We often hear about bad bosses, but we think it’s important to talk about the good ones because we hope that by giving folks examples of how to be a good boss we can inspire future bosses to be better, to do better for their employees and all stakeholders.

Verónica A Pérez

I am lucky enough to work as an Administrative Assistant at the Black-led arts non-profit Indigo Arts Alliance in Portland, Maine. I was introduced to Indigo through a residency program I did there called the David C. Driskell Black Seed Studio in 2021. A few years later, I applied for a job there and have worked there for the past two-plus years. The whole organization – and all of the other people who work there – is based on an approach of intentionality, kindness, and mindfulness. It is a 180 from every other institutions and organizations I have worked for. I work with and alongside people here and contribute when I come to work. Read more>>

Heather Bennett

My last ever boss before I started my own business was so impactful not only in how I run my own business now, but how I live my life. She always felt like more of an older sister to me than anything–always being available for advice and gently guiding me in the right direction. I can’t tell you how many evenings we would stay past close talking about best business practices, nutrition, being moms, and bettering ourselves as people. She put a lot of effort into team building and making sure we all felt appreciated and supported as part of her team. She was the most genuine and caring boss I’ve ever had. We still keep in touch and see each other in person about once a year, even though she lives a few states away! Read more>>

Lanette Denton

The best boss I ever had met me at my worst. I remember I was in sweats and a tee-shirt. I hadn’t showered in days. I had 2 major life events happening at the same time. I had a grand daughter that was having major surgery and I had a nephew that was in a bad motorcycle wreck that had been in a coma for 9 days at this point. I looked like complete hell when I got the call for an interview. She didn’t care she seen past all that I was going through and just seen me as a person and focused on the fact that I just showed up. She truly met me where I was at. Read more>>

Sarah Bell-goedde

I worked for a large “chain” appliance repair company but the owners did not treat any of us as if we were just employees they treated us as family, we had 2 times a year company bbqs, they did nice things for us when they could afford it and made sure we were all taken care of. I loved so much working for them and learned how I wanted to run my business which at the time I never intended on starting, however upon opening up Lone Star Appliance Repair LLC I knew that is exactly how I wanted to run my business. Read more>>

Eliza Hunter

Back in 2013 I set out to pursue my enduring interest in bread baking. I was a year and a half out of college, living in Vermont and finishing up some seasonal work. I was not too sure what was next for me but still had this ever growing desire to learn how to make good bread. I had always loved eating bread and it wasn’t until I moved to Vermont that I tasted REAL good bread. My interest peaked as I toured many of the regional bakeries in the the area and I realized I was at a point in life where I could make a change and maybe make a go of being a baker. How and where, I knew not. After realizing that many of the bakeries I loved so much were small operations and didn’t have the means to take on an apprentice. I realized needed to move elsewhere to get started. Fast forward a few months and I’m on the phone with an old friend who tells me her favorite french bakery, Maison Kayser, just opened their first shop in the upper east side of Manhattan…..and she can house me for free in her grandmother’s house in Queens. Read more>>

Salem Daniel

Fresh out of film school, I moved to Brooklyn and landed my first freelance office PA gig on the Viceland show My House. I had great supervisors on this project, and in many ways, it was my dream job at the time. Giselle Bailey, who was our Senior Producer, wasn’t someone I worked very closely with, but overtime we built a rapport, and I learned that she frequented Ethiopia to visit family, which was a surprise because that’s where I’m from, so we had this unexpected thing in common. When My House wrapped, I ended up moving to LA a few months later, and we didn’t really stay in touch although we followed each other on social media. Fast forward to 2021, mid-pandemic, I had been laid off from a production company, and I was trying to make the most of this time by producing and directing passion projects with friends. Read more>>

Brenna Werme

I have been fortunate to have many amazing mentors/leaders/teachers since I was a teenager. To say that I am grateful would be an understatement and I’d love to speak about all of them, however, since this is chiropractic focused, I feel it is most fitting to talk about my chiropractor and former boss, Dr. Catherine Hondorp. Read more>>