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.

Amber L. Gray

I don’t know if I would have ever started my business without first working for Rusty Shelton. I never went to college, and I was a pharmacy technician for 11 years before I had the opportunity to work for Rusty, who had just launched a startup marketing and PR agency. I had zero experience in digital marketing or small business. This sounds crazy now, but in 2010, I had limited experience using a computer and email for professional communication! That said, I have always loved technology and self-help and training books, and I have been a quick learner all my life, so I was able to get up to speed fast enough to bring value early on. Read more>>

Udo Ebulu

She has a heart of gold, and a special place in my heart. A little over a year after I graduated from college, I had yet to land a solid job. My staffing agent landed an interview for me with PBS and I was super excited. Prior to the interview I was nervous. When I met my soon-to-be boss for the first time my nervousness slowly faded away. She had such a sweet and calming aura to her. She created a peaceful mood, putting me at ease throughout. When my agent informed me that I got the job I was ecstatic. Read more>>

Lindsay Regehr and Chelsea Turano

Our best boss is the boss that fired us, which is how we came up with our show, “So Fired.” Typically being fired is viewed as a negative, but we spun it into the positive. Without being fired, we may not have taken the leap to start our show and follow our passion of being entertainers. Each week on our show we take life’s ugly things and turn them into pretty things, called our “So Fire Moments of the Week.” Read more>>

Laurel Ronchetti

I have been extremely fortunate to have not one, but two incredible bosses. Both said bosses, exemplified “lead by example”, and were fully committed to leading, sharing, and teaching, and truly wanted me to succeed. There was no ego, no superiority complex; just respect, guidance, and sharing wisdom. One of the aforementioned bosses, who was like a surrogate father/uncle, not only took the time to teach me, but also instilled the value of honesty and integrity within the workplace and business world (of course in all of life, too), and taught me how to advocate for myself and what was right and just, and not back down; to be confident and assured, even when it felt scary. And, often reminded me of the necessity of balance in life with work and personal life. Read more>>

Tamara Dias

I’ve been fortunate to have a few impactful leaders throughout my career. During my time in school leadership, I actually worked alongside a leader who taught me that regardless of my title, there was no role that was “above me” as a leader. She was a true servant leader, and she taught me to work in partnership with people – rather than considering myself above them. This has absolutely influenced how I lead and how passionate I am about serving the teams I lead. Whether a large or small team, I am always focused on how I’m supporting others. Read more>>