PPB October 2020

It’s a leadership style that doesn't go unnoticed by his team. “Dan doesn’t consider himself a boss, he is first and foremost a servant leader,” says nominator Mandy Shearer, who has reported to him for three years. “Dan cultivates the best work environment. I know he has my back; he’s there to support me, challenge me, help me achieve my goals and ensure work-life balance. This sentiment would be repeated by all within the organization, not just me.” Shearer continues, “Without Dan’s strategic insight, many of us wouldn’t be where we are today. For me, he’s been the driving factor in my professional growth in the past two years. He recognized the need for a new project management role in our organization and that I was the right internal hire for the role. He took the time to acknowledge my talents and skills to set me on a path to champion innovation within our organization. It is with this leadership style that he has earned respect and trust from all, which has been very important during these challenging times.” Dan Luk on his best boss. I don’t have a best boss, rather I’ve had many great bosses. They all had different viewpoints, ways in handling situations and diverse things to offer. My philosophy is that there is always something I can learn from practically anyone. The most valuable lesson he’s learned from managing others. Despite research, I maintain management is not a science. As much as I’d like to believe I can anticipate how someone is going to act or react, I’ve come to learn that everyone is truly unique and motivated by different factors. It is always best to leverage someone’s strengths rather than focusing on someone’s weaknesses. His best advice for being a great boss. Everyone in the organization has common objectives. Everyone plays a designated role. The only difference of being a “manager” is that you play a different role. LATISHA MARSHALL Senior Director Of Sales Operations ePromos Promotional Products LLC Houston, Texas While earning her degree in business administration from Pace University, Latisha Marshall spent four years as a Smart Start Intern at JPMorganChase where she worked in several departments including IT and credit card services. After college, she joined St. Cloud, Minnesota-based ePromos Promotional Products as pre- production coordinator supporting several sales reps and processing credit cards for clients, among other responsibilities. As she proved herself, Marshall was promoted six times during her 16 years at the distributor and today, heads up sales operations. She’s been managing others for 13 years. Julie Gray, one of three nominators, has reported to Marshall for six years. “Tish is an amazing boss with the ability to filter through the noise and get to the heart of a problem,” she says. “She is a great communicator and disseminates information in a way that is easy to understand and gives clear instructions to follow. She also allows you to work independently (as long as you’ve earned her trust) and doesn’t micro-manage situations. She is there if you need her both professionally and personally.” Nominator Misty Goebel has worked with Marshall for more than nine years and calls her boss a creative problem-solver. “She makes sure to think inside and outside of the box whenever there are problems to solve. She makes her choices based off facts and stats to be sure the right thing is done for the business. And she works hard to lead by example.” Latisha Marshall on her best boss. It has truly been a village that has contributed to the individual I am today. I have had the privilege of working with many pioneers in this industry. They have been supportive and inspiring, allowing me to be the best version of myself. Due to that guidance, I know the significance of how a person can impact one’s journey. The most valuable lesson she’s learned frommanaging others. “I’m not a businessman. I’m a business, man. – Jay-Z” “Without Dan’s strategic insight, many of us wouldn’t be where we are today. For me, he’s been the driving factor in my professional growth in the past two years.” —Mandy Shearer Best Bosses 2020 | FEATURE | OCTOBER 2020 | 25