Honoring Women on the Climb: Leadership Lessons from 3 Inspiring CEOs

Leadership rarely follows a straight line.

For many CEOs, the journey unfolds through unexpected opportunities, difficult pivots, and moments that demand both courage and conviction. The climb often requires leaders to rethink their role, surround themselves with people who challenge their thinking, and stay anchored in values that guide them through uncertainty.

This International Women’s Day is an opportunity not only to recognize the accomplishments of women in leadership, but also to reflect on the lessons their journeys offer other CEOs.

Here we spotlight three women in the Vistage community — Deb Erickson, Lus Haberberger, and Violet Grgich — who built successful organizations in very different industries. Erickson founded a sports apparel company serving professional teams. Haberberger launched a fast-growing engineering firm. Grgich leads a Napa Valley winery with a global reputation and deep family legacy.

While their paths into leadership look very different, their stories share several themes familiar to many CEOs: the importance of building leaders to carry the company forward, the value of diverse perspectives and how staying grounded in values can guide long-term decisions.

1. Growth Requires Learning to Let Go

Deb Erickson
Founder, The Line Up
Learn how Deb Erickson created a culture of success

Deb Erickson didn’t start her career intending to become an entrepreneur.

Her early professional work was in social services, helping individuals navigate life challenges. But an unexpected opportunity led her to launch The Line Up, a sports apparel company that would go on to serve major professional and collegiate sports teams.

Like many founders, Erickson initially built the company through grit and personal determination. In the early years, success depended on her willingness to do whatever was necessary to move the business forward.

But as the company grew, she realized that scaling a business required a different mindset.

“You can’t build a company that lasts if everything depends on you,” says Erickson.

The leadership challenge shifted from doing the work to building the team that could carry the company forward.

Erickson focused on developing leaders within the organization and on creating a succession plan to ensure the company would thrive beyond her direct involvement.

For many CEOs, this shift represents one of the most significant transitions in leadership: moving from founder to architect of an enduring organization.

Leadership takeaway: The same drive that launches a company can limit its growth. Lasting success requires building leaders who can extend the mission beyond the founder.

2. Better Perspectives Lead to Better Decisions

Lus Haberberger
Founder and CEO, LUZCO Technologies
Learn how Haberberger leans into diverse perspectives

When Lus Haberberger founded LUZCO Technologies, she set out to build an engineering firm capable of tackling complex infrastructure and energy challenges.

But technical expertise alone wasn’t the foundation of her strategy.

From the beginning, Haberberger believed that the best solutions emerge when leaders intentionally bring together people with different perspectives and experiences.

“When you invite different viewpoints into the conversation, the outcome is almost always stronger,” she says. 

She built a culture where collaboration and curiosity were encouraged, and where employees felt comfortable challenging ideas in pursuit of better outcomes.

That approach helped fuel both innovation and growth. LUZCO quickly became one of the fastest-growing companies in St. Louis.

For CEOs, Haberberger’s story highlights a powerful leadership principle: diversity of thought strengthens decision-making. Organizations that encourage open dialogue and a wide range of perspectives are better equipped to navigate complexity and uncover opportunities others might miss.

Leadership takeaway: Innovation doesn’t come from echo chambers. Leaders who intentionally cultivate diverse perspectives create stronger and more resilient organizations.

3. Values Provide the Compass for Leadership

Violet Grgich
President and CEO, Grgich Hills Estate
Learn how Grgich built a resilient business

At Grgich Hills Estate Winery, leadership is inseparable from legacy.

The Napa Valley winery was founded by Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, whose wines helped put Napa Valley on the global wine map. Today, his daughter Violet Grgich leads the company, balancing respect for the winery’s heritage with the need to adapt to a changing world.

Her father’s philosophy continues to guide the culture of the business:

“Do your best. Learn something new. Make a friend.”

The message may sound simple, but it shapes how the company operates — emphasizing excellence, curiosity, and genuine relationships.

Under Grgich’s leadership, the winery has embraced innovation while staying grounded in those values. The company has adopted regenerative organic farming practices designed to protect soil health and strengthen the long-term sustainability of its vineyards.

At the same time, she emphasizes that leadership ultimately comes down to people.

“Technology will continue to evolve, but relationships will always matter,” Grgich says.

For CEOs navigating constant change, values offer stability and clarity.

Leadership takeaway: Strong values provide a leadership compass, helping organizations adapt to change without losing their identity.

The Leadership Lesson Behind the Climb

The leadership journeys of Erickson, Haberberger, and Grgich reflect three very different industries, companies and personal paths.

Yet their stories converge around a powerful idea: leadership is not defined by a single moment of success, but by the mindset leaders bring to the climb.

Each of these women embraced opportunities they hadn’t originally planned for. Each built organizations that extend leadership beyond the individual. And each remained grounded in values that shape the culture of the companies they lead.

As we reflect on International Women’s Day, these stories offer more than inspiration. They provide practical reminders that leadership growth often comes through unexpected challenges, thoughtful collaboration, and a clear sense of purpose.

And perhaps most importantly, they remind us that the leadership climb is never taken alone.

You can listen to these episodes and more in the A Life of Climb podcast series.

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