Jamie Millard

partner

Jamie Millard is a connector and storyteller who deeply appreciates the humility and courage required to lead—especially in those defining moments when leaders stand at the threshold of transition. In her role, Jamie will support Ballinger | Leafblad’s growth and evolution as a trusted intermediary to boards, executives, and leadership teams investing in highly participatory leadership transition campaigns. 

Jamie brings extensive experience as the founding executive director of Pollen Midwest, where she transformed the organization from a $0 budget to $1.3M and a force for community impact. Under her leadership, Pollen became a vibrant hub for storytelling, connection, and social impact, reaching tens of thousands of civic leaders over the course of a decade. Most recently, she provided strategic communications consulting to Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, the state’s largest private philanthropy.

Jamie has served as Co-Chair for the Ann Bancroft Foundation’s Annual Celebration Gala, GiveMN’s Board of Directors, GreaterMSP’s Talent Task Force, and co-founded the literary arts magazine Paper Darts. Jamie has been identified as a "40 Under 40" by the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, as a "100 People to Know" by the Twin Cities Business Magazine, and as a Rising Icon by LAUREL. Nationally, Jamie was recognized in the Huffington Post as one of four millennial leaders, “doing important work to move us toward a more just and equitable society.” Jamie’s alma mater, the University of Minnesota, recognized her with the highly distinguished Outstanding Alumni Award. 

Jamie lives in Minneapolis with her husband, both her parents, and three young daughters who teach all of them every day about the power of joy. She is passionate about multigenerational households, reading, living a healthy life with rheumatoid arthritis, and motherhood.  

“As a former executive director, my direct experience is a rare asset in the executive search field. I hope this will help me guide both candidates and clients with empathy and expertise in their own pivotal moments of change.”

Education

Jamie earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, where she was recognized on the Dean’s List and awarded the Maroon and Gold Leadership Award, a four-year scholarship. She served as managing editor for the University’s Ivory Tower publication (now The Tower).

Recognition

  • 40 Under 40" by the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal.

  • "100 People to Know" by the Twin Cities Business Magazine.

  • Recognized in the Huffington Post as one of four millennial leaders, “doing important work to move us toward a more just and equitable society.” 

  • Awarded the highly distinguished Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Minnesota. 

  • Jamie has appeared on the cover of Minnesota Business Magazine, been interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio, Minnesota Star Tribune, given a TEDxTalk, and has appeared across most local media publications on issues of leadership, storytelling, and networking. 

Civic Leadership

  • Co-founder of the literary arts magazine Paper Darts, which published more than 800 writers and artists from 2009-2018. 

  • Co-Chair for the Ann Bancroft Foundation’s Annual Celebration Gala (2023 & 2024), 

  • GiveMN’s Board of Directors

  • GreaterMSP’s Talent Task Force

  • Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Board of Directors (served as Board Chair)

Fun Facts

  • Jamie, her husband, and their 3 girls share an intergenerational home along with Jamie’s two parents and two Berenedoodles. Read more about their family values here, One Family’s Return to Intergenerational Living.  

  • In her free time, Jamie is either spending time with her three daughters, doing something active and outdoorsy with her husband, or enjoying a good meal with her girlfriends. Always with a book in hand, Jamie devoured more than 70 fiction books in the last year.

  • As a constant learner, Jamie loves to take a class and try new things. In 2022, she started learning how to do big lifts in weight lifting and still trains twice a week. Other recent classes include: writing romance, partner dance lessons, and watercolor.