“Stories and lessons from an unexpected journey in finance.”

Servant leadership is a philosophy where leaders prioritize serving others first, putting the needs of their team and organization ahead of their own, to empower individuals and foster growth. Coined by Robert Greenleaf, it inverts the traditional hierarchy, positioning the leader as a facilitator who removes obstacles and supports followers to achieve a shared vision, rather than a commander at the top of a pyramid. Key characteristics include active listening, empathy, humility, and a deep commitment to the personal and professional development of the team.

I’ve seen firsthand how powerful this approach can be in finance and operations, where numbers and deadlines dominate—but people ultimately drive success.

I had a finance manager who proposed taking ownership of restructuring the reporting process for a high-stakes client engagement. My instinct was to step in—after all, it was critical. But I paused, provided guidance, and told her, “This is yours. Run with it.” She redesigned the reporting templates, automated manual processes, and implemented a clear update cadence. The client was thrilled, the internal team more aligned, and her confidence skyrocketed. Empowering her not only delivered better results—it multiplied the impact across the engagement.

During Series D fundraising, a junior analyst suggested a new approach to modeling cash flows. Instead of dismissing it as “too small to matter,” I encouraged her to develop the full model and present it to leadership. The insight strengthened our investor discussions and gave her recognition and credibility across the company—proof that servant leadership can turn individual initiative into organizational wins.

Even in large-scale restructuring, servant leadership mattered. I intentionally created forums for team members to flag issues directly to me without layers of hierarchy. Listening first, acting to remove obstacles, and giving people ownership accelerated the restructuring and improved morale.

What these experiences illustrate is that servant leadership isn’t about stepping back—it’s about intentionally stepping forward for your team. By listening, coaching, and removing barriers, you create space for others to excel. The results are often unexpected: innovation, efficiency, engagement, and growth that a top-down approach rarely achieves.

The lesson is clear: leadership isn’t just about making decisions or controlling outcomes. It’s about enabling others to succeed. And when you empower your team, the organization—and everyone in it—wins.

👉 How about you—where have you seen servant leadership unlock unexpected success on your team?

#TheAccidentalCFO #inersec #Leadership #ServantLeadership #Growth