On Leadership: Plowman Interviews Mayor Indya Kincannon on Being an Authentic Leader
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon joined Chancellor Donde Plowman for the fourth interview in her On Leadership series. The two discussed the importance of being your authentic self, seeking advice when facing challenges, and why the partnership between the city and the university is so valuable.
“I’m a true believer that the Vols bring people together—the academics, but then the sports. It’s a very uniting thing, and in Knoxville we bleed orange,” she said, recalling the parade downtown following the Men’s College World Series win in 2024. “I was really proud of our collaboration, proud of the players, and it was amazing how many people came out.”
Kincannon described her path to becoming mayor, including the formative influence of her father—whose career in civil service led him to become head of the US Census Bureau—and early leadership opportunities as the captain of her high school and college tennis teams.
Kincannon pointed to former Knoxville Mayors Bill Haslam and Madeline Rogero as effective leaders she has worked with and learned from, even though their leadership styles differ from her own.
“There is more than one way to lead,” she said. “What works well for a particular mayor might not be my style. I do think it’s really important for leaders to be true to themselves. That’s one thing I think Governor Haslam has and Madeline Rogero as well.
“What I present to the public, to you, to the community at large, and who I really am, they’re very close together. It’s not a facade.”
View the full interview at the link below.