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.

Loretta Pena

Early on, many years before entering the art world, I had an amazing boss and mentor Connie Norwick. I was an ordinary worker. I never cared to be seen. I just wanted to work hard, be noticed for a job well done and perhaps promote within the company, however, my anxiety and insomnia were a constant in my life and just knew in my heart that these obstacles would get in the way. Promoting within the company would mean responsibilities in training others, participating in meetings and being a leader in the department. These are all things that I was deathly afraid of. This boss of mine recognized something in me that no one else saw. She approached me one day and encouraged me to pursue a promotion for a job that I thought I could never do. She was so convincing that I applied for it and got the position. She did not stop there. She was with me every step of the way. This is where my art journey actually began and I didn’t even know it. I was in charge of training the entire staff. She encouraged me to think outside the box and train the staff how I saw fit. So I created funny, interesting visuals to assist me in my training. I created a visual for every task. She did not only encourage me, she encouraged everyone. All of us loved her. There has not been a boss since her, that compared to the kindness and leadership she exuded. She was sent from heaven. Read more>>

Dana Dang

When I was in undergrad at Texas A&M University, I was a social media intern for the flagship @TAMU accounts. I worked there for two years and it was the best example I have had so far of what a healthy and happy work environment is. Nick Wilson and Jacob Svetz were the two people who supported me, advocated for me, and believed in me. They constantly encouraged me to be as creative as I could. I went into the position for content creation and left with graphic design experience. They trusted my skills and judgment to tell stories through TAMU and that gave me the confidence I have now to do the same for other people. Nick and Jacob saw me as human first – always have and always will. Their empathy is what made the @TAMU social accounts a safe space for students to see themselves represented. That EVERYONE was an Aggie no matter their background. Read more>>

Melanie Adams

In 2014 I was a fresh-faced college grad looking to start my career in architecture. I hadn’t had much luck in my job search thus far, not many firms were hiring in my area and the positions I did apply for turned me down for not having enough experience. A close friend of mine was flying home to San Francisco to visit family and asked if I would like to come along. I decided to set up a few interviews while I was there to see if I would have better luck. The first two firms I interviewed with didn’t hire me and I was feeling pretty discouraged about my prospects. My last interview was with a firm called Gelfand Partners. They specialized in designing schools, assisted living facilities, affordable housing, and transitional homes for the unhoused. It was everything I had dreamed of – using my degree to make a difference. Read more>>

Sydni Cook

The best boss I ever had was Stone Stafford, who hired me as an intern at Icon Studios when I was just 17. Working there from 2019 to 2020, I had the incredible opportunity to learn about the music business firsthand. Stone entrusted me with filing studio records and managing various business tasks, which was a significant responsibility that I truly appreciated. His trust in me not only taught me a lot about organization and professionalism but also gave me the confidence to tackle challenges head-on. Read more>>