Vanessa Barnes is the CEO of WorkSmart, a women-owned staffing firm that connects top talent with critical industries across the Southeast. A forward-thinking leader with a background in corporate communications and nearly a decade in workforce development, Barnes is passionate about building systems that put people first while driving sustainable business growth. Since joining WorkSmart in 2017, Barnes has played a pivotal role in scaling the company from a small operation with two branches into a regional player with four locations and a rapidly growing internal team. In 2023, she was named CEO.
The best advice I’ve ever received was simple but powerful: never take criticism from people you wouldn’t take advice from. That moment changed how I showed up. I became far more intentional about surrounding myself with people who speak truth into me, hold me accountable to our values, and genuinely want to see you win. When you surround yourself with those who are rooting you on and pouring into you, it changes everything. Everyone deserves those people.
One thing I’ve learned is that you always make the best decision you can with the information you have at the time. Playing Monday-morning quarterback has always been more hurtful than helpful for me. We’ve chosen to embrace failure as part of the process — something to learn from, not something to fear — and to keep moving forward. With that mindset, I know some of the decisions I’ve made may not look “right” three years from now. And that’s OK. Leadership requires grace — for yourself and others — and the ability to learn from challenges without beating yourself up for what you should have done differently.
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