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Dustee Jenkins on Leading with Grit

25 Jul '25
By The Shift

Image courtesy of Dustee Jenkins

25 Jul '25
By The Shift

Image courtesy of Dustee Jenkins

The Shift highlights women’s stories through the lens of impact. It hopes to contextualize history and inspire action.

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Dustee Jenkins serves as Chief Public Affairs Officer at Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service. She oversees government affairs, content moderation and policy, experiential production and internal and external communications.

The Shift:

Name three women who inspire you

Dustee:

Cathie Black, Willow Bay, and my grandmother Mary Frances

The Shift:

What is the legacy you hope to leave behind as a changemaker and leader in your industry?

Dustee:

I hope my legacy is one [where] being a “doer” matters. It’s proving that success isn’t about titles or who has the loudest voice in the room but about who is willing to do the work. I believe in being the person who shows up first, stays late, and does whatever needs to be done – whether leading a high-stakes strategy session or scraping gum off a chair before an event. If I can inspire others to embrace that mindset—to work with urgency, integrity, and a willingness to do the tough, sometimes unglamorous tasks—I know I will have left something meaningful behind.”

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Dustee Jenkins is honored as part of The Shift’s “90 Plus One” list, which recognizes influential women shaping contemporary culture. With Gloria Steinem featured on the inaugural print cover, the list pays homage to her 91 years of activism by highlighting a powerhouse community of women shifting culture.