Bridging the Divide: Practical Leadership in a Polarized Era
In this speech, former New Hampshire Governor CHRIS SUNUNU shares insights from his experience as a moderate Republican governing with broad bipartisan support in New Hampshire. He discusses his pragmatic approach to policymaking, emphasizing the importance of collaboration across party lines to achieve meaningful solutions.
Governor Sununu highlights examples of successful initiatives where fiscal conservatism and centrist social stances came together to create balanced, effective policies, inspiring leaders and organizations to navigate political and ideological differences while delivering results that benefit all stakeholders.
Smart Growth: Balancing Fiscal Responsibility, Economic Prosperity, and Environmental Stewardship
Former New Hampshire Governor CHRIS SUNUNU explores the interplay between sound fiscal policies, business-friendly economic strategies, and environmentally responsible governance. Drawing from his tenure as Governor of New Hampshire, he shares how policies supporting economic growth can coexist with environmental sustainability.
Governor Sununu discusses the importance of fostering innovation, supporting local businesses, and implementing green initiatives that drive long-term prosperity. This speech offers a roadmap for leaders seeking to create a thriving, sustainable future through balanced and practical decision-making.
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Governor Chris Sununu believes good leadership creates consensus
Former Governor of New Hampshire CHRIS SUNUNU believes that the Republican Party represents a “big tent,” as he shared in an interview with Politico. Governor Sununu worked closely with both the Trump and Biden administrations, leading his hope for collaboration across parties. Governor Sununu’s insights into ideological collaboration and state-level political dynamics offer unique perspectives on how to navigate the complexities of building consensus.
Watch Governor Chris Sununu speak at the Hoover Institution >>
Christopher T. Sununu served four terms as the 82nd Governor of the State of New Hampshire and after choosing not to seek a fifth term, he returned to the private sector in January 2025.
As one of the most popular governors in the country and host of the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, he is recognized as a national leader in his common sense approach to government and balanced political navigation of otherwise polarized political waters.
Governor Sununu has appeared in over 1,000 nationally televised interviews including multiple appearances on shows like The View and Real Time with Bill Maher. He has spoken to hundreds of organizations across the country including corporations, think tanks, universities, conferences and political organizations. Governor Sununu worked closely with both the Trump and Biden administrations.
Under his leadership his state was ranked as one of the best states for business and growth in the United States, #1 state in the country for both personal and economic freedoms, and most notably, #1 for best return on taxpayer investment – The most efficient government in America.
These successes all come as the result of building a great team, empowering senior leadership and creating metrics of accountability. Too often in large organizations, public and private sector, the checks and balances with those systems get muddled with bureaucracy and communication breaks down.
As Governor during the COVID pandemic, he took a balanced approach: maintaining the health and safety of Granite Staters as top priority while keeping the state's economy strong. As a result, New Hampshire ranked among the safest states for Covid yet maintained one of the strongest economies in the country and the only state in America that saw more business startups than company closures in 2020.
At the conclusion of his tenure in office, the Granite State is the fastest growing state in the Northeast, has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, and has the lowest child poverty rate of any state in America.
Personal & Professional Background
As an environmental engineer, Chris worked for ten years cleaning up hazardous waste sites across the country before moving into business and real estate consulting with his family’s business, Sununu Enterprises. There he dedicated four years to business plan development, financial modeling, startup financing and commercial real estate development primarily in the hotel and leisure sector.
In 2010, Chris bought Waterville Valley Ski Resort in Waterville Valley, NH. For the next six years Chris successfully serves as the CEO, General Manager and Chairman of the Board of the 4-season resort. Operations consisted nearly 800 employees working in areas of hotels, commercial real estate, ski operations, conference center, multiple restaurants and summer amenities.
Chris grew up in Salem, NH. He graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) with a BS in Civil/Environmental Engineering in 1998. Chris completed a five-month through-hike of the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia. He lives in Newfields, NH with his wife, Valerie, and their three children.
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