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