Sandy Baruah is President & CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, and in this episode, he joins Bob for a candid conversation about leadership, relationships and the future of Michigan. Drawing on his experience in Washington, D.C. and years spent navigating the intersection of business, policy and economic development, Sandy shares how those experiences prepared him to lead one of the nation’s most influential regional chambers. Bob and Sandy also discuss the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference and this year’s theme: A Quest for Common Ground. From economic competitiveness and talent retention to collaboration across industries and ideologies, the conversation explores what it will take for Michigan to move forward. It’s a thoughtful, timely discussion about leadership, trust, civic responsibility, and why relationships still matter more than ever.
Sandy Baruah is President & CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, and in this episode, he joins Bob for a candid conversation about leadership, relationships and the future of Michigan. Drawing on his experience in Washington, D.C. and years spent navigating the intersection of business, policy and economic development, Sandy shares how those experiences prepared him to lead one of the nation’s most influential regional chambers. Bob and Sandy also discuss the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference and this year’s theme: A Quest for Common Ground. From economic competitiveness and talent retention to collaboration across industries and ideologies, the conversation explores what it will take for Michigan to move forward. It’s a thoughtful, timely discussion about leadership, trust, civic responsibility, and why relationships still matter more than ever.
Time Stamps
Sandy Baruah's Journey and Role at the Detroit Regional Chamber
:17- Bob Riney introduces Sandy Baruah, highlighting his role as President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber since 2010.
1:58- Sandy shares his experience working in Washington, DC, starting at 20 years old for a US Senator and later for Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
3:02- Bob asks Sandy about the impact of his Washington experience on his current role, to which Sandy responds that it taught him perspective and when to push and when not to.
3:21- Sandy reflects on his introverted nature and wishes he had been more social during his time in Washington.
Defining Success at the Mackinac Policy Conference
3:36- Bob inquires about Sandy's definition of a successful Mackinac Policy Conference.
3:48- Sandy hopes that attendees leave with new perspectives and open to new ideas, reducing polarization in American society.
5:25- Bob and Sandy discuss the strategic choice of the island, which isolates attendees from their daily routines, promoting focused engagement.
Excitement for Gary Sinise's Participation
6:36- Bob asks Sandy about the speakers he is most excited to hear at the conference.
6:49- Sandy expresses his enthusiasm for Gary Sinise, who will bring a different perspective to the conference, focusing on patriotism and veterans' issues.
7:10- Bob and Sandy agree that finding common ground on supporting veterans is crucial.
8:04- Sandy highlights the importance of relationships in policy and business, and the potential for attendees to form new connections and friendships.
Themes and Goals for the Mackinac Policy Conference
8:28- Bob and Sandy discuss the theme of "common ground" and its relevance in today's polarized society.
8:54- Sandy hopes that attendees will return with a renewed commitment to finding common ground on various challenges facing Michigan.
Future Prospects and Collaboration
10:14- Sandy discuss the importance of accountability and big ideas in driving Michigan's future prosperity.
10:54- Sandy compares the adoption of new technologies to policy change, emphasizing the importance of early adopters and fast followers.
11:34- Bob encourages local and national listeners to pay attention to the conference and its impact on Michigan's future.
Bob Riney 00:00
I want to start with a real hard-hitting question. Do you think it's fair that both of us pay full price for haircuts?
Sandy Baruah 00:06
I'm sorry, I didn't realize you actually got haircuts.
Bob Riney 00:11
Welcome back to The BOBcast. I'm your host, Bob Riney, President and CEO of Henry Ford Health. Today's guest is someone who has been at the center of Detroit's transformation for more than a decade, and someone I'm proud to call a friend. Sandy Baruah is the president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, a very important leadership role he's held since 2010. Under his leadership, the chamber has become one of the most influential business organizations in the country, driving economic growth, regional collaboration, and bold conversations about Michigan's future, and of course, the Chamber is also the driving force behind the nationally recognized Mackinac Policy Conference, which I have the honor of chairing this year, but Sandy's story stretches far beyond Detroit. Before coming to Michigan, he spent years in Washington, DC, serving both President George H. W. Bush and President George W. Bush, including as the administrator of the US Small Business Administration. His career has taken him from the halls of the White House to the heart of the Midwest, always with a focus on strengthening communities and expanding opportunity. In this episode, we'll talk about Sandy's path to the chamber, the work that drives him personally, and what we can expect from this year's Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island, coming up at the end of May. Sandy, thank you for being on The BOBcast.
