Jodi Ganz (PPS '94): Strategy, Service, Sanford

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It was the Fall of 1989. Jodi Ganz (PPS '94) was walking through Duke's campus as a prospective student. Sanford stood out.

"A Public Policy degree was fairly unique to Duke when I toured campus in the fall of 1989.  I was taken with the idea of a broad major that was more applied and interdisciplinary.  That preference – and the confidence to continue to learn and to assimilate new information and new ideas – continues to echo through my life and my career."

For Jodi today, that broad curiosity isn't just something forgotten from college; it is a guiding principle woven through her dynamic career and extensive volunteer work, particularly her deep commitment to Duke. Currently serving as Co-Chair of DukeNY Regional Board and an Annual Fund Advisory Board member, Jodi embodies the spirit of giving back to the communities she holds dear. Her impressive history of Duke volunteerism started with Phoneathon as an undergrad and has since spanned numerous roles, from reunion committees and the DukeNY Women's Forum Executive Committee to the AAAC, reflecting her dedication to "broadening the base and bringing people in," often through direct, community-driven efforts.

This commitment to practical application and interdisciplinary thinking mirrors the qualities that drew her to Sanford in 1989. She recalls recognizing Sanford's unique makeup even then. At the time, a Duke Institute, Sanford had already established an identity as a hub of collaborative, solution-focused research at Duke. This foundational preference, she notes, "has shaped my career, which itself has been broad and very judgment-driven (rather than narrow and very technical)." 

Today, as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for a mission-driven, family investment firm, Jodi expertly navigates a complex landscape where no two days are the same. Her multifaceted role centers on risk management, demanding that she work across teams to find commercial and practical solutions. One day might involve advising on private investments, charitable gifts, or employment law, while the next focuses on operational infrastructure like HR, IT, and cyber, or the firm's strategy for integrating AI tools. It's a career demanding broad judgment and the ability to solve problems in ways that will work across time (skills she traces back to her Sanford roots). Jodi’s journey powerfully illustrates how a public policy foundation prepares graduates for versatile leadership roles that require both sharp analysis and a deep understanding of human connection.

We recently talked to Jodi about Sanford's place in her personal and professional story.

What impact has Sanford had on your professional and/or personal journey?

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For nearly 30 years, I’ve practiced law – but that was never my plan.  During my junior summer as an undergrad, I worked for the Public Defender in DC as an intern investigator.  Having witnessed firsthand how the systems were failing people – economically, socially, and in the courts – I decided to go to law school but to devote my career to policy work.  While in the end, life had other plans for me, almost daily, I draw on what I learned at Sanford.

I have distinct memories of sitting in the Bryan Center, highlighting passages from The Logic of Collective Action by Mancur Olsen and Lying by Sisela Bok.  A passage from Lying has served as a North Star: “Lying requires a reason, while truth-telling does not.”

Couple that with experiences starting in my PPS 55 intro class (now PPS 155), where, time after time, when they ranked our negotiation results, I was at the top.  Since my Sanford days, I’ve understood that negotiating isn’t about knowing more – it’s about listening better.  Understanding people – and taking the time to learn what drives them and what they need – helps to engender trust.  From there, even tense situations become navigable. 

Put that all together, it’s clear that the skills you learn as a public policy major are broadly applicable; it’s not limited to policy roles.

Why does public policy matter in 2025 and beyond?   

A framework is needed to develop comprehensive long-term policy and planning that will, in the end, inure to everyone’s benefit.   Given the swings between administrations and the polarization of people, the recent actions have been too short-term, too zero-sum.  I am hopeful that Duke’s efforts to teach and promote civil discourse will land with current students.

What is the most interesting highlight so far in your career?

My last decade has been the most rewarding. I moved to a family investment firm that is mission-driven – it has a philanthropic orientation.  Similar to my last firm, I’m the “engine,” but now my career has meaning beyond just a salary and clients; it facilitates charitable initiatives that have a meaningful impact on the greater good. Now that my day job and values align, the work is far more fulfilling. 

Terry Sanford implored students to 'stand for something.'  What do you stand for?

There are so many issues de jour – so rather than choosing one, I’ll say that I stand for maintaining integrity.  Be an honest broker in your dealings.  Take responsibility for things that go sideways. Remember my North Star.

What seeds of change are you planting in your community?

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Our kids are now in their 20s, but from the time they were young, we’ve volunteered. Mostly around food insecurity (soup kitchens, food pantries, delivery of food to housebound people).  It doesn’t need to be weekly, but people should be giving their time regularly.  There is more need than there are people to serve.  So, whether you lead or support, giving time and lending experience should be a mainstay.