How the Invok Brands CEO Sees Leadership

By Anne Marie Pagliacci , Partner, CEO, Invok Brands

In my mind, Leadership must come from the heart. It’s not a title or a set of responsibilities. It starts with trust.

It’s simple. Just assume you can trust people and allow them to prove you right or wrong. I learned this early in my career from a fantastic mentor who gave me enough freedom to discover and make mistakes. I did well and found the confidence that I needed to push forward. He started with trust, and now I do too.

Here’s how I see it. Imagine walking a path behind guides holding lanterns. The lanterns represent trust. My leaders led me, and now I carry the lantern for our staff. The more I can light their way, the better they can be. That’s my goal as a leader.

I have always wanted to be a partner in my own agency, and now I am! As a shareholder, you have a responsibility to deliver profits, but you also have a staff to look after, so the work you do is also for them. I come to work each day because I enjoy what I do, and when I see our team doing well and enjoying their work, I know I have succeeded as a leader.?