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.

Brett Buehler

The best boss I’ve ever had by far has been myself. However, I’m not entirely sure it would have been possible without having some extremely strong and positive literary and musical heroes. I believe in that influence more than the people I’ve actually worked with in person. That being said, I’ve worked with some exceptionally tough and brilliant people in the Fire Department, however none of whom were my direct boss in any way. Read more>>

Judith Gonzalez Reyes

My previous General Manager Evonne was a great leader, trainer, mentor and now a great friend. She was my boss at a coffee shop I previously worked at. She got to know me so well and understood the person I was, not just as an employee. She had so much patience with me as I was not a morning person before I became a mother, so I was a little rough walking into my 4-5am shift. I remember she would give me a few minutes to drink coffee and “wake up” before she allowed me to interact with customers. I have always considered myself a hard worker but I can admit my customer service was not always great. She taught me how to interact with customers in a friendly matter, listen to customers and how to respond. Her upselling tips are being used in my truck until this day. I’ve never told her but while I am working often in the coffee truck I often hear her voice in my head. “Judy, smile!” “Judy! I love you girl but you can’t look like you hate it here”. I also remember operating skills that I still use today. She always made sure I was having a good day and would do whatever it took to make it happen. This mainly consisted of buying me pizza, breakfast sandwiches or Hot Cheetos haha. She taught me that no matter how great our products are, it is our customer service and interaction that make returning customers a “regular”. I stopped working with her about 6 years ago and until this day we are in contact. She has witnessed ASU graduation, my wedding, my baby shower and other accomplishments throughout the past 8 years. I was fortunate enough to have her attend Holy Frap’s one year anniversary this past May. She will forever hold a special place in my heart and will always be someone who pushed me to be my best at what I love to do which is now owning and operating my own Coffee truck! Read more>>

Elisabeth Marette

Vincent stands out as the best boss I’ve ever had, and having him guide me at the beginning of my professional journey was both an extraordinary stroke of luck and an unforeseen challenge. It was fortunate because, thanks to him because, under his leadership, I gained early insights into what it truly means to be an exceptional manager—an invaluable lesson that has resonated throughout my career. Simultaneously, it proved challenging as I naively believed that such leadership was the norm, and regrettably, I didn’t encounter many others like him afterward. Read more>>

Tyler Jackson

I’ve been blessed to have a plethora of impactful mentors and leaders, but the one who stands out was my mentor in my first job after college, Jenna. Jenna was a phenomenal leader because she led by example; always prompt, always willing to help even with a large workload, a wealth of knowledge, and a great attitude no matter what! Read more>>

leejames designs

What a interesting question. I would have to say my Dad played a significant role in shaping not only my artistic abilities but also my approach to life. A mentor, especially one with artistic prowess, can impart invaluable lessons that extend far beyond technical skills. Here are a few ways my dad may have contributed to my development as an artist and individual: Read more>>