Service as Infrastructure: The Heart of a Blissful Business with Julie Budkowski & Brian Baird
What if service was not just an action, but infrastructure?
What if the most successful organizations and even societies were built on a foundation of contribution, connection, and purpose?
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we will welcome Julie Budkowski, Managing Director, and Brian Baird, Founder & Executive Director of the National Museum and Center for Service, two leaders dedicated to elevating service as a powerful force for community impact, leadership, and civic life.
Julie brings more than 15 years of experience in education and nonprofit leadership, having scaled mission-driven programs across more than 4,000 schools. Brian, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a clinical psychologist, has spent his career witnessing how service shapes communities, leadership, and democratic institutions.
As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, their work also highlights a deeper idea, that service is not just important to business, but essential to a thriving democracy.
In Service as Infrastructure: The Heart of a Blissful Business, we explore:
• Why service can be a foundational element of business and society
• How leaders can embed service into their organizations
• The connection between service, purpose, and democratic values
• Lessons from scaling mission-driven initiatives
• What it means to build organizations and communities that truly serve
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Tullio Siragusa
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
Service is not just something we do. It is something we build into how we lead, operate, and contribute.
Founder & Executive Director
Brian Baird, founder and Chair of the National Museum and Center for Service, served twelve years in the U.S. House of Representatives (WA-3, 1999–2011). He holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and has worked as a clinician, author, university president, and advisor to the National Academies. Throughout his career, including visits with service members and community leaders at home and abroad, he has witnessed the profound impact of those who dedicate themselves to others—an experience that continues to shape his leadership and vision for NMCFS.
Managing Director
Julie Budkoski brings over 15 years of experience in education and nonprofit management, with a focus on scaling innovative, mission-driven programs. She holds an M.Ed from Griffith University and a Certificate in Change Management from Cornell University. Her leadership experience includes serving as Director of Programs at WE Charity, where she managed service learning initiatives across 4,000+ schools on the West Coast. Julie’s expertise supports strategic growth, operational excellence, and program development for the 250 & Beyond initiative, with a focus on empowering service and fostering meaningful community impact.
