How Hope and Opportunity Are Created at Scale

by Jeff Bond

At the core of Jeff's work is helping servant leaders use their influence as a force for good. As the Co-Founder of Chat With Leaders Media and Executive Partner at People First Elevation Team, he empowers organizational leaders with media solutions that spark collaboration and shared purpose with their teams and customers.

Together with his team, Jeff delivers event production, podcast production, content creation, cross-cultural training, and strategic advisory solutions. They are committed to unlocking the power of inclusive storytelling, shared experiences, leadership development, and feedback integration to ensure their media solutions meet the needs of their clients' stakeholder groups.

Their core values—Partnership, Inclusion, and Empowerment—guide everything they do. By fostering strong partnerships, embracing diverse perspectives, and equipping leaders with the tools to succeed, they aim to transform the way people engage while getting meaningful work done.

Outside of work, Jeff cherishes time with his wife and three kiddos, balancing his roles as a husband and father with his professional life in Atlanta, GA. Connect with Jeff to explore how impactful media solutions can drive success and engagement.

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.