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.

Ashley Landers

I’ve been lucky to have great leaders throughout my career. I have no doubt that my success directly stems from their mentorship. While their management styles were all very different, what each of them had in common was the way they exuded confidence in themselves and in turn, in me. They pushed me to be fearless and always had high expectations. They didn’t allow for excuses. They were masters of one-liners that gave me something tangible to evaluate myself and my own career development against. Some of which I still use and repeat today: “Surround yourself with people that are better than you.” “Just do good shit!” “Get out of the way of a good idea.” Really simple ideas but really hard to hold yourself to as a standard every single day. Read more>>

Chelsea Stewart

My story will feel a bit cliche, but it’s true. The best boss I have ever had is my dad. I told you, cliche! So, let’s start from the beginning. Growing up, I always looked up to my dad as I saw him working his a** off day in and day out to give my mom, sister, and me the life we always wanted – a life of comfort, love, and opportunity. But don’t get me wrong, it was not as rosy and dreamy as that may sound. With a strong-willed and hard-working dad comes high expectations and pressure to perform. So, as hard as it was, I constantly worked and committed to achieving the high standards set. Read more>>

Estefany Cespedes

Absolutely, I’d like to share an experience from my earlier career in the home loan industry that has profoundly influenced my journey in the skincare business. During those years, I had the privilege of working in a field where trust was paramount. Clients entrusted me with sensitive and deeply personal financial information, such as their home loans and investments. Under the mentorship of a remarkable leader aka Boss babe, I learned not only the technical aspects of the business but also the art of building trust and rapport with clients. My mentor taught me that trust isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about understanding people’s needs, demonstrating integrity, and providing unwavering support. Read more>>

Johanny Reyes

While pursuing my Masters Degree in Social Work I had the opportunity to work at a Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. In this position, I had the opportunity to grow as an individual and as a professional. I was the Director of Social Services for 8 years under the leadership of my then boss Kelley Rice Schild. Kelley taught me interpersonal and leadership skills that I still use within my day to day. She showed up as a walking billboard of empathy and inspiration. Kelley empowered me in a way that helped me see beyond what I thought I was capable of. Read more>>

Eliza Steinberg

I was extremely fortunate to find a mentor at the very beginning of my career. After graduating from the University of Denver in the fall out of the Great Recession, I was fortunate enough to get a job as a personal assistant to the managing partner of a highly regarded law firm. Incredibly, I am now a shareholder alongside that same managing partner in the same law firm. Read more>>

Gigi Chen

I met artist Kathleen Gilje during my freshman year of School of Visual Arts. She was taking over my first year Studio Drawing class from another teacher who was taking a break. It happened to be that Kathy was looking for an assistant and she invited me to visit her art studio. I was 18 years old at the time and did not even know what that meant. My major at SVA was in Traditional Animation and I was setting my sights on animation internships and possibly a stable studio job when I finished school. Read more>>

Cheyenne Pajardo

Candice Kemp. There is something so unique about growing up with someone and then being fortunate enough to work for them. Candice was one of my very first dance teachers at the age of 2. She is the reason that I not only learned how to dance, but also why I still love dancing. In 2013, I asked if I could shadow her as part of my senior project. I wanted to learn the ins & outs of owning a studio, being a teacher, and also what it meant to lead a group of young minds. She graciously took me under her wing and later onboarded me as part of her teaching staff. My years working for her gave me a new appreciation for the human being she is. Read more>>

Josh Holm

I’ve been blessed to have some amazing bosses which has definitely shaped my leadership style now. I was taught a hard work ethic, patience, and how to execute in high pressure situations. Some bosses that stand out to me are Nicole and Missy from my days in retail. And Mac from H. Lorenzo. Read more>>

Grace Hoag

The best boss I ever had is Pam Meadows during the time I worked as a Gallery Assistant at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley from 2017 through my graduation in 2019. Pam was the first person who ever interviewed me for a job, and I did not get the job at the galleries my first try- my first interview was not great at all. I re-interviewed again the next year, and Pam was so impressed by how much I had improved that she hired me! The next few years Pam taught me everything she knew about gallery installation, art handling, talking to the public about art, and she created opportunities for students to learn directly from visiting artists and professionals. Read more>>

