From the Cockpit to the Boardroom: Justin Mayer on Servant Leadership and Driving Growth
Leadership is often defined by titles, strategies, or profits. But for Justin Mayer, Brand President at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, leadership is defined by discipline, humility, and people-first culture—principles he learned as a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot and carried into the corporate world.
On Industry Ignited, Justin sat down with Dr. Leeanne Aguilar to share how his military training shaped his leadership philosophy, his corporate journey through DuPont and beyond, and his current mission to empower entrepreneurs through franchising.
From Global Operations to Coaching with Purpose
For Barta, the transition from corporate leadership to coaching was sparked by two realizations.
First, the work that energized her most as an executive wasn’t managing processes—it was building people. Guiding managers to find their voice, helping teams transform into high performers, and seeing individuals grow gave her the greatest reward.
Second, she wanted to broaden her impact. After two decades of leading inside major corporations, she launched RB Elevate to bring her approach to leaders across industries.
“I still love a good process map,” she jokes, “but now I spend my time helping leaders create clarity, build trust, and get results—without burnout.”
Clarity, Confidence, and Purpose
At the heart of Barta’s philosophy is a simple but powerful framework: clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Clarity: Leaders must communicate priorities and vision clearly so teams can make the right decisions, even in uncertainty.
Confidence: Built through preparation, repetition, and celebrating wins—much like training for a long hike.
Purpose: Grounded in servant leadership, where success is about the team, not the individual.
“Teams win, not individuals,” Barta says. “The best leaders remain humble, connected, and focused on serving their people.”
The Pitfalls Leaders Must Overcome
Barta sees common challenges that limit leadership growth:
Time management: Treat time like currency. Learn to say no gracefully and delegate effectively.
Overdoing instead of leading: Leaders who keep tactical tasks from past roles limit their ability to focus on higher-level strategy.
Avoiding delegation: Holding onto too much work hurts both leaders and their teams.
She recalls a mentor showing her the calendar of a senior executive with just one meeting per day. “That was a light bulb moment for me,” she says. “Leaders need to create space to be present for their teams.”
Leading Through Change
Having guided organizations through major acquisitions and restructures, Barta emphasizes that change is emotional. Leaders must navigate their own emotions first, then help others.
She uses models like Kotter’s change framework and the Kubler-Ross change curve to give teams language and tools for managing uncertainty.
“Culture eats change if communication fails,” she warns. Frequent, transparent communication—through town halls, one-on-ones, and listening sessions—is critical.
Process + Leadership = Transformation
Barta likens organizational success to a car:
The process is the engine.
The leadership is the vehicle around it.
“You need both,” she explains. “Processes create consistency, but leadership defines how far you’ll go.”
Too often, companies treat transformation as a project instead of a product—checking boxes rather than iterating, adapting, and communicating continuously.
Resetting and Rising
For leaders feeling overwhelmed, Barta recommends a seven-day reset:
Clear your calendar of nonessential meetings.
Re-align priorities to the “critical few.”
Create space for reflection, positivity, and self-care.
She personally leans on daily leadership readings, journaling, and intentional reflection to reset her mindset.
“High performers often think asking for help is weakness,” she says. “But the truth is, everyone needs help. The best leaders know when to ask.”
The Future of Leadership
With the rise of AI and automation, Barta predicts that the human side of leadership—EQ, decision-making, storytelling, and trust—will only grow in importance.
“AI will take on the data crunching,” she explains. “Leaders must double down on vision, communication, and emotional intelligence. Those will be the most valuable skills of the future.”
Final Thought
Beckie Barta’s career proves a powerful truth: when leaders elevate themselves, they elevate everyone around them.
As she puts it:
“If you build your people, your people will build the organization.”
Listen to the full episode.
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