MEET ONE OF THE 2025 LEADERSHIP TRAILBLAZER: Donna Krauss

Today’s Trailblazer: Donna Krauss

The League caught up with Trailblazer Finalist, Donna Krauss, Deputy County Administrator, Stafford County, Virginia to talk about being named a Leadership Trailblazer and having a career in public service:

Q. Congratulations on being named a finalist for the Leadership Trailblazer Award. What does it mean to you to be nominated?

This nomination is an incredible honor; I am humbled to be included alongside women who are being recognized for the value and potential we all bring to our profession. It is also an acknowledgement of the path created by others that I have traveled and the work I have done to continue to clear a path for those that will follow.

Q: What led you to a career in public service?

I have always had a servant heart and a passion to help others. I had an interesting start to my career. I began my public service as a social worker in my community, having studied child and adolescent development in college, I was drawn to ensuring that all children had an opportunity to thrive and be successful. I was also a young single mother who received support from my community. Throughout my early years I had mentors who showed me the impact dedicated public servants can make in their communities in all aspects of local government. This led me to exploring other roles and opportunities within the organization.

Q: Who were your mentor(s) or advocate(s) in your career?

I have had the privilege of crossing paths with many in my years in public service that have guided me, mentored me, coached me, and have been a sounding board. The most impactful mentor I had was my 2nd boss, a County Administrator, who did not differentiate by gender, who invested an incredible amount of time helping me understand myself and providing me room to make mistakes, learn, grow, and explore what being a public servant truly means.

Q: What is the most important lesson you learned while progressing throughout your career?

There are many things I have learned throughout my career; as I have grown as a leader I remind myself that change is constant and we must always be willing to learn and unlearn to truly be successful as leaders. I’ve learned that being guided by your values and ethics is critical to sound leadership. Never take things personally; this has become a truly important lesson later in my career. Finally, building relationships is the key to being a successful leader, taking interest in those around you, being empathetic and treating others with kindness.

Q: What advice do you have for women just beginning their careers who would like to be an executive in local government someday?

Always be curious, always take time to learn and grow as a leader- which includes self-reflection and a true understanding of who you are, what your values are and what kind of leader you want to be. Know that your voice matters and when you enter a room know that you belong there just as much as anyone else and you have something to share and to learn.

Q: What do you hope to leave as your legacy in local government when your career comes to an end?

I hope to have inspired and mentored other women to take on leadership roles in local government. I hope I leave behind an organization built on a values system that has a strong culture and a workforce that is passionate, engaged, and leading this County into the future. I would like to be remembered as someone who was tenacious, willing and not afraid to accept new challenges and to challenge the status quo. I also hope that in my tenure I helped build a strong, connected community that is thriving and will continue to make people’s lives better.