Positive leadership goes beyond inspirational quotes and team-building events. It shapes company culture, drives employee engagement, and ultimately, defines whether a workplace thrives or stalls. But what does positive leadership look like at some of the top woman-led companies?
In a recent Lioness and Innovation Women event, “The Woman-Led Workplace Advantage: Examining Positive Leadership,” three women leaders shared the behind-the-scenes strategies that propel their teams forward. Watch the full recording or read on for insights from Jessica Baker Daily (CEO, Halff), Sarah Bunker (Organizational Development Manager, MSU Federal Credit Union), and Molly Williams (COO of Matick Automotive Group).
How our panelists embody positive leadership:
Clarity and accountability
Williams champions clear, achievable daily goals with Matick Automotive Group’s “win the day” strategy. Rather than broad, monthly objectives, each department sets specific daily targets — like car sales or service appointments — and visibly tracks progress.
“People show up excited about the wins for each department,” Williams said. “We needed to find a way to create teams and create wins that had people showing up and being part of something bigger than themselves.”
This daily approach boosts accountability, keeps motivation high and has empowered employees, including women, to advance into key leadership roles in an industry historically dominated by men.
Empowering teams with strength-based leadership
Bunker, as part of MSU Federal Credit Union, is a strong proponent of the CliftonStrengths assessment. Developed by Gallup, this tool helps employees determine their top strengths and talents, improving communication and teamwork.
“Everyone was so excited to learn more about each other authentically,” she said.
Her team also developed MSU’s leadership competency model featuring nine key leadership areas, grouped into three categories: “lead self,” “lead others,” and “lead outcomes.” This framework guides leaders, facilitating effective coaching and the creation of more tailored leadership programs.
“Culture is a long game. You can’t measure it just on paper. It shows in everyday interactions,” Bunker emphasized.
Embrace feedback and growth
Jessica Baker Daily is Halff’s CEO, but she’s also embraced the role of “Chief Listener.” She actively seeks employee feedback — even when it’s unpleasant.
After discovering that employees felt disconnected from company-wide initiatives, she held focus groups and listening sessions to gather detailed feedback. Baker Daily then streamlined internal communications into a simple, bi-weekly email to improve engagement and information sharing. Without asking, she could never have improved on the current system.
“You have to get comfortable being uncomfortable,” Baker Daily explained.
The real impact of positive leadership
Across industries and organizational contexts, all panelists agreed that true positive leadership requires investing in your people. Williams shared examples of Matick employees rising through the ranks thanks to dedicated mentoring and coaching. Bunker highlighted measurable improvements in engagement scores from strengths-based initiatives and listening sessions. Bunker Daily stressed how feedback-driven communication dramatically boosted employee satisfaction and overall company cohesion.
Above all else — you need to remain authentic and transparent. “Be real about who you are. Your team will come along with you,” said Bunker.
Our panel is chock-full for more advice and insight. Be sure to watch the full recording!
Register for The Woman-Led Workplace Advantage: Designing Meaningful Work
Employees who find meaning in their work are more engaged, innovative and committed. But what does meaningful work actually look like? And how do you create it?
In this panel discussion, leaders from our 2024 Woman-Led Top Workplaces will share how they design roles, shape company culture and align work with purpose to drive both individual and organizational success.
Add Comment