Teresa Meares understands leadership in a way few do. With a background in law enforcement, experience as a small business owner, corporate leader, and a passion for empowering women entrepreneurs, Meares embodies the essence of servant leadership—a philosophy that prioritizes the needs of others to drive innovation and sustainable growth. Through her company she mentors business leaders and organizations in helping them to unlock their potential through trust, empathy and strategic foresight. “People like it when other people care about them,” Meares explains. “It’s motivating, and motivation underscores growth and innovation in any organization, regardless of sector or industry.”
Building Trust Through Servant Leadership
At its core, servant leadership is about fostering an environment where employees feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute meaningfully. Meares champions this philosophy, emphasizing that trust is a non-negotiable foundation for success. “Servant leadership creates trust. When you have trust from your team, you can have important conversations,” she says. “Whether they be positive or difficult ones, it creates a space for key moments to connect on a human level.”
Confidence, authenticity, responsibility, and empathy, which make up Meares’ C.A.R.E. concept, are the hallmarks of her leadership style. By embodying these principles, Meares has seen first-hand how organizations can cultivate a culture of innovation and resilience. “It really is that simple: be intentional, and care for your work and your people. Everything else falls into place.”
Driving Business Growth with Strategic Leadership
Meares doesn’t just write about servant leadership—she has built and scaled businesses using its principles. Having led two successful businesses and mentored numerous early-stage companies, she understands that strategic foresight, coupled with a deep investment in people, is the key to sustainable growth.
“If you have a good employee, make sure they’re in the right seat and they’ll deliver,” she advises. She recalls working with an employee who was struggling in their role but who showed strong work ethic and alignment with company values. Meares worked with them to identify a role better suited to their strengths—an approach that paid off significantly for both parties. “I’ll never forget when she came into my office and thanked me for not giving up on her. Six or seven years later she bought part of that business from me,” shares Meares.
Her insights into hiring strategies at key growth periods further reinforce the importance of planning for long-term growth. “Hire in anticipation of the next step, and all that it brings on at an operational level,” she says. “You don’t want to get hamstrung by things you really don’t want to focus on as you’re building your business.”
Empowering Leaders to Lead with Impact
Beyond growing her own businesses, Meares is dedicated to helping other leaders refine their approach to leadership. Whether advising small business owners or corporate executives, she emphasizes the importance of trust and honest self-assessment. “If you’re a small business owner, and not a large corporation or publicly traded company with benefits and stock options, people come to work for you,” she explains. “It comes back to trust and a willingness to have honest inventories, first with yourself as a leader, and then with those reporting to you.”
These candid conversations form the foundation for better decision-making and alignment between leadership and employees. “Trust is key to ensuring these conversations resonate and lead to better outcomes. They also serve as verbal contracts both sides can lean on later if need be.”
Looking Forward: The Future of Leadership
As Meares continues to mentor leaders and executives, her passion for servant leadership only grows stronger. Seeing those she has guided succeed fuels her commitment to this leadership philosophy. “Every win or forward movement from someone I’ve been able to mentor or train, or lead has reinforced my commitment to servant leadership,” she shares. But she is quick to acknowledge that leadership is not easy. “Leadership is so hard. It is so much more work than I think anyone can anticipate. You don’t have the right mindset, if you think being a leader means less work – that’s not true. You have to work twice as hard.”
Meares is equipping today’s leaders with the mindset, strategies, and tools they need to foster trust, empower employees, and drive sustainable growth in their organizations. Her approach to leadership is both practical and inspiring, offering a blueprint for business owners and executives who want to lead with compassion.
To learn more about her expertise and insights, visit her website or connect with her on LinkedIn.