Inside Hook's The Future of Leadership

Bridget Hilton started LSTN Sound Co. in 2012 to create a more inspiring audio brand. After seeing someone hear for the first time, she decided to focus her efforts on creating change through the power of sound and music. Through proceeds of sales from their premium headphones and speakers, LSTN has helped more than 30,000 people in 10 countries hear for the first time through its charity partner, the Starkey Hearing Foundation. She has received accolades such as Forbes and Inc Magazine’s 30 Under 30, Origin Magazine’s Top 100 Creatives and a NAWBO Rising Star.

“In what is the toughest year of life thus far for many of us, being a leader in this time means listening to your customers and staff with empathy and compassion — and taking the feedback to make the company better. Traditionally, leadership was all about power, and basically telling others what to do. Through the trials and tribulations of 2020, I believe servant leadership is the right direction at the moment.

I think the leader(s) of a company are increasingly a physical and emotional representation of their company — as in, if a CEO has certain values that do not align with the consumer, they will vote with their wallet and choose a competitor instead. I have noticed a massive shift in the people in my life researching leadership at companies before they purchase an item from them. So it is increasingly important that the values and personality of the leadership aligns with what the customers values are.

I’d like to see leaders empowering their staff to make important decisions and help guide the direction of the future of the business. Being inclusive to hiring all walks of life and maintaining a diverse staff needs to be a priority. As young people rise to leadership positions, I think it’s increasingly just as important that they have the business skillset as well as soft skills, which often isn’t a significant part of training or concern.”