Corry Joe Biddle: Attracting Talent through Authentic Leadership in Milwaukee

Corry Joe Biddle - Vice President, Talent & Community Affairs for MMAC

“Milwaukee is for everyone.”

FGPM is thrilled to welcome Corry Joe Biddle to our Community Leader Interview series. Through her work as Vice President of Talent and Community Affairs for the Milwaukee Metro Association of Commerce, she uplifts up-and-coming talent in the workplace and advocates for a more inclusive corporate landscape.

As the Executive Director for FUEL Milwaukee, Corry Joe brings Milwaukee’s young leaders  together to showcase all Milwaukee has to offer, both as a community and as an enriching place to start one’s career.

The intersection  of these missions is where Corry Joe finds her calling, and expertise. 

In Part I of this Community Leader Interview, Corry Joe discusses:

• The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, its mission, and her role as Vice President, Talent & Community Affairs

• The importance of attracting and supporting workplace talent after 5pm

• The Region of Choice Initiative (2018 - 2024): A city-wide research initiative, involving 125 employees at 130 companies, examining how the lived pain points of segregation impacts Milwaukee businesses, anchored in two goals to (1) analyze and improve how Black and Brown talent was hired into management positions and (2) elevate and support Black and Brown talent in the Milwaukee workforce as a whole.

  • Through employee interviews and analysis of company processes (both operational and social), the data-driven Initiative challenged business leadership to identify gaps in their actual practices and unpack the why of their employment practices.

  • Looking forward, Corry Joe discusses how the findings from the Initiative can lead to more meaningful human connection, both at work and as a community

In Part II of this Community Leader Interview, Corry Joe discusses:

• The mission and impact of FUEL Milwaukee, a professional organization dedicated to inviting young professionals, especially those new to Milwaukee, to become part of Milwaukee’s culture and community

  • How FUEL Milwaukee creates emotional connection to our city, passes down historical knowledge, and expands careers through niche access and information sharing, in unconventional networking settings

In Part III of this Community Leader Interview, Corry Joe discusses:

• How being the face of talent acquisition at the MMAC and the Executive Director of FUEL Milwaukee reflects into her sense of self

  • How authenticity is key to nurturing charisma and creating trust, including a story from early in her career where offering a challenging perspective raised the bar for an event and deepened a mission connection

• Developing authentic leadership, and how the freedom of authentic leadership exponentially expands potential and creativity

In Part IV of this Community Leader Interview, Corry Joe discusses:

• Her best advise for young professionals (and what NOT to do as you begin your career)

  • Hint: Read the pre-reads!

• Holding ourselves to the highest standard, in order to perform at the highest level

• What she is most excited about for the future of Milwaukee

• Plus: A quick moment of cultural appreciation

Drop “FUEL” in the Comments below to encourage Corry Joe to write a book!

Panelist:

Corry Joe Biddle, Vice President, Talent & Community Affairs for MMAC ; Executive Director, FUEL Milwaukee

www.mmac.org

www.fuelmilwaukee.org

Moderator:

Molly Madonia, Founder and President, First Generation Professionals of Milwaukee Inc.

Recorded Monday, July 21, 2025

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