More than 60 Lead United members and United Way donors gathered to learn from Lisa Barton, President and CEO of Alliant Energy, in a session facilitated by Lead United Council member, Brianne Gauder of M3 Insurance. The conversation offered a look into Barton’s approach to purpose-driven leadership, grounded in authenticity and community.  

Barton began by addressing the myth of perfection in leadership, and striving for balance doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly. “You need to accept that you don’t need to be perfect in everything you do,” she shared. “If you can’t take on more, it’s okay – there will be another opportunity. You can get a lot more done when you aren’t trying to be perfect.” 

Lisa emphasized her core leadership values: the power of collaboration, learning from others and creating an environment where people feel safe sharing challenges. “It’s not about being the smartest person in the company. As a leader, you need to build an environment where people are comfortable bringing you bad news, otherwise, you’re leading with blinders.” 

Her ability to amplify those unheard voices became a defining trait of her leadership style and a catalyst for her own professional growth. “I noticed there were quiet people in the room with really smart ideas that people weren’t listening to,” Barton said. “So, I became a translator.”  

As a new resident, Lisa called out what makes us special – our community’s spirit to uplift the people around them (and our impressive biking trails). Her formative experiences serving on nonprofit boards on the East Coast shaped her leadership perspective and that commitment has continued here in Dane County. In addition to joining our Tocqueville Society, Barton chairs United Way of Dane County’s Workforce Delegation, a task force that develops strategies to adapt to a changing economy, helping more families earn the income they need to thrive.  “You can’t just treat the symptoms [of poverty and homelessness] – you have to treat the root causes.” 

Following the conversation, attendees networked while assembling 1,000 Healthy Snack ImPacks to benefit families served by our partners at Community Action Coalition. While this project was originally funded by a recently eliminated AmeriCorps grant, Lisa and her leadership at Alliant Energy Foundation stepped up to provide an Impact Grant so our nonprofit partners and their clients can continue to receive this support. We’re so grateful for that commitment, and it’s a powerful example of what purpose-driven leadership looks like in action.