How Hope and Opportunity Are Created at Scale

by Jeff Bond

I'm the Co-Founder of Chat With Leaders Media and People First Elevation Team, where my team and I help values-driven businesses create content that strengthens relationships, fuels engagement, and drives high-performing cultures. We partner with communications, marketing, and people teams to produce thought-leadership podcasts, executive messaging, and event content. My team and I also work with leaders to transform company meetings into culture-defining moments—ensuring they align teams, elevate key voices, and inspire action. As a board member of Conscious Capitalism Atlanta, I advocate for business as a force for good. Outside of work, I’m passionate about faith, family, and using influence to create lasting impact.

On today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Patrick Plonski, Executive Director of Books For Africa, the world’s largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent. Books For Africa has shipped over 54 million books and served every African country since 1988 with an annual fiscal impact exceeding $30 million.

Pat talks to Jeff about the challenges of running a logistic business with international complexities, balancing ambitious growth goals while consciously creating a culture where your workforce feels they have a strong work-life balance, and his hope for positively impacting future generations.

More About Patrick Plonski

Pat Plonski has served since 2003 as Executive Director of Books For Africa, the world’s largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent. Books For Africa has shipped over 54 million books and served every African country since 1988 with an annual fiscal impact exceeding $30 million. Books For Africa has been rated in the top three percent of all U.S. charities by Charity Navigator, partnering with organizations such as the United Nations, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Peace Corps, the U.S. Library of Congress, OPEC, Merck, the African Union, and Oprah’s Angel Network. Plonski has traveled to 48 countries in his career. He has served as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences teaching coursework on world development issues.

Previously, Plonski has served as Executive Director of the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council at the University of Minnesota (1998-2003), and Committee Administrator of the Minnesota House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture (1987-1998). He holds a PhD in International Education (2009) from the University of Minnesota, a Master’s Degree in History (1994) from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in History from St. John’s University (1985). Plonski is a frequent commentator in the media on topics pertaining to development, education, and literacy in Africa.