Name: Jodi DeMassa

Title: Founder

Organisation: Optimum AdVantage

Results-driven digital marketing professional with extensive experience in account management, lead generation, and campaign optimization, currently serving as a Digital Account Manager at Optimum AdVantage.

With a strong background in communications and technical solutions. Excels in building client relationships, developing strategic marketing initiatives, and delivering measurable results to enhance brand success.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

We’ve gone through the interviews and asked the best of the best to come back and answer 7 MORE Questions on Leadership.

I hope Jodi's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. As a leader, how do you build trust with employees, customers and other stakeholders?

I build trust with my customers by guiding them through our process and simplifying their involvement. This is because we are mostly B2B facing, which means the customers I work with have limited time. I am flexible with their communication preferences and answer their questions in a timely manner.

I am the point of contact between the project coordination and execution. Internally, I walk through the project requirements and create meetings to ensure the process is smooth. Then I communicate with our customer to outline budgets, timelines, and other project details.

2. What do 'VISION' and 'MISSION' mean to you? And what does it actually look like to use them in real-world business?

Vision means a projection of your SMART goals, which takes into account sales forecasting, your internal blockages, how your work aligns with your company, and is done within a certain time frame. It is taking your current placement and taking those steps to turn it into a reality.

Mission is more so leaving a legacy. Its purpose is driven in a way that you find the work fulfilling and meaningful, to help people resolve an issue. It’s the best way to align yourself with the work you do and involve your passion in a project. It is usually rooted in your core values and ethical beliefs.

3. How can a leader empower the people they're leading?

You need to connect with the people you lead, to reach them in a way that resonates and matches their values. It needs to align with them, too, to support the mission you’re working on. When people see value in the work they do, and see it making a positive difference, that increases empowerment and the feeling that goals are achievable. They are also valued in a supportive environment, where the team works together.

4. Who are some of the coaches or mentors in your life who have had a positive influence on your leadership? Can you please tell a meaningful story about one of them?

I have been influenced by many people in my life to lead. However, a lot of it has come from my mom and dad through the years. My dad gave me an opportunity to hire and lead a team for the first time with his own business, and my mom always sat down and talked to us about organizing and streamlining projects since I was young. I’ve paid close attention to how the workplaces communicated with the employees and learned a lot about what actually motivates/empowers others, too.

5. Leadership is often more about what you DON'T do. How do you maintain focus in your role?

Leadership is delegating, providing guidance, and empowering people to work through the project and answer their concerns.

I block off time to communicate with other stakeholders and then dedicate time to do outreach, as well as meetings with prospective customers.

6. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Everyone plans differently. How do you plan for the week, month and years ahead in your role?

A leader needs to have cushion for potential failure, internal communications, conflict resolution, and problem solving. I leave a few hours open a week in case I have to outsource more help in a project, or choose a different direction. In addition, scheduled meetings with the team are needed.

7. What advice would you give to a young leader who is struggling to delegate effectively?

I would prioritize the urgency of those tasks needed to resolve the issue then go down the line. Meet with the team that can handle the urgent issues first, then delegate the rest. Then schedule a meeting to streamline.