When Phyllis Randall, the chair-at-large for the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, walks into her office, she carries the lessons of those who fought so she could lead and those she hopes will have more opportunities in the future.
In the latest “Connect with County Leaders” podcast, Randall and Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill discuss her background and influence in local, regional and state-level government. This episode is the first in a series of four honoring Black History Month and the regional leaders who shaped opportunity through perseverance and purpose.
Randall’s Leadership Philosophy
As the first person of color elected to chair a county board in Virginia, Randall frames her leadership not in titles or policies, but in service, mentorship and the effect on the people around her.
“I owe two groups of people,” she said. “The people that came before me, who fought the fights that I don't have to fight. But also, the women and people who will be coming after me. You never go through a door and then close it behind you. You open that door wider and invite as many people in as you can.”
Randall, who has lived in Loudoun County for more than 30 years, began her career as a mental health therapist working with justice-involved youth and adults. She witnessed young people navigating difficult circumstances, which taught her that that systems and policies have consequences. She believed there could be a better way and wanted to implement improvements.
Her grounding in human behavior and accountability shaped how Randall approaches public service, particularly at the local level, where she believes governance works best when ideology takes a back seat to outcomes.
“Local issues are not partisan issues,” Randall said. “I think it's important to try to find common ground and try to have common goals. I can build all the roads and all the schools and all the data centers and all the buildings, but if I don't build people, then I failed at the job.
Beyond Loudoun County
Her outcomes-driven philosophy has guided her work beyond Loudoun County. Three governors of both parties appointed Randall to multiple state boards, including the Virginia Fair Housing Board and the State Board of Corrections. She said she sees those roles as an extension of her local leadership, bringing Loudoun’s perspective to statewide conversations while ensuring state policies reflect the needs of her residents.
“Whatever I can do in Loudoun County, I want to benefit the rest of the state,” she said, reinforcing her belief that leadership should scale outward without losing its local roots.
For Randall, moving between local, regional and state leadership requires staying true to her personal values, whether the work is difficult or unpopular.
Instead, she anchors herself in a daily discipline, asking herself three questions that sustain her through the inevitable criticism that comes with leadership. Stepping into public life, she said, means accepting that reality.
“People who are going to be detractors are going to be detractors,” Randall said. “I know who I am and I know whose I am, and that carries me through some very hard times.”
Connect With County Leaders Podcast
The “Connect with County Leaders” podcast is an opportunity to meet and connect with Fairfax County leaders, to learn about the latest county news and information, and hear more on specific programs and services in Fairfax County. For the month of February, the podcast is focused each week on a different leader whose story honors Black History Month.
Listen or watch past episodes of “Connect with County Leaders” on SoundCloud, on YouTube and on Channel 16’s podcast on demand page. Listen to other Fairfax County podcasts or additional audio content at Fairfax County Government Radio.
SIGN UP FOR DAILY EMAIL HEADLINES