Sandy Baruah 01:39
I am so delighted to be on The BOBcast, and here's the $20 for that introduction.
Bob Riney 01:45
20, come on. You spent a significant part of your career working in Washington, DC. How did that experience prepare you for your role as President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber?
Sandy Baruah 01:58
In all seriousness, the ability to be in Washington as a very young person. I started working for a US Senator when I was 20 years old. I wasn't even out of undergrad yet, and I tell young people all the time, if you're interested in public policy and politics and making change, Washington, despite the reputation of it being, oh, it's so dysfunctional, et cetera, et cetera, and there's a lot of truth to that. You get amazing experience when you're young. They let you do things when you're a young person in Washington that no sane organization would let you do every day. I mean, working for a senator, having the honor of working for two presidents, you realize that what you do, and if you do it wrong, you or your boss ends up on page seven of the Washington Post. So that is petty stuff, and it teaches you perspective. It teaches you to be good at your job, but it also teaches you when to push and when not to push.
Bob Riney 03:02
Yeah, it makes a lot of sense, and you know, when you were there, clearly Washington DC was a different tone and tenor than it is today. If you're starting your career now in DC, what would you tell yourself to better prepare for me?
Sandy Baruah 03:20
Since I'm a bit of an introvert, I would have really encouraged my younger self to be more social, get out there more, take advantage of more of the city, go to more events. So I do regret that I didn't do that well enough.
Bob Riney 03:36
Let's switch to the Mackinac Policy Conference. When you get on the ferry back to the mainland, and think that was a win. What defines a win for you this year?
Sandy Baruah 03:48
What I really hope for every year is people, when they get on that ferry, did something happen at the conference? Did some conversation occur that made them change their mind. Did they hear a set of facts, an argument that made them say, you know, I was thinking x on this particular issue, or maybe a political perspective, or a policy perspective, but listening to the conversations on the island, I actually think something different now. One of the things that I really worry about American society is obviously we're so polarized, but it's not just that we're polarized, it's that people are not open to new ideas, new facts, the learning experience, and what I love about the conference is that it's set up purposely in a way that brings people together, and if people can come together and say, okay, one, I understand this better, and I have a different take on it.
Bob Riney 04:52
This year with this quest for common ground theme, I know why I picked it, but why do you feel it's particularly meaningful at this moment in time?
Sandy Baruah 05:02
Because we all do live in echo chambers. If you're a conservative, you're listening to Fox News.
Fox News clip 05:08
Tell me why. What's underneath? Well, care leads to voting, and then voting leads to policy. Why can't I make life harder...
Sandy Baruah 05:16
Your media bubble is very tight. The same for liberals.
MS NOW Clip 05:20
When you're asking if we're being invaded. I'm asking you, want to call Congress and see if we're being invaded.
Bob Riney 05:25
You know, the Chamber has taken some criticism through the years about the inconvenience and cost of time and actual cost of travel and hotels for having the conference on Mackinac Island. I think it'd be helpful to tell the listeners why that is not only a great place to go, but why it's strategic for the goals of the conference.
Sandy Baruah 05:49
It is a statewide conference, and if we did it in Grand Rapids or Traverse City or beautiful downtown Detroit, it wouldn't look or feel like a statewide conference. Mackinac Island is Switzerland. The fact that it is inconvenient is actually a strategic element of the conference. When you are at the conference, you're not bouncing back and forth between your office and the conference venue. Everyone who's at the conference is there for the conference, it's an island with no cars. It puts you in a different frame of mind. We really consider the conference Michigan's management retreat, and if you're going to do a management retreat, you don't do it in your office.
Bob Riney 06:36
So, you talked about national perspectives, and each year the Mackinac Policy Conference speakers bring unique qualities, backgrounds, perspectives. Who are you most excited about hearing?
