Many business owners we’ve spoken with didn’t start with a huge team on day one. They had to learn how to be a good boss, but the problem is the books on leadership are often highly theoretical and so we wanted to hear practical examples of what it means to be a good boss. So, we asked some brilliant, insightful folks to share stories about the best bosses they’ve had.

Bri Nichols

I’ve only ever had a few supervisors as I was not in the workforce long before deciding to become an entrepreneur. However, in that short time, I encountered some of the best supervisors and some of the worst. I don’t particularly like to use the word “boss” because I believe that ultimately we are our own bosses and maintain autonomy over our bodies and our decisions. So these people, I simply reference as supervisors or managers which are their appropriate titles language is huge for me. Read more>>

Cheryl Dempsey

Before I opened a business, I was fortunate enough to have a great leader/mentor, that recognized my potential and has been a sounding board for me since, as an Entreprenuer. She encouraged me to take on new roles that were often uncomfortable, to expand my leadership experience and learn new skills. I appreciate her investment in me as young college graduate, and even more as a business owner. Read more>>

Kaori Hiwasa

One of the most impactful mentors I’ve had is Ellenore Scott. When I moved in New York from Japan, I had the chance to meet Ellenore in person after having seen her on TV(So You Think You Can Dance). At the time, I had mostly focused on street dance and hadn’t explored contemporary styles much, so encountering contemporary dance in America was already a fresh experience. But what truly captivated me was how Ellenore’s style went beyond the typical boundaries of contemporary dance, creating something much more intriguing and unique. Taking her class, I found myself completely drawn in. Read more>>

Veronica Cianfrano

I’ve been very lucky to work for some incredible humans. I worked for a dear friend of mine who started a small business with her partner. Like many creatives, she has had her share of terrible jobs so she used that as a guide for what not to do as a boss. Her empathy made her a really communicative team leader. She also took the time to get to know everyone and let them take on roles that their strengths would let them excell at. The other person that comes to mind ran the pre college program at the University of the Arts. Read more>>

Beatrice Zuluaga

The surgeon I work with now, Dr Dev Vibhakar. Even tho he’s younger than me and I thought I could teach him a thing or two about the business when we started working together over seven years ago, I was surprised how much he ended up teaching me about life mostly. He came into my life when I needed to learn patience and more understanding of people. As we navigated the complexities of our daily routines, I found that Dr. Vibhakar had an uncanny ability to connect with patients on a level I had never witnessed before. His calm demeanor and genuine empathy drew people in, making them feel at ease even in the most daunting circumstances. Read more>>