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Brenna Block · In Her Own Words
In Conversation
Brenna Block for Bold. Brilliant. Unstoppable.
Read the transcript
Brenna Block: Hi, my name is Brenna Block. I'm a business owner here in the great state of South Dakota. I believe being an influential woman means wanting to see others succeed. We can definitely make an impact through leadership skills, training, development, teaching confidence and courage, and I think young women are striving and thriving for guidance in those areas. My advice to young women would be to speak up, have a voice, be confident, be polite and courageous. And learn as much as you can in every room that you're in. You don't know who's gonna be in there that can help you get a step up, um, who might impact your personal life in a great way, might teach you how to be a wonderful mother, business owner, entrepreneur, or a great employee, someone who actually will end up promoting leadership in their own realm. So, I think that we really, really need to teach women to speak up more, do it in a great confident way, and have a lot of courage in every room.
What's one piece advice would you give to younger women chasing their dreams?
Brenna Block: Hi, my name is Brenna Block. I'm a business owner here in the great state of South Dakota. Some advice I would give to young women trying to chase their dreams. Dreams are hard to chase. That's why they're dreams. You have got to understand that as you walk through these paths in life, whether it's professionally or personally, you can learn lessons from every single day. Every interaction, every leader, whether they're a great leader or a leader that you do not jive with very well. Whether you get fired from a job or whether you're excelling in something you actually don't enjoy and you're worried it will keep you from reaching the dream that you're going for. I think in this day and age, women are really told that they need to settle, and you don't need to settle. What you want, you can have. We can have it all, and it doesn't mean it's going to be easy. People who want it all have to work really hard, but it's definitely doable. I've had many, many jobs, and they have led me to the point where I've been able to grow my own business, so I can make it work for me. I have 4 children. We live on a property, we have horses and dogs, and in this day and age, everybody told me that it wasn't possible to have everything that I wanted. But it took 12 years for me to get here. It took a lot of bad bosses and a lot of good bosses. It took a lot of friendships, it took a lot of burning bridges. And so at the end of the day, if you want something, you can get it. But we aren't victims and we're not victims of our situation. We can learn something and we can grow from every circumstance, and that's on us. It's an individual personal decision. So if you get comfortable in something and you want to let a dream go, that's OK. But if you really want to work for something, then it takes time, it takes hard, hard work, hard days, easy days, great experiences, and things that are really, really difficult. But at the end of it, you can look at yourself in the mirror and say, I did that, and that's pretty cool.
Her Story
About Brenna
Brenna Block is a dynamic entrepreneur and business leader based in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She is the owner of High Country Hard Surfaces, specializing in design, project management, and hard surface contracting, as well as Cornerstone Consulting, which supports local municipalities with economic development initiatives. In addition to her business ventures, Brenna serves as the Director of Volleyball at E3 Sports, where she fosters athletic growth and leadership in young athletes. Her career reflects a strong commitment to combining strategic vision with hands-on execution to create impactful results across industries.
Before launching her own companies, Brenna gained extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. She served as Economic Development Coordinator for the Sturgis Economic Development Corporation and as a Business Development Representative with the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development. Her background also includes key roles in healthcare and business intelligence at Monument Health and leadership in business operations at Yield Advisory. Through these experiences, Brenna has honed her skills in business strategy, project management, and organizational development.
Brenna holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and is known for her passion for mentorship, community development, and economic growth. She actively participates in local and regional initiatives, leveraging her expertise to foster meaningful connections and opportunities. Inspired by the leadership philosophy of Ronald Reagan, she believes that true leadership lies in empowering others to achieve greatness—a principle she exemplifies through her professional endeavors and community involvement.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Brenna
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my ability to communicate effectively and continuously grow my resources and expertise. I take pride in my work with state leaders and representatives, asking thoughtful questions, and refining my skills to serve my role to the highest standard. I believe we must lead with courage and be purposeful in our investment in the next generation of leaders.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received comes from observing several incredible mentors. United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has shown me what it means to be a powerhouse female leader and advocate for myself and others to take personal responsibility in their lives. My mother, Michele Mlinar, a dedicated special-education and behavior teacher, exemplifies strength and inspires leadership through compassion and resilience. My mother has always shown me how to lead with a servant's heart. Additionally, my former leader Amanda Anglin gave me the opportunity to develop my training at a local level, and encouragement to step out on my own, providing the confidence and courage I needed to grow professionally. And lastly, my father has invested in my development as a young woman, mother, and leader. He has been a coach in many facets of my life since I was a young girl.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
To young women entering my industry, I would say: seek out real-world experience, find your voice, and balance being polite with being assertive. Focus on developing and refining your leadership skills to become an influential presence. Start early—be bold, leverage your resources, and take initiative to make things happen. Always have the courage to stand up for what is right, what is logical, and what is productive. People will naturally gravitate towards a person who leads with honesty and courage.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In economic development, balancing growth with preserving a community's way of life is always a unique challenge. Being able to grow your professional circle and local partnerships is a skill you must learn to show value in your efforts.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In both my work and personal life, I prioritize courage and patience. I am a mother of four wonderful children, a devoted wife, and an animal lover with nine horses and two dogs who bring joy to our country home. I also serve as the director of a volleyball program, which allows me to combine my passion for leadership, mentorship, and teamwork. Lastly, my faith is the center of everything I am, and everything I do. Every role I perform comes back to my purpose to serve Him.
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