Suz Pathmanathan
Ahead of our The Ultimate Formula to Building a Million Dollar Company webinar, we wanted to understand a bit more about how leadership drives success at The Vernon Company. We caught up with Lisa Hubbard, Vernon’s VP of Sales and Marketing, as shared her thoughts on the nuances of leadership styles, the importance of creating an inclusive workplace, and the delicate relationship between success and failure.
Leadership styles: male vs female
There’s more of a spotlight on leadership and the role it plays in creating a successful company and culture than ever before. Researchers have discussed how women tend to be more collaborative and relationship-oriented as leaders, while male leadership is more task-oriented and focused on making quick decisions. Have you noticed a big difference between male and female leadership styles at Vernon?
Not really. Most people stick to a style that feels comfortable, but great leaders know when to switch things up. You might go all-out assertive if you need to rally the troops for a big goal. But if you’re rolling out changes, it’s better to be inclusive and get everyone’s buy-in. In my opinion, it’s not about being male or female; it’s about being smart and adaptable. A good leader is like a chameleon—adjusting to fit the situation perfectly.
Creating an inclusive culture
That is a truly inclusive statement. How can other companies create a culture of inclusion?
You’ve got to be intentional. Make inclusion part of your hiring, retention, and promotions. Encourage open dialogue and recognize individual strengths. Training is key—give your team the tools to understand the impact of their actions. Celebrate different cultures, holidays, and events, and get out in the community with diversity-focused partnerships. And don’t forget to hold your leadership accountable—set goals and track progress.
Inspiring future leaders
Before we move on, many industry leaders, especially female ones, take great inspiration from your leadership style—myself included! Do you have any advice for women in the workplace?
Let your work do the talking and own your actions. Speak up and make your intentions clear. If you’re driven by a passion for your team and company’s success, let that shine through. Be fearless and go after what you want. It’s like being the star of your own action movie—be bold, take risks, and don’t let anything hold you back.
Realize you don’t have to be perfect to lead. Women often hesitate because they feel they don’t tick all the boxes. But leadership is about passion and collaboration, not perfection. Surround yourself with a diverse team and harness their unique talents. It’s like being a conductor of an orchestra—each instrument adds something special to the performance.
The relationship between success and failure
What do you see as the relationship between success and failure in a career?
They’re interlinked—one leads to the other.
Failure is where you learn and build resilience. It’s your training ground. Success tastes sweeter because of the grit you gained from picking yourself up after falling.
It’s all part of the journey. Embrace failure as your not-so-secret ingredient to success. Without those stumbles, you wouldn’t appreciate the victories nearly as much.
The importance of technology
Love that. How important is technology for business success?
Lisa Hubbard: It’s huge! Technology is rocket fuel for business. At Vernon, we’re pumping resources into tech to scale into new marketing. Keeping up with the latest tech isn’t just a luxury; it’s a must-have. It helps streamline operations, boost productivity, and keep you ahead of the competition. We have a heritage of excellence built over a century, so we’ve got the relationship and network down. Technology will help us take this to the next level.
Finding inspiration
You’ve been at The Vernon Company for over three years. Where do you find inspiration every day?
Inspiration is everywhere if you look. It’s in the colleague training for a marathon, the one stepping out of their comfort zone, or the person who saves the day with a big order. Everyone has a spark—find it and fan it into a flame. Celebrate those daily acts of dedication and excellence.
Advice to your younger self
What would you tell your younger self?
Don’t change a thing. Everything happens for a reason, and it’ll all turn out fine. Trust the process and enjoy the ride. Each twist and turn is whittling you into who you’re meant to be. Nothing should make you cringe or inspire regret—embrace your whole story and have fun along the way.
Save your seat for our webinar!
Big thanks to Lisa for her time. If you thought THIS interview was good, you haven’t seen anything yet! Sign up for our The Ultimate Formula to Building a Million Dollar Company webinar to hear more from Lisa about what powers success.
