Episode 208: Empathetic Leadership: Building a Motivated Global Team with Lubomila Jordanova, CEO & Co-Founder of Plan A

Summary

Lubomila founded Plan A in 2016, a software as a service platform that supports corporates in decarbonizing, managing ESG reporting, and optimizing their value chains for sustainable growth. The journey has been complex, but sustainability has become a key decision-making element in boardrooms. Lubomila's personal motivation for starting the business came from a serendipitous moment in Morocco where she cleaned beaches from plastic. She saw an opportunity to create a business case for sustainability and combine it with her learnings from the financial system. Plan A focuses on being an empathetic leader and creating a supportive work culture.

Takeaways

Sustainability has become a crucial element in boardroom decision-making.

Lubomila's personal motivation for starting Plan A came from a serendipitous moment in Morocco.

Plan A focuses on being an empathetic leader and creating a supportive work culture.

The company provides growth opportunities through programs like MyPlan A and encourages employees to go beyond their job descriptions.

Education is a core part of Plan A's mission, both internally and externally.

The company values cross-cultural management and encourages employees to bring their unique perspectives and reshape the company culture.

Leaders building a globally applicable business should understand and adapt to different cultures and mindsets.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Background

02:28

Opportunity and Journey of Plan A

06:29

Company Growth and Leadership

07:19

Empathy and Employee Engagement

09:09

Employee Motivation and Development

11:00

Employee Education and Upskilling

12:39

Going Beyond Job Descriptions

14:14

Personal Connection with Employees

17:54

Aligning Company Goals and Personal Aspirations