How Laurie Maddalena Rethinks Leadership Today
Great leadership can shape careers, strengthen culture, and determine whether a team thrives or flounders. However, in many workplaces, leadership development remains outdated or overlooked. With so much riding on the quality of a manager, it’s time to ask how leaders are being equipped to lead.
Laurie Maddalena didn’t begin her career teaching leadership. As a former credit union executive, she witnessed firsthand how leadership affects performance, morale, and turnover. “Ever since my first leadership role, I’ve been fascinated by the human side of business,” she explains. “I saw early on how much of a difference good leadership can make—how it can impact not just results, but people’s lives.”
In 2008, Maddalena left her executive position to establish a consulting firm specializing in leadership development. Just as the financial crisis hit, she faced a tough choice: go back or push forward. “That first year was very challenging and required me to navigate a lot of uncertainty,” she states. “I attended networking events, spoke for free, and kept going until the business gained traction.”
From Fixing to Facilitating
Over the years, Maddalena noticed a troubling pattern: managers were promoted based on their technical skills rather than their leadership readiness. “Being a strong individual contributor doesn’t mean someone is prepared to lead others,” she says. She shares that in most of the industries she has worked in, individuals receive promotions into leadership roles but often lack the necessary competencies or training.
She now teaches a critical shift: moving from “fixing” to “facilitating.” While managers were once expected to be the go-to problem solvers, she emphasizes that this approach no longer fits today’s workplace. “The modern workplace requires a different approach,” she explains. “Leaders need to coach others to think critically, take ownership, and achieve results.”
The Elevated Leader: A Practical Blueprint
Maddalena’s book, The Elevated Leader, is a roadmap filled with real-world strategies. “I developed a framework that combines the inner mindsets and principles with the outer actions required for real leadership success,” she says. “It equips managers to confidently lead through coaching, accountability, and tough conversations.”
The book is grounded in her belief that modern leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating cultures of trust, empowerment, and accountability.
Cultural Wake-Up Call
Citing Gallup research that shows only 31% of U.S. employees are engaged, Maddalena sees a crisis. “Outdated leadership styles persist today largely because many managers have never been taught a more current, people-centered way to lead,” she explains. “Many lead the way they were led—relying on control, micromanagement, and prioritizing tasks over people.”
What is her solution? To treat leadership not as a promotion, but as a profession: “Not everyone is meant to be a leader. Just like not everyone is meant to be a pilot or a barista. Leadership requires training, standards, and skill.”
Human-Centered Professionalism
As a working mom of three, Maddalena understands the ongoing tension between career and family. “Many managers are juggling both,” she notes. “The skills in this book are designed to help leaders be focused and intentional during work hours—so they can enjoy their personal life, too.”
That philosophy is the cornerstone of Maddalena’s programs, which prioritize clarity, presence, and energy. “Leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility,” she adds. “It’s time we set higher expectations and give leaders the support they need to succeed.”
To learn more about Laurie Maddalena, visit her on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
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