The most valuable gifts we can give: Our time, talent and a commitment to getting things done

Everyone assumes more money is the answer and yes, resources matter. But without a willingness to do things differently, to challenge longstanding assumptions, and to engage in the difficult conversations that lead to real change, money often just preserves the status quo. Real progress requires something more enduring: people who are willing to give their time, their talent and their leadership to get things done.

Time: The commitment that drives honest dialogue and momentum

Time is the most personal and irreplaceable gift we can offer and often the most impactful. When leaders invest their time, they create space for the conversations too often avoided: conversations about the evolving needs of employers and residents alike, permitting delays, housing resistance, transportation gaps, workforce shortages and child care access.

We saw this clearly during the pandemic. What made our collective response effective was not just emergency funding; it was leaders showing up day after day, sitting in countless Zoom rooms, confronting hard truths and making decisions quickly and collaboratively. That commitment of time translated into real outcomes. We built support for small businesses, stabilized child care, assisted with the coordination of public health efforts and developed partnerships that continue to shape our region today.

Time builds trust. It enables innovation. And it makes the hard conversations possible.

Talent: Expertise that helps us rethink what is possible

San Mateo County’s greatest strength is the extraordinary talent embedded across our community. The problem is that talent only creates impact when it is shared.

Change accelerates when people bring their expertise to the table to question outdated processes, redesign systems and apply fresh thinking to longstanding challenges. Business leaders help reimagine workforce development. Financial professionals strengthen nonprofit sustainability. Engineers and planners help improve infrastructure and mobility. Talent is also looking beyond those we know and finding those who have never been asked to come join.

Talent also brings something equally important: courage. The courage to say when something is not working, when a policy needs to evolve, or when a new approach is overdue.

Strategy: Turning hard conversations into action

Time and talent only lead to impact when they are aligned with clear strategy. That means being honest about what is not working. It means moving past polite conversation. And it means recognizing that yesterday’s solutions may not solve today’s problems.

Strategic leadership demands clarity:

• What are we actually trying to solve?

• What barriers are standing in the way?

• What needs to change in systems, funding models, regulations, or expectations?

• Who needs to be at the table, and who is missing?

• What are we willing to do differently?

Without this discipline, even the best intentions stall. With it, difficult conversations become paths to action.

Results: What our community is asking for

Our region is under real pressure: rising costs, tight budgets, new tax proposals and regulatory complexity that often slows progress instead of enabling it. People are understandably frustrated. They are looking for results, not more studies, not more rhetoric, and not more of the same.

Results look like:

• Housing that actually gets built;

• Businesses that can grow and remain competitive;          

• Transit that is connected, frequent, and reliable;

• A workforce prepared for today’s and tomorrow’s jobs; and

• Child care that families can access and afford.

These outcomes do not come from funding alone. They come from collaboration, courage and a shared commitment to rethinking how we work together.

A call to engage more deeply

As we look ahead, the invitation and the challenge, as well as the opportunity, are up to each of us.

For me it is clear: I will continue giving my time, sharing my talent, leaning into difficult conversations and committing to doing things differently.

This is where real progress begins and where lasting impact is made for our community.

Rosanne Foust is the president and CEO, San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA).