Sarasota sisters detail the skills to set leaders apart from the pack

Sarasota leadership consultant Lauren Henry went into over-preparation mode recently when asked to introduce a speaker at a local event for entrepreneurs. One of several people doing intros, Henry memorized and relentlessly practiced, even knowing she was only going to be at the podium for, at most, a few minutes. 

The effort paid off. While others were underprepared or basically winged it, Henry caught the attention of many in the audience that day — even some of the more renowned speakers. “People ended up coming up to me after it, wanting to talk to me,” Henry says. “It really opened a lot of doors.”

The mantra to be at your best whatever the task is drives Henry, who, with her older sister, Candice Henry, form the Sarasota-based company Aretios. From the Greek word arete, which signifies bravery, excellence and the act of living up to one’s potential, the company offers a menu of leadership products and services, including social media and video content; leadership seminars and courses for nonprofits and for-profit businesses; and a goal-setting journaling guidebook called The Daily. The sisters also teach a class on personal and professional leadership at Southeastern University, a Christian-based liberal arts college based in Lakeland.