Episode 147: Building Trust in Public Service with Glenn Basconcillo

Leadership in human services has changed dramatically over the past three decades—but one principle remains constant: people helping people. In this episode, Carl and Tiffany welcome Glenn Basconcillo, whose career spans county government, Tribal TANF, policy development, and executive leadership.Glenn reflects on his journey from eligibility worker in Kern County to leading Tribal TANF programs, sharing lessons learned about building partnerships, navigating welfare reform, and creating innovative programs that meet the unique needs of Tribal communities. The conversation explores the evolution of government services from a traditional top-down model to one centered on collaboration, community engagement, and strengthening local relationships.Together, they discuss today's leadership challenges, including declining public trust, change fatigue, increasing organizational complexity, and the need to balance accountability with empathy. Glenn also shares practical advice for new leaders on building trust through transparency, involving frontline staff in problem-solving, and creating a culture where honest communication and continuous improvement can thrive.Whether you work in government, Tribal organizations, or nonprofit leadership, this episode offers valuable insights into leading with integrity, empowering employees, and keeping people at the center of public service. Glenn's bio is below:Glenn Basconcillo is founder and president of GNB Consulting Inc. where he collaborates with Tribal governments, federal partners and local agencies to strengthen cross-system partnerships supporting youth, families and elders., He has more than 35 years of experience in leadership, policy, program development and organizational management in social services. He has served as chief operations officer and TANF director for the Owens Valley Career Development Center, expanding its Tribal TANF program into one of the nation’s largest, and also held leadership roles with Kern County Department of Human Services.