Leadership is often associated with traits like strength, power, and decisiveness. However, there's great strength in vulnerability and understanding as well. By acknowledging and embracing their own weaknesses and limitations, leaders can better connect with their team, foster a more positive and creative environment, and achieve more significant goals.

In this interview with Melissa DiGianfilippo of Serendipit Consulting, she’ll touch on the concept of vulnerability and empathy as a key leadership trait, and how it’s implemented in her leadership style.

What do you think is your greatest strength as a leader & why?

Empathy. This is especially important with a primarily Millennial and Gen Z workforce, generations that want to be listened to and understood more openly. Having the ability to understand people and to welcome vulnerability and emotions makes a leader a trusted source.

What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should embody & why?

Every good leader has to be humble. In my opinion, a great leader is someone who will do any job that they would hire someone to do, not treating any task as below them. Leading by example is the best way to get your team to exceed your expectations.

What are the most important decisions you make as a leader of your organization?

The list of important decisions I have to make as a leader of my company seems to be endless, but in reality, it comes down to decisions around people - both employees and clients - who to hire, fire, work with, say no to, promote, grow, etc. We have a "no asshole" rule at Serendipit, and that means I've had to make very hard decisions - like firing a very large client for being extremely disrespectful. It's very hard to give up that revenue, but it's way more important to show my employees what we stand for than to collect that income.

Meet Melissa: Melissa DiGianfilippo is co-founder and president of public relations at Serendipit Consulting, a full-service creative, PR and marketing agency that she started in 2008. Melissa leads a highly skilled team to help clients achieve their goals by building brand awareness, managing crisis communications and reputation management, developing strategic brand partnerships and more. Under her direction, Serendipit clients have achieved millions of dollars in positive press coverage across international, national and local media outlets, including CNN, CNBC, Nancy Grace, Entrepreneur Magazine, Travel & Leisure, The Late Show, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Reuters, Associated Press, Huffington Post along with broadcast and print outlets in all U.S. markets. Melissa has supported clients in a number of industries, including real estate, consumer products, technology, health and wellness and franchising. Today, Serendipit has successfully grown to a 30+ person, multi-million dollar operation, with a reputation as one of the leading creative, PR and marketing agencies in Arizona.

Melissa earned a scholarship for academics to Kent State University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. She was named on the prestigious 40 Under 40 list by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2021, the top female PR professional in Arizona by Arizona Foothills Magazine in 2018, a Most Admired Leader by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2018, a Rising Star in 2014 by Student Housing Business, and was also named on the list of Generation Next: Forty Under Forty in 2014 by Az Business Magazine. Melissa served as the Marketing Chairperson on the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Phoenix Connect Board, and on the board of Entrepreneur Organization (EO) in Arizona where she has been an active member for 8 years. She is also a graduate of Scottsdale Leadership. She is a mom of two girls.

Connect with Melissa at:

• Website

• LinkedIn