Access to Opportunity: How Charles Frazier Is Rebuilding Transit by Going to the People Doing the Work

Episode 48: Access to Opportunity: How Charles Frazier Is Rebuilding Transit by Going to the People Doing the Work "Go to the people that are doing the work.” ~Charles Frazier Charles Frazier took the city bus to his first job. Today he leads the transit system for an entire region, and he has never forgotten what that ride made possible. In this conversation, the CEO of Chattanooga's CARTA shares how a system underfunded for 30 years gets rebuilt through the people closest to the work, why he treats influence as something earned rather than granted by title, and how he's preparing his workforce for autonomous vehicles by upskilling employees instead of replacing them. If you lead people through change, constraint, or criticism, this episode gives you a playbook grounded in humility and results. Key takeaways: Transit is access to opportunity, and so is leadership. Your job is opening doors for your people the way someone once opened one for you. Build influence over authority. Trust, clarity, and storytelling align teams in ways a title never will. If every decision defaults to you, your organization is in a danger zone. Empower your subject-matter experts and ask for consensus recommendations. About Charles Frazier Charles D. Frazier is the Chief Executive Officer of the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), assuming the role in January 2024 following a nationwide search. He brings over two decades of public transit leadership to the region, having previously served in executive roles at major transit systems in Florida and Arkansas. Resources & Links Learn more about Charles D. Frazier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-d-frazier/ Learn more about CARTA: https://www.gocarta.org/ Learn more about the People-Forward Leadership™ framework: www.thriveaxisgroup.com Call to Action Connect with us for behind-the-scenes content and leadership tips: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube Enjoyed this episode? Don't miss the next one. Subscribe to the People-Forward Leadership™ Podcast: Spotify Apple Podcasts Leave a 5-Star Review: Share your biggest takeaway from today's episode by leaving a review on your podcast platform. 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. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you tune in for future episodes.