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"Best Ideas & Key Philosophies" from 2023 Business Leaders of the Year Is it communicated enough? Is it a rallying point? I've had many, many businesses who state they have a mission statement and some even have it posted on walls. Almost no one could state what it was. What are the company's core values? This shouldn't be the Ten Commandments. For a privately held company, values are usually closely aligned to those things that are important to the founder(s). Values that are not just nice to have if you could get them. But values that are a fireable offense if broken. Values help give the team direction in times of uncertainty to ensure the right decision is made. Next, with key management, lay out a 3 to 5 year Strategic Vision Plan and then work backwards, year by year to year one. Identify what's needed to achieve the goal. The strategy and the specific action steps. Again, you need team alignment and involvement to execute the plan via a company/ organization roll out. Make sure they know 'what's in it for me' (WIIFM). You can't execute anything without a team that all works together, all headed in the same direction. To ensure the mission, values and strategic plan stays front and center, you need to communicate, communicate, communicate and when you think you've communicated enough, communicate some more. If you get the team environment right, you develop a strong positive culture. And as the great business guru Peter Drucker stated, 'culture eats strategy for breakfast'. Business Leader of the Year (Small business) Jennifer Hylton, Executive director, Counseling & Assessment, Clinic of Worcester, LLC Leadership: True leaders nurture like-minded individuals to become leaders too. Leadership is about identifying and developing individuals who share our passion and vision, empowering them to carry our legacy forward to the next generation. By sharing knowledge and wisdom, we ensure that the flame of our efforts will continue to inspire and never fade away. Wellbeing: Success isn't the only thing that matters in life; it's also about creating lasting memories that bring us happiness and contentment. By prioritizing our inner happiness, we lay the foundation upon which we can build our success. Strive to cultivate your inner happiness and let it guide you towards a fulfilling life. Listen: Wisdom comes from listening to the ideas and perspectives of others. Let us remain humble, acknowledging that we do not know everything. The universe speaks to us in many voices, and we must be open to ideas that challenge our own. Gratitude: Gratitude is the key to unlocking the doors of abundance and prosperity. We should be thankful for the kindness and favors that have been shown to us, no matter how small. Our attitude of gratitude will determine the outcome of our endeavors. Positive Thinking: Our thoughts create our reality, and so let us believe that only the best will come to us, even amid trials and challenges. There is always goodness hidden in every situation, and it is up to us to find it. Give Your Best: Excellence is not a one-time achievement, but a habit that we must cultivate in every aspect of our lives. Give more than is expected, for it is better to overdo than to underperform. Take Risks: Fear and doubt can be powerful adversaries, do not let them hold us back from achieving our goals. We must be brave and take risks, for it is only by trying that we can achieve success. Kindness: Let us be a source of encouragement and support for those around us, especially for those who may be struggling. We are only as strong as the weakest among us, and so let us strive to lift others up and teach them how to be their best selves. Business Leader of the Year (Large business) David Klein, President & CEO, Greenwood Industries 1. Know your limitations and find employees who improve them. 2. Remain involved. Don't lose sight of what people are doing and how they impact your organization. 3. Establish core values that scale with your business. 4. Seek innovation and inspire employees to embrace change. 5. Support employee education and advancement. 6. Give recognition where it's due. 7. Create a culture of inclusivity and belonging. 8. Be present in the communities you serve. 9. Be courageous and do the right thing. 10. Take time for yourself. Business Leader of the Year (Family business) Marieke Cormier Owner, Roots Natural Foods STAY HUMBLE being kind compassionate and thankful for every day + everyone. KEEP LEARNING as the daughter of a life long learner, my mother taught me to continue to be inquisitive, "it keeps you young". LOVE I really value relationships – with the people I work with, the people who raise our food, and the people that we feed + heal. I love what we do and who we do it for. PASSION Have passion for what you do it will never feel like work! I believe that food has the power to heal our bodies and our community. Good clean food should not be a privilege but a right. CREATE COMMUNITY I have always strived to create the community I want to live in, through our business. To create not only a healthy workplace but a welcoming trusted marketplace for our community bring me such joy. INTEGRITY I think this is the foundation for me. Thinking about the impact of my decisions, being honest and emphasizing transparency – has contributed to creating a trusted business. DREAM take time to dream. I truly believe anything is possible. SELF CARE this is critical to my success. Taking time for myself is a lifelong learning lesson. Refueling my tank: whether it's staring at a turquoise ocean for days. Camping in Maine or listening to music with my sheepdog. Taking time to recharge makes me a better leader. TAKE RISKS + ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES! Business Leader of the Year (Nonprofit) Kaska Yawo, Co-founder & executive director, African Community Education No single tree can make a forest This is an African proverb that emphasizes the importance and power of teamwork. When we stand together, we accomplish much more than if we stood alone. For ACE to be what it is today, we came together and made the decision to address issues that our community was facing in regards to education and literacy. ACE is an organization that is rooted in the community and it is bound to succeed by the grace of God. Take initiative At ACE we have a hands-on approach where if you see something, you do something. Waiting on others to take action before stepping in delays change. We are successful today because we took a step forward even when we did not have all we needed. Respect others and treat them with dignity Respect allows us to see the value in others. We all serve a purpose and when we acknowledge that and move with kindness, we allow each other to thrive in our calling. Build strong partnerships and collaborations At ACE, we are committed to addressing complex matters and it is not possible to do it alone. Collaborating with various organizations, leaders and companies has been essential to helping the families we work with. There are so many people willing to help and it is because of that love for others that people are able to be connected to necessary resources. Build a strong system of skills training and implementation The empowerment of all people in regards to their skills is what keeps us advancing. As we grow in our various skills, we are able to accomplish more and reach higher levels. Be truthful and transparent As a leader, having the trust of those around you is the most important thing. When you are honest and transparent in both the good and bad times, that trust grows stronger as you acknowledge that you have their best interest at heart. Be humble Humility allows for wisdom. As a leader, it is crucial to make sensible decisions and judgments especially when it comes to the safety and well being of others. Be appreciative At ACE, we understand that the commitment others have for our vision and goals for African families in Worcester is not something to take lightly. Every single donation, word of advice and counsel has been recognized and cherished. Prioritize diversity of people, skills and ideas Regardless of race, nationality, education attainment, gender