As the General Manager and CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Randy Clarke constantly experiences the unique complexities and challenges of being a leader. In his talk, Randy Clarke dissects what it means to demonstrate great leadership and how to prepare for the unexpected. Randy Clarke, General Manager & CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro), is a visionary leader dedicated to transforming America’s Metro System. Clarke has been relentless in continuous improvements and delivering service excellence, which has led to two consecutive years in ridership growth and recovery. He is focused on being fiscally responsible while working with the WMATA Board to deliver a balanced budget and reduce management costs. The Strategic Transformation Plan, Metro’s guiding priorities, focuses on making Metro a world-class system. Prior to Metro, Clarke led Capital Metro in Austin, securing one of the largest transit referendums in U.S. history. He also held key roles at APTA and MBTA, shaping public transit nationwide. Originally from Nova Scotia, he earned degrees from Acadia University and the University of Southern Maine. Clarke and his wife, both transit enthusiasts, love exploring the region alongside their two dogs, Pepper and Jelly. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx