In Small Giants companies, leaders are showing up to support their team members — but leaders need support, too. As we navigate these uncertain times and position ourselves for the future, we need trusted, like-minded people we can turn to as a sounding board. The Small Giants Community is built on relationships between purpose-driven leaders, and there are countless stories of leaders positively impacting one another’s organizations, often in profound and lasting ways.
Now more than ever, those relationships are proving to be an irreplaceable source of support for founders, CEOs, and emerging leaders alike. In these Stepping Up stories, read about the powerful relationships between leaders in the Small Giants Leadership Academy and the impact it’s having on their organizations during this time.
MICHELLE LAUWERS | Zolman Restoration
“Whatever is going on in the world, our work doesn’t stop,” says Michelle Lauwers, VP of Finance at Zolman. “Our team is used to dealing with hazards, but this is different — the virus can’t just be washed off. It’s an invisible risk factor, and the fear was palpable.”
ROY HERNANDEZ | Geil Enterprises, Inc.
“I am a quiet leader who believes in letting others lead and helping them develop. But I’ve been doing a lot of work to build my leadership, and in this moment, I felt compelled to step up and do more.”
Emily & Doug Kueker | Vivayic
With 33 team members distributed across 13 states, Vivayic’s values connect them to one another and empower each individual to make the right decisions for the company.
ROB DUBE & JOSH BRITTON | imageOne
Leaning into their cultural foundation of financial transparency, leaders at imageOne asked team members for their input on how to survive this crisis. They received nearly one hundred cost-cutting and revenue-generating ideas. Ultimately, the team agreed to all take deep pay cuts to keep the company together.
CHRISTINA MOORE | Taylor English
A textbook example of how this crisis can impact every aspect of our lives, Christina suddenly has four school-aged children at home and her husband is a physician working on the frontlines of the crisis. But Christina’s perspective offers a sunnier outlook on the challenges we’re facing right now.
These leaders are part of Small Giants companies — companies that prioritize their purpose and culture and invest in their emerging leaders.
One way Small Giants companies invest in their next generation of leaders is by enrolling them in the Small Giants Leadership Academy. This robust one-year certification program consists of virtual learning sessions with expert leaders and coaches, an extensive resource library, on-the-ground meetups with your cohort, a leadership assessment, and your event ticket to two Small Giants gatherings.