Sandy Baruah 06:49
I'm going to say Gary Sinise.
Gary Sinese 06:51
A year after I graduated, I joined the Marines. I left for boot camp two days before my 20th birthday. In February 2007, I deployed to Iraq.
Sandy Baruah 07:03
Gary Sinise is a little different for us as a speaker. We usually bring in people with deep policy backgrounds, but working with the Henry Ford team, we thought, gosh, it is America's 250th birthday. A dose of patriotism would be great.
Bob Riney 07:19
And if we can't get common ground on taking care of our veterans, then we've got much bigger problems.
Sandy Baruah 07:25
Exactly, so he's going to be different, he's going to be inspirational. Frankly, I'm just a little excited to meet him.
Bob Riney 07:34
We're also going to have a number of activities to try and make sure that the mid level leaders, or those just below the C suite that are there representing companies have a chance to get to know each other and form deep relationships like so many of us that have had the privilege of kind of growing up together from a leadership perspective and I'm really excited about people walking away saying I met 10 new contacts, but even more importantly, I met five new friends.
Sandy Baruah 08:04
Absolutely, relationships - I don't care what it is, if it's policy or if it's business or if it's sports. Relationships are what makes winners.
Bob Riney 08:15
You know, we're going to have over 1500 of the most influential leaders across the state with a large concentration from southeast Michigan, when they leave the island and go back and debrief with their team, what do you hope they walk away with, and that they choose to spread?
Sandy Baruah 08:35
Your theme of common ground is going to keep coming up in this conversation, Bob, because what I really hope for is people come back to Grand Rapids or Detroit, wherever they're from, and say, you know, our problems in Michigan are so acute in so many areas, we need to think about things differently, we need to find a way to find common ground with the other side, it needs to be us as a collective group against the problem, as opposed to two warring factions arguing about the problem. We have challenges around K through 12 education, we have challenges around population growth, we have challenges around per capita income. We have challenges around attracting more businesses, particularly high-tech, high-growth businesses. All of these challenges are reversible, but not if we don't tackle the problem together.
Bob Riney 09:34
I really hope that the mirror that we hold up and the WTF, “what the fix” sessions that we run become a meaningful thread for the years to come as our state moves forward, and I hope they stimulate accountability. We have an opportunity to do really big things, and I think the mindset we've got to have is really looking at the contagiousness of energy and excitement when people see something really big that they can say I made that change for my grandkids, so that they can thrive in the state that I love.
Sandy Baruah 10:14
I guess I'll close with two comments. Number one, I am so pleased that the major business organizations across the state, we work so well together. That wasn't necessarily the case a decade ago. We've built these relationships over the last decade. We meet once or twice a month. There's very little daylight between our organizations on key policy issues. We never take each other by surprise, and the alignment of these key business organizations is a strategic advantage for Michigan. And the other thing I would say about creating big change, there's two ways of doing it. One, if you have the big idea, and I think the transformation of Detroit was a set of big ideas, and look how that paid off, and success begets success. The other way of looking at it is how technology is adopted. If there's a new technology, whatever it is, there's a cycle. You have the early adopters, and you have the fast followers, and then you have the mainstream, and then you have the laggards. And policy change or cultural change also goes through that same cycle. Yes, you can start with the big idea and get people excited about it, or you can show by example, hey, this works. Get the early adopters, then the fast followers, then the mainstream, and then the laggards.
Bob Riney 11:34
For our local listeners, pay attention to this conference. It's going to be streamed live. It'll be a lot of media coverage, and hold us to task for taking all these activities and really looking to create a pathway for Michigan's future prosperity and for our national listeners, hopefully you've seen a lot about the amazing work that's gone on the city of Detroit that we're all so excited and proud of, and I think it's a blueprint for how to recreate a city for the future that has had a wonderful, rich past. And I think this meeting at the Mackinac Policy Conference is going to do something similar in a roadmap for the state of Michigan. Sandy, thank you for being on The BOBcast. I look forward to your leadership on the island.
Sandy Baruah 12:24
Bob. I look forward to yours. It's been so much fun working with you and your team, and frankly, that's going to be my favorite thing, is just being up on the island with you and your team.