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.

P.D. Underhill

The best boss I ever had had a ridiculous name—so ridiculous, in fact, I burst out laughing when I first heard it. A full, hearty belly laugh—the kind you hope adds years to your life.

But what really made him great wasn’t his name. It was that he let me do my job—and had my back while I did it. On his very first day as the new Chief Geologist, he didn’t come in trying to prove something. Instead, he asked me to take him into the field and show him how we worked. He didn’t change a thing. He listened. He learned. That was his best quality: humility. Read more>>

Dr. Makabi Parker

One of the most impactful leaders I’ve ever worked with was someone who truly saw me before fully knowing me. In a position where he didn’t have to take a chance, he did. He believed in my capabilities, my integrity, and my leadership potential. He recognized someone who was ready for more, and he used his influence to help open a door I had worked hard to approach. Read more>>

Jacqueline Preisendorfer

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” Great leaders are rare and invaluable. Amazing leaders recognize that it’s about the people they are leading, who they are as whole people and not just what they can do for the organization. Getting to experience one who challenged and encouraged me and others in little and big ways was life changing. Knowing that the team I was working with was well cared for and was being heard on the small every day details helped propel change and develop a more positive culture. Read more>>