On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Elizabeth Glasbrenner, co-founder and President/CEO of Smiley Technologies, Inc.

Smiley Technologies, Inc. (STI), is a group of entrepreneurial, service-centric software developers and support staff in Central Arkansas, with business practices and traditions that recall those who ushered in the first big wave of bank technology innovation a half century ago. Smiley Technologies is also a 2020 Forbes Small Giant: Best Small Companies in America.

Although Elizabeth co-founded the business with her brother seventeen years ago, she never envisioned herself as CEO. A self-described bleeding heart, she worked in non-profits and gravitated to positions where she could be in service to others and help them succeed. When she had the opportunity to become CEO of Smiley, she was reluctant — she thought she cared far too much to become CEO. But she took a leap of faith and accepted the role, drawing inspiration from her father's example of purpose-driven leadership that she witnessed growing up. Today, Elizabeth is a compassionate servant leader leading a successful and profitable business. 

In this episode, hear how Elizabeth challenged her own beliefs about leadership to realize she was built to become a CEO. Plus, hear Paul and Elizabeth discuss what the role of a leader really is: to help create success for other people.

Tune in to Elizabeth's story below.

Show Notes: 

[1:58] A Family-Inspired Business
[9:15] Helping Others Succeed Makes Me Happy
[14:48] How Bleeding Hearts Can Manage People
[21:51] I Learn from Everyone, Everyday
[28:28] Balancing Family Life and Leadership
[29:25] Don't Be Afraid of Judgment from Others

Book that Influenced Elizabeth's Leadership:
No Man's Land: Where Growing Companies Fail by Doug Tatum