PPB October 2017

Penny Ledbetter President C. Sanders Emblems San Fernando, California Number of direct reports: 14 P enny Ledbetter got her start as an elementary school teacher and then earned amaster’s degree inmarriage, family and child counseling. She’s taught parenting classes, raised four children with her husband, and has volunteered in leadership positions with the PTA and community center, and on the boards of various nonprofit organizations. She’s also been a Scout leader and chaired several large fund-raising events. “I feel that I have been in amanagerial positionwithout truly recognizing it formost of my life,” she says. Thosemany diverse leadership experiences primed her to take a jobwithC. Sanders Emblems, where she’s been president for the past 10 years. It alsomade her appreciative of the knowledge attained through life experiences—not just from degrees and titles.Thatmindset helped her see the intrinsic value in Yvonne Livingston, a former stay-at-homemomwho applied for a job at C. Sanders Emblems in 2014. “Once I decided to go back towork, no onewould hireme. Imean no one ,” says Livingston. “Then Imet Penny. I came in for an interviewand I told her right up front that I had been out of theworkforce for 12 years, I didn’t knowany of the latest programs (Excel, Outlook, Word, etc.) and I was very rusty on the computer. I was sure shewas going to end the interview. She askedwhat I had been doing for the past 12 years. I said, “Raisingmy family, being the chief accountant, cook, driver, handyman, nurse, purchaser andwearing all the other dozen hats needed to run a household efficiently.” I bracedmyself for theworst. I felt silly, and worse yet, invalidated. She smiled and said, ‘My gosh, you had a tremendously hard job all these years. You aremore than capable and qualified to do this job I amoffering.’ I can’t truly explain inwords what I felt at thatmoment, but it was wonderful.” Nominator SusanneDennett, who has been calling Ledbetter her boss for 10 years, says she encourages hardwork fromthe teamby giving back: when the company has a great quarter, Ledbetter shares by giving bonuses. She also likes Ledbetter’smanagement style. “Penny has trust in people and allows themto do their jobs without standing over their shoulders,” she says. “She also encourages everyone to take their vacations and spend timewith family and friends to recharge.” Two other nominators, Jay Ewing andChristine Kane, have been reporting to Ledbetter for one year and seven years, respectively.They describe her as fair, understanding, nonjudgmental and a good communicator. “She has our backwhen it comes to difficult situations,” says Ewing. “She allows us tomakemistakes and yet doesn’t criticize us when things don’t turn out thewaywe’d hoped.” Kane adds, “Hermanagement style brings outmy best.” Penny’s cool factor A true visionary, she is always thinking about how to improve the company tomorrow, next week and next year. Her best boss I have learned many skills from my Vistage group (a worldwide organization serving as a peer business advisory and executive coaching organization). I attend monthly meetings with other CEOs in my area, learning from their experiences and sharing information. I am a self-motivated learner and continue to read articles and books on all areas of business. They are a source of inspiration for me. I have been greatly influenced and inspired by John Wooden, UCLA’s legendary basketball coach. During our weekly office meetings, we often discuss the various steps in his Pyramid of Success and how we can serve our clients using his model. I was honored to have met John Wooden; he was never my boss but certainly my role model. What managing others has taught her about herself I have learned to trust my instincts and that “little voice” inside my head; that my enthusiasm for this business is contagious, which I believe energizes my employees; the value of collaboration with my employees who offer creative and workable ideas to company challenges; and to value continued education as well as openness to new ideas and opportunities. Her best advice for other bosses Think of yourself as a member of a team using vocabulary such as “we” rather than “I.” It is important, as a leader, to lead by example; to have a clearly defined operating system and expectations; to set a positive, celebratory tone, to discover as a team the vision and core values that become the compass and guide for all you do for your customers, and why you do it. Leaders welcome challenges and different viewpoints valuing employees who take the initiative to offer new ideas. Leaders respect the different strengths and skills of each employee and make sure they are in the right seat. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Work hard but have fun, too. Penny Ledbetter (center) with her nominators Christine Kane, Yvonne Livingston, Jay Ewing and Susanne Dennett. FEATURE | Best Bosses 32 | OCTOBER 2017 |