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.

Michelle Davenport

I’ve had TWO bosses that were amazing and taught me different lessons in life. My first boss out of school, Fred Trimble, was a boss that saw something in me and believed in me. I was an Event Management Assistant (he was a Senior Event Manager) and anytime he had an important meeting, he would tell me to put my business jacket on and follow him. Read more>>

Kristen Campbell

It was a rough go when I first started at Citrus. I was misunderstood, untrained and expected to act as my predecessor even though I had vastly different strengths and experience. Two years into this experience and I became blessed with a new Dean, John Vaughan. Immediately he showed me that he understood where my gifts lie. Read more>>

Dora Endre

I think the first really good boss that I had was a producer back in early 2020. It is surprisingly rare to find a supervisor or boss who makes all their employees, both cast and crew, feel safe, nurtured and encouraged. It was a great collaboration because he was decisive, clear and firm with the budget, timelines, schedules, creative material and casting. Read more>>

MeMe Williams

I was introduced to Marcell Dareus ( formal Alabama football #57/ NFL Buffalo Bills #99 / Jacksonville Jaguars #99) while I was doing events and promotions at Martinis Ultra Lounge in Hoover Alabama in early 2000. He said he was looking for a personal assistant so I took on the challenge and became his PR/ PA. It was a challenge at first because I had my kids to take care of, the lounge and still run my business Dzire Inc. Read more>>

Latifah Bucknor

If it wasn’t for the manager I had at my last spa position for 6.5 years lowkey showing and teaching me little things along the way, I may not have been as equipped once I stepped out to build my own business as I am today. The understanding or theory behind being a massage therapist offering spa services and what guests expect from a spa experience, what it should look like and operate like as well. Read more>>

Emily Marshall

The best boss i ever had shaped me to be a better person, employee and manager by giving me everything he had learned in his practice – and I still use what I experienced working for him in my practice 20 years later. Starting out in Hospitality Interior Design at the #1 firm in the country (at the time) knowing only what my schooling taught me was intimating. I wanted to be successful and “make it” but without real world experience (outside of summer internships) i was lost. Read more>>

Kelsie Shriver

My current boss/mentor, Cody Schneider is easily the best person I’ve ever worked for and beside. He is a kind, patient, and respectful leader and friend. I began my tattoo apprenticeship under him at his shop Scarlet Raven Tattoo in the summer of 2017, and have worked the majority of my career there (with the exception of the 8 months that I lived in South Carolina) with him and our great team of artists. Read more>>

Erica Bream

This story is not so much about the best boss I *ever* had, but the first boss to be a truly great mentor for me. Read more>>

Oji Singletary

Where I feel like I have learned the most from previous job experiences and various bosses is actually from people who I worked for that I didn’t have positive experiences with. I’ve worked for and with people who showed poor leadership and bad communication which made me question how certain individuals became a boss. And unfortunately for whatever reason I’ve encountered several of these situations throughout my career in the entertainment business which I’ve used as MOTIVATION to be different. Read more>>

Raquel Knoell

The best boss I ever had was Guy Hubbard. As a 23 year old working on Wall Street, he taught me so much about business and life. It began with the interview process where he asked me to sell him the pen he was holding. He said, “I know it writes, sell me on what else it can do” I remember that being the first time I was really pushed to think creatively about how products and services were sold. Read more>>

Denise Berger

It is very fitting that I am telling this story today, on 9/11. I used to work in New York City for a large fortune 500 company in risk management. We were the global group that handled all the overseas insurance needs of multinationals. One day, my company merged with another company and they too had a global team. Read more>>

Doug Murphy

I’ve been fortunate to have had several amazing bosses! Read more>>