ripe opportunity for the new boss" | February 2018

"His 'I had my last drink' post finds affirmation from 1M viewers" | Pioneer Press | February 2018

"Editorial: Innovation, past and present" | Pioneer Press | August 2017

"New class of Minnesota business invests in doing good" | Star Tribune | July 2017

"Capitol Pathways: Still Going Strong for Second Cohort Meeting" | Citizens League | Feb 2017

"Hiring Outside the Box" | Nonprofit Quarterly | Feb 2017

"Headhunters reshaping leadership at Minnesota nonprofits" | Star Tribune | Feb 2017

"Student Group Connects Scholars Across Disciplines" | Carlson School of Management, U of MN | Nov 2016

"11 Insights on Interviewing" | LinkedIn Pulse | Aug 2016

"The art of enrollment: How to bring people along on your idea journeys" | Minnesota Business magazine | Feb 2016

Featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, "10 Questions a Board Should Ask Before Hiring a New Leader" | November 2015

Guest lecturer at Carlson School of Management on the topic of "Entrepreneurial Management" | November 2015

Interviewed by Creative Enterprise Zone's "In the Zone: Professional Connector Lars Leafblad on the Interdependence of Entrepreneurship" | October 2015

Featured in Twin Cities Business magazine, "Hiring a Nonprofit CEO" | September 2015

Lars and Marcia profiled in Pollen for "A New Era for Executive Search" feature | September 15, 2014

Profiled in "Lars Leafblad Masters the Art of Networking"
Carlson School News  |  May 20, 2013