The Small Town Worldwide Effect: Minpack's Global Impact

Brent Thompson walked away from 30 years in pharmacy, including serving as president of the Minnesota Pharmacists Association, to take over Minpack, his father's manufacturing business in Pine City. Miranda Sundsvold recently left nursing after experiencing firsthand how the healthcare system prioritizes checkboxes over patient care. Together, they share candid insights about career transitions, burnout, and finding new purpose.

Their stories reveal the hidden toll of the pandemic on healthcare workers. "We all expanded our roles during the pandemic... but never got any additional resources or time," Brent explains. For Miranda, the extent of her burnout only became clear after leaving: "My husband's like, 'oh, you're so much happier now.' And I'm like, 'I want to go play with the kids more.'" This raw honesty about professional burnout offers valuable perspective for anyone questioning their career path.

At Minpack, they've created what they call a "small town worldwide" operation—manufacturing specialized products shipped globally while maintaining deep community roots. Their leadership philosophy centers on listening rather than commanding. As Brent puts it, "If I ever write a leadership book, it's going to be titled 'Listen.' It's that simple." Miranda adds that effective leaders create space for others to speak, noting how Brent "will sit almost a very long pause to let you talk."

Whether you're facing career burnout, considering a major change, or simply interested in effective leadership approaches, this conversation offers genuine insights from two professionals who've successfully navigated the challenging journey from healthcare to entrepreneurship. Their experience proves that sometimes the most fulfilling path forward means being brave enough to change direction.

0:00 Introduction to Brent and Miranda

6:01 Understanding Minpack's Operations

16:01 Community Leadership and Involvement

24:56 Leaving Healthcare: Burnout and Changes

38:35 Leadership Approaches and Listening

48:47 Fair Board Insights and Final Thoughts