By: Will Jones
Laurie Maddalena is on a mission to challenge one of the workplace’s most outdated ideas: that strong individual contributors automatically make effective leaders. Her work dismantles this myth and replaces it with a thoughtful, human-first approach to leadership development.
As she says, “Not everyone is meant to be a leader.”
Leadership today isn’t just about managing tasks; it’s about leading with intention, presence, and empathy. In an era where traditional, transactional approaches may no longer be as effective, leaders must create and develop cultures where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to do their best work. Laurie’s new book, The Elevated Leader, is a practical, well-supported guide for making that shift, helping managers and emerging leaders enhance their confidence, communication, and ability to build high-performing teams.
Who is Laurie Maddalena?
Laurie is an author, professional speaker, and consultant with decades of experience in leadership and business positions. She is a former credit union executive and now CEO of a consulting business that provides leadership development, keynote speaking, leadership assessments, and executive coaching. Her signature offering is The Elevated Leader, a seven-session leadership mastery program for managers who want to improve their leadership skills and create cultures where people can thrive.
From Misstep to Mission
Throughout her work with organizations and leaders, Laurie Maddalena kept noticing the same troubling pattern: too many managers were promoted without ever being taught how to lead. They were expected to motivate teams, navigate conflict, and create results without the training or support to do so effectively. The cost? Burned-out managers, disengaged employees, and cultures that fall short of their potential.
“We need a leadership revolution,” she says. “One that equips leaders with the skills, confidence, and mindset to lead people effectively, not just manage tasks.”
Her mission now is to rid the world of bad management practices and help organizations create cultures where people want to come to work. Studies have shown that only 31% of employees are fully engaged at work, indicating significant room for improvement. Laurie is leading a crusade to elevate how people lead.
Promotion Does Not Equal Preparation
Too often, employees are promoted to leadership roles as a reward for loyalty, not necessarily because they’re fit for the role. This outdated practice can stifle growth and undermine team performance.
Laurie knows and understands the real-world challenges that come with balancing people, results, and the constant pressures of leadership. Thus, her work blends that lived experience with research-backed practices and an authentic approach that meets leaders where they are. Her perspective is that leadership is as much about mindset and daily habits as it is about strategy. She brings a human-centered approach shaped by real-world experience—designed to be practical, actionable, and grounded in the realities leaders face every day.
The Leadership Framework
While Laurie teaches many strategies to elevate leadership, there are two core shifts:
- For decades, managers were expected to be the go-to problem solvers—the ones with all the answers. But today’s workplace demands a different approach. Leaders must shift from being fixers to being facilitators—empowering their teams to take ownership, think critically, and deliver results.
- Promotions should not solely be based on technical skills. The reality is, not everyone is suited to lead others, and yet, in many industries, leaders are regularly promoted without the training or competencies needed for the role. This leaves managers underprepared, struggling to engage their teams, and often unintentionally contributing to disengagement or unhealthy workplace dynamics.
The Elevated Leader
Early in Laurie’s career, she longed for a model to help her overcome the obstacles. Through years of learning and applying, she created a framework that made success attainable and practical. In The Elevated Leader, she teaches how to leverage these skills and strategies to lead your team with confidence and achieve meaningful success.
Modern Managers, Modern Mandates
In today’s workplace, managers need more than company loyalty and technical know-how. They must also bring emotional intelligence, empathy, adaptability, and, as Laurie puts it, “the ability to lead people with different personalities, values, and perspectives.” Her approach goes beyond leadership strategy—it helps managers elevate both their professional impact and personal fulfillment. By encouraging intentional, focused work hours, Laurie empowers leaders to be effective at work and present at home.
Laurie Maddalena is redefining leadership by challenging outdated norms and introducing a principled, people-first approach. Her work equips managers to lead with clarity, empathy, and purpose—both in the workplace and in their personal lives. The Elevated Leader offers a clear path for modern leadership that improves engagement, strengthens culture, and delivers long-term results.
