Sean Vanslyke: Leading with Empathy and Purpose

The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

In this insightful episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast, host Mark Jewell sits down with Sean Vanslyke, CEO of SEMO Electric Cooperative. They dive into the essential role of electric cooperatives in rural communities, the unique challenges of leading a people-centered organization, and how intentional leadership shapes a thriving work culture. Sean shares his personal leadership philosophy and discusses how empathy, vulnerability, and intentional actions make a profound impact on his team and the community he serves.

Key Takeaways:

1. Making Today Better than Yesterday: Sean talks about his daily approach to intentional leadership, focusing on improving each day not just for himself but for others. His goal is to help people achieve things they never thought possible by creating a supportive and empathetic environment.
2. The Role of Electric Cooperatives: SEMO Electric Cooperative serves five counties in Southeast Missouri, providing both electricity and broadband services. Sean explains how co-ops reinvest profits into their communities, having given over $20 million back to members since 1995, and how broadband has been a game changer for rural areas, allowing them to compete on a global stage.
3. Empathy as a Leadership Tool: Sean emphasizes the importance of knowing your people and their personal struggles and triumphs. He shares how empathy drives his leadership style, from celebrating milestones like new babies and marriages to supporting staff dealing with illness or loss. He believes that understanding people’s "why" is key to building a cohesive and motivated team.
4. Building Intentional Culture: Sean discusses his leadership philosophy around creating a culture where employees are "missed but not needed." He introduces six guiding principles that he instills in every team member from day one: Be Early, Smile, Act Safely, Move with Purpose, Don’t Gossip, and Give Thanks. These simple yet powerful principles help foster a strong, intentional culture at SEMO Electric.
5. Facing and Overcoming Challenges: Sean shares some of the biggest hurdles in his career, from self-doubt to dealing with difficult situations like employee theft. He highlights how tough decisions, while painful, are necessary for maintaining integrity and building trust within an organization.
6. The Joy of Watching People Grow: One of Sean’s greatest successes as a leader is watching people achieve things they didn’t think possible, whether it’s in their personal or professional lives. He likens this to coaching young athletes who get a chance to shine in a new role, reflecting the same sense of pride when his team members rise to new challenges.

Notable Quotes:

• "I encourage people to be missed, not needed. When you leave, people should say, 'When Mark was here, we did this,' not 'We need Mark to unlock the door.'"
• "You have to have empathy as a leader. People come to work to provide for their families, and sometimes they come to work to get away from their family challenges."
• "We're always interviewing for jobs, even if it's just seeing who walks into the lobby. You never know who you might meet or how someone might surprise you."

Join us for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, empathy, and creating intentional work environments. Whether you're managing a small team or a large organization, Sean Vanslyke's insights on leadership will inspire you to make a greater impact every day.