Episode 25: Driving Culture Change: Trust, Growth, and the Power of People-Strong Leadership – Melinda Adams, Executive Director of Island Transit 

“Leadership begins with an investment in your people, focusing on their development in order to achieve the highest results for your organization and provide the highest level of service to your community.” ~Melinda Adams 

Episode Summary 

Melinda Adams, Executive Director of Island Transit, joins Dr. Carol Parker Walsh to share how she’s reshaping culture, strengthening leadership, and restoring trust at a pivotal moment for the agency. 

With over 17 years in public transportation leadership, including her time at Everett Transit, Melinda brings a deep commitment to workforce development and an employee-first philosophy. In this candid conversation, she reveals how she met one-on-one with every Island Transit employee in her first months, asked for “two problems and two solutions,” and set the tone for a solution-focused, people-forward culture. 

As one of the growing number of female leaders in transit, Melinda reflects on her journey in a historically male-dominated industry, the quiet confidence she’s built over time, and her responsibility to mentor the next generation of leaders. From breaking down silos to instilling psychological safety and accountability, she offers a powerful playbook for leaders in transit and beyond. 

Key Takeaways 

• Vision with Action: Melinda translated her employee-first philosophy into practice by meeting with every employee and making solution-focused dialogue a norm. 

• Self-Awareness & Growth: Her leadership journey has evolved from “I” to “we,” emphasizing humility, compassion, and continual growth. 

• Psychological Safety in Action: Integrity, consistency, and accountability created the foundation for renewed trust at Island Transit. 

• Upskilling Leaders: Weekly leadership meetings, training, and tough conversations ensure technical managers grow into people-first leaders. 

• Women Leading Transit Forward: Melinda models quiet confidence and mentors rising female leaders to expand representation and opportunity. 

• People-Forward Ripple Effect: By prioritizing employee development, shifting language and culture, and modeling transparency, Melinda is building a stronger organization that better serves the community. 

Resources & Links 

• Learn more about Melinda Adams 

• Learn more about Island Transit: https://www.islandtransit.org 

• Learn more about the People-Forward Leadership™ framework: https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com 

• Recommended reading: The 3 Pillars of People-Forward Leadership™ 

Call to Action 

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Reach out: To learn how we can support your organization in implementing People-Forward Leadership™, email us at [email protected]. 

Thank you for listening! If you found this conversation valuable, please share it with a colleague or friend who might benefit from learning how to rebuild their leadership container for stronger results. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you tune in for future episodes.