What happens when a company in a small community decides to go all-in on its people — and wins Employer of the Year doing it?

Sally Gibson, MD of Dawleys, didn't follow a textbook. She built a culture where employees nominate each other on a "WOW Board," where every single role has its own purpose and mission statement, and where leaders are measured not by how tightly they control — but by how freely they let go.

In this episode, Sally reveals the surprisingly simple practices behind Dawleys' award-winning culture: why hiring for attitude beats hiring for skills, how psychological safety turns average teams into exceptional ones, and the recognition programme that costs almost nothing but changed everything.

If you've ever wondered what it actually looks like when a business puts people genuinely first — not as a slogan, but as a strategy — this is the conversation you need to hear.

Keywords: Dawleys, Sally Gibson, leadership, employee engagement, workplace culture, awards, community responsibility, employee development, recognition programs, customer service

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Dawleys and Sally Gibson

02:29 Winning Awards and Recognition

05:06 Creating a Culture of Trust and Safety

07:31 The Importance of Development in Leadership

10:10 Leadership Philosophy and Personal Growth

12:40 Measuring Employee Happiness and Engagement

14:59 The WOW Board and Recognition Practices

17:43 Leadership Journey and Global Experiences

25:33 Recognizing Community Impact

29:35 Building a Supportive Workplace Culture

34:31 Developing Leadership Skills

44:56 The Importance of Clarity in Leadership