L E A D E R S H I P
PAT DAVIS
PRESIDENT AND CEO, BRITISH COLUMBIA
LOTTERY CORPORATION
Be okay with being vulnerable. Vulnerability
engenders trust, and as senior leaders we are
already placed in a bubble of perceived and
hierarchical barriers that make it difficult to create
connections and lines of honest communication.
Being vulnerable about your flaws, mistakes and
what is truly happening in your company for me
has always helped strengthen our level of trust
and contributed to a high-performance team.
CLINT MAHLMAN
PRESIDENT AND COO, LONDON DRUGS
There are a few principles that have impacted and
influenced me—keeping in mind being a leader is a
never-ending journey of learning and growing:
• Be honest, authentic and be yourself. People must trust
you are genuine to earn the right to ask them to follow.
They may not like what you have to say, or even like you,
but you must have credibility relative to the people or
group you are trying to lead.
• Trust your people and take risks in their favour. I'm
always humbled at just how far people will go to follow
you if you trust and share key information with them. It
is important to explain what is needed clearly, remove
roadblocks for them and get out of the way to allow
them to do their very best work.
• Be curious and listen. Understand the people you are
leading as individuals and be clear on what is important
to them.
• Leadership is a privilege, an honour and a humbling
experience. You are there to serve your people through
your actions and support. Your people are not there to
serve you.
ANNE NASER
PRESIDENT AND CEO, WORKSAFEBC
Be humble and learn
from your mistakes.
42 BCBUSINESS.CA OCTOBER 2023
