We were lucky to catch up with Liz Boldon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Liz with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I’ve always been a hard worker, it’s just part of who I am. I detasseled corn in the summer as a 13 year old and my first real job was as a CNA in a long term care facility at 16. My parents had strong work ethics and were positive role models. I’ve also always been a hard worker because I’ve had to be – as a single mom for many years, without a strong work ethic and drive to excel, my kids would have suffered. I know the feeling of a job well done and have always felt value and purpose in my work – as an RN for over 20 years and now my work in the legislature, it’s meaningful and really impacts people’s lives. I’m a doer and will always have that drive to get things done.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I wear several hats – one is that of a Registered Nurse – I have been a nurse for over 20 years and have worked in different roles over that time – that’s one of the beautiful things about nursing, the opportunities are endless. I currently work in a general care ortho/trauma unit in a large hospital. Another hat I wear is that of a legislator in the Minnesota Senate. I was elected to the Senate in 2022 and prior to that served one term (2 years) in the Minnesota House of Representatives. If you’d told me I’d be doing this even 5-6 years ago, I would not have believed you. I’m an introvert and being in the spotlight is not something I would have guessed I’d volunteer for, but the work is so important, I continue to step out of my comfort zone. I currently serve as an Assistant Majority Leader, Vice Chair of the Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention Committee, Co-Chair of the Inclusive Democracy Caucus and Co-Chair of the Minnesota Health Plan Caucus. Much of my work is focused on healthcare, early childhood care and learning, democracy, and housing. I’m incredibly committed to the work to ensure everyone has what they need to be cared for, safe, and thrive.
And last, but certainly not least, I wear the hat of mom to three amazing adult children. My middle son has significant health challenges after a motorcycle accident so we provide 24/7 care for him in our home.
Caring for people in in my DNA and is at the core of nearly everything I do. I’m grateful for the opportunity and ability to impact people’s lives.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe three qualities that have served me well are persistence, flexibility, and optimism. My advice to others is to seek out people who are where you’re trying to go – in my experience, people are generous in sharing their experiences and advice if you ask. I’d also recommend that you just don’t give up. Keep going. But also know that your path may not be as you expect. If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that I don’t know what the future holds. Life takes twists and turns that you don’t expect, but you’ll be happier and more productive if you learn to ride the waves.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m always looking for people to connect with. If you have questions about any of my roles, or policy suggestions, or are looking to connect with someone with similar experiences, please reach out! I read and answer all my emails and am very approachable on social media as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: lizboldon.com
- Instagram: @lizboldonmn
- Facebook: @lizboldonmn
- Twitter: @lizboldonmn
- Youtube: @lizboldonmn
- Other: email: Liz@lizboldon.com
