What has 12 years of building a company taught Leah Lawson about leadership?

The founder + CEO of Charleston’s The Rock It! Co. believes in putting people first, hiring people smarter than you + staying curious — especially when the path forward isn’t clear.

We asked Lawson about the lessons she’s learned as a CEO, the advice she’d give future leaders + what she’s most proud of. And while she recommends a business book or two, she says some of her best lessons about patience, communication, resilience + grace have come from raising her two children.

(Are you a local founder or CEO? We’d love to hear from you.)

What’s your leadership philosophy?

People first. I lead with integrity, stay curious, communicate openly, and strive for excellence. I believe leadership is about serving others, empowering teams, and creating an environment where people can do their best work.

Success is built on trust, strengthened through consistency, and measured by the impact we make together.

What’s something you’ve learned recently?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned recently is how to lead when the stakes are really high. I’ve become more comfortable making difficult decisions, staying curious, communicating, and earning trust through consistency and transparency — even when the path forward isn’t clear.

When you come out on the other side, you realize those are the moments that shape you most as a leader and strengthen the confidence you bring to every challenge that follows. And for that, I am very grateful.

What advice would you give future CEOs?

Lead with integrity, stay curious, and never stop learning. Build a team that’s smarter than you, make decisions with confidence, and work with people who trust your leadership and believe in the value you bring.

At the end of the day, your greatest success will be measured by the people you develop, the trust you earn, and the impact you leave behind.

What’s something you’re proud of?

I’m proud that I built a company from the ground up and successfully led it for the past 12 years. We’ve weathered some incredibly difficult seasons — including COVID, when our industry came to a standstill — but we never lost sight of who we are or why we do what we do.

We stayed resilient, adapted, and came out stronger. That same grit, grace, and determination continues to guide us through every challenge we face today.

What’s something everyone should be reading, listening to, or watching right now?

I’d recommend reading "The Infinite Game" by Simon Sinek. It’s a great reminder that leadership isn’t about winning today — it’s about building something that lasts through trust, purpose, and meaningful relationships.

More importantly, stay curious. Read things that challenge your thinking, listen to people with different perspectives, and never stop learning. Some of my best leadership lessons haven’t come from a boardroom — they’ve come from everyday life.

And if you’re raising children — or a 6- and 8-year-old like I am — I’d also recommend the "Raising Boys & Girls" podcast with Sissy Goff and David Thomas. It’s not a leadership podcast, but parenting has taught me more about patience, communication, resilience, and grace than any business book ever could.

Sometimes the best leadership lessons come from the places you least expect.