Amanda Finch

The last two years I have been really fortunate to be hired to manage , direct and provide all of the entertainment for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC. For me it was such a validating feeling, because they could have chosen any production company and they decided to go with mine and they also trusted me to provide everything as planned including the costuming details that matched the aesthetic and the clients vision. Read more>>

Latoya Foster

My most incredible boss was the late Dr. Dennis Birenbaum. He was the owner of Texas Hematology and Oncology. He was a oncologist and special blood disorder Dr. He would always tell me not to be one dimensional, keep learning and soaking knowledge up. Work hard perfect your craft, remain humble,and keep your spirit and you will go far! Read more>>

Margaret Curry

In my late twenties, after a decade of it being my “side gig,” I left the restaurant industry, a bit wary and bruised. I started temping and was sent to a graphic design company owned and run by two of the most amazing people I’d ever worked with. They truly appreciated their employees and expressed that appreciation often. They also worked very hard themselves and yet had a great attitude and created a positive environment even when under pressure. Their ethic and style made us feel safe, appreciated, and we looked forward to coming to work each day. Read more>>

Randy Gloss

I’ve had and still have some incredible mentors, to whom I owe so much. So I can surely share a story or anecdote, but please allow me to preface. As a musician I’ve gravitated into a wide orbit, often circumventing commercial opportunities, joking that “I have a career in spite of the music business, and not because of it”. While every now and again I get to stick my toe in those pools and quite grateful for the opportunities when they arise, there have been times where I have actually turned down such “opportunities”, if they didn’t feel right for me for various reasons. Read more>>

Mary Vallarta

Yes, I have. My CFO from a previous company I worked at. She wasn’t my boss but she was clearly a key leader in the company. She started out as a consultant and worked her way up to CFO. She is respected by so many people in the restaurant and hospitality space and she makes it a point to consistently care for her professional relationships with people in the industry. I admire how effective and stellar she is at her job, while still being so compassionate and warm with anyone at the company. She exuded boss energy with the softness and care of the mature feminine. She was so on top of her work while being a present and involved mother to her 2 boys and a supportive wife to her husband. Read more>>

Carli Solomon

The best boss I’ve ever had was actually the worst, she was so unhealthy to work for. This woman made me crazy. She would do things in such a manic and demanding way, but in turn, she taught me the best lessons in business I’ve ever learned. She owned a private label womens clothing company and I was hired to do sales for small single boutiques to large nationwide companies. I very quickly learned that I would be wearing many hats and not only did the sales, but the buying and the correspondence with overseas manufacturers. Read more>>

Stephanie Cheung

My best boss would definitely be Stuart Heir, who hired me to be his assistant when I was 18.5 years old. He gave me the confidence to pursue my passion in food, he encouraged me to voice my opinion, his exact words were “If you don’t speak up, no one is going to hear you.” At the time, I took it literally, and I switched from whispering my words to shouting them. He sent me on my very first business trip in Bangkok, Thailand, when I was only 20 years old. He told me I needed to train a group of seasoned graphic designers on how to utilize Photoshop 5.0. I looked so young then that the designers thought it was some sort of prank, but I pushed through and taught them everything I know. Read more>>

Nancy Sovran

When Wish Upon a Teen designed my daughter, Hope’s hospital room in 2012 just after she had a bone marrow transplant and she was so sick. Having her hospital room made a huge impact on her. I decided to volunteer, I met, Michelle Scerbo, the founder and she was very supportive and very inspiring. She realized that I could help Wish Upon a Teen grow, even before I realized it! She fostered an atmosphere that we could take chances and it’s ok if something didn’t work, it would the next time. Since 2014 I have been the executive director at Wish Upon a Teen and I thank Michelle for getting me this incredible opportunity to make a difference. Read more>>