Schmitz, who has worked for the city for 28 years and served as Community Development Director for four years, shared insights into her approach to leadership during the meeting titled "Women Leaders of Woodbury." She emphasized that effective leadership in community development requires listening, caring, and a genuine passion for public service, given the diverse stakeholders involved—including city staff, residents, and business owners.

Schmitz pointed to two major projects currently led by women as examples of their impact: the Central Park expansion and renovation, led by Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Okada, and the permanent water treatment plant expansion, led by Public Works Director Mary Van Milligan. She also recognized former and current mayors Mary Giuliani Stephens and Anne Burt as influential female leaders in the city.

When discussing how to overcome leadership challenges, Schmitz highlighted a key advantage of public sector work: the collaborative sharing of information. "The nice thing about working in the public sector is a lot of us share information with each other," she said. "It's not proprietary. So maybe you can find another city or another department that's gone through a similar struggle and then ask them for advice."

Schmitz shared practical strategies for her role, including conducting "Stay Interviews" with individual team members to understand their concerns and foster personal connections. She also described Woodbury's unique community engagement approach: requiring neighborhood meetings for development projects to gather early feedback before formal city reviews, allowing developers to adjust plans based on resident input.

For aspiring leaders, Schmitz emphasized that leadership doesn't require a formal title. "Leadership comes in all forms, and it starts at the informal level," she explained. "You can do things by volunteering, by stepping up, stepping out of your comfort zone, asking to take on an assignment that's maybe a little more challenging." She stressed the importance of continuous learning, humility, and viewing challenges as opportunities for growth—lessons she applied when taking her position in early 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began.