Skills
About
Bo Howard is the Vice President of Business Development for Shapiro, a company focusing on building recycling and sustainability programs for manufacturers. Over the 120+ years of Shapiro’s history, most of that has been focused on metal recycling. Bo and others have helped transition Shapiro from a metal-focused company, to a sustainability-focused company over the last several years. Living near the Gulf of Mexico on the Alabama coast, along with growing up in Florida, helped shape a love of nature and a responsibility to it from a young age. From writing protest letters to corporations with bad environmental policies in fifth grade to watching the impacts of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in his backyard, nature has always played a critical role in his life. When not visiting client sites to help improve the impact on the environment, Bo tries to travel as much as possible with his wife and three kids. Showing his kids the beauty of the world is critical to helping them appreciate why it’s so important to protect our resources and wild areas. Expanding on his appreciation of nature, Bo works with clients to tell the right story about what improvements are being made. It's not enough to prove it; people have to understand it. That's where the spark comes from, turning a byproduct into a sustainability story. In addition to early exposure to sustainability and nearly a decade working at Shapiro, Bo is working towards a Master's Degree in Sustainability from the Harvard Extension School. Adding academic knowledge to practical applications helps connect the dots of how and why for him and his clients.
Bo Howard
Published content
expert panel
Sometimes the most powerful leadership lessons are straightforward reminders that reshape how you lead in small, consistent ways. In the day-to-day demands of running a team, it’s easy to overlook the habits and mindsets that shape culture, trust and performance. But often, a single piece of simple, actionable advice can shift how a leader communicates, prioritizes and supports their people. These small changes tend to compound over time, influencing everything from morale to results. Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share the simplest advice they’ve received that made the biggest impact on how they show up for their teams and why those lessons continue to resonate in their leadership today.
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Leaders who tangibly demonstrate their trust in employees can build a stronger, more collaborative team dynamic. Many leaders tell their team members often — perhaps even daily — that they trust them to do their jobs. However, when those same leaders micromanage, shut down new ideas or undermine people's decisions, it signals that their so-called "trust" isn't very strong. Even if you are truly confident in your employees' abilities and judgment, there's a difference between saying the words, "I trust you," and actually proving it. Here, Rolling Stone Culture Council members explore some concrete actions you can take to let your employees know, without a doubt, that you believe in them.
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Even with C-suite leadership committed to doing the right things, there are still moments when none of it makes sense, and we have to reflect and wonder how we got here.
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In high-pressure moments, a leader's ability to make thoughtful decisions amid ambiguity can define both outcomes and culture. Uncertainty is part of leadership, especially in industries shaped by rapid change, creative risk and market volatility. But making decisions without full visibility doesn’t mean acting alone or rushing blindly. The challenge is balancing decisiveness with collaboration, and speed with thoughtful input. To help you do this, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share how they navigate high-stakes choices in uncertain environments, and how they involve their teams in ways that build trust and alignment without slowing progress.
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The strongest professional networks aren’t built on convenience or status, but on trust, honesty and mutual growth. For creatives and professionals, a peer network can be invaluable for gaining perspective, accountability and the kind of candid feedback that helps you sharpen your thinking and evolve your work. The best peers don’t just cheer you on; they challenge assumptions, question decisions and support you when the path forward feels uncertain. Building that kind of network takes intention. It requires showing up consistently, offering value before asking for it and being open to relationships that push you outside your comfort zone. Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share their best advice for cultivating peer communities that offer both support and constructive friction, and why those relationships are essential for long-term creative and professional growth.
expert panel
As work becomes more digital and distributed, leaders must be more intentional about how trust is built, sustained and felt across their teams. Hybrid and remote work have reshaped how teams communicate, collaborate and connect. But trust doesn’t automatically follow new tools or flexible schedules. Without face-to-face cues and shared physical spaces, misunderstandings can happen more frequently, and employees may hesitate to speak up or take creative risks. In this environment, psychological safety requires deliberate leadership. Building genuine trust requires a human-centered approach to communication that makes people feel heard, respected and safe to contribute fully. To that end, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share the strategies they rely on to foster trust and psychological safety, no matter where their teams are located.
Company details
Shapiro
Company bio
Shapiro is a sustainability-driven company committed to circularity programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting recyclable materials such as metal, wood, cardboard, paper, and plastic from landfills. Founded in 1904, Shapiro remains privately owned and operates across North America, including Canada and Mexico, while also trading materials internationally. With 12 locations including a corporate office in St. Louis, Missouri, the city where Shapiro first established its business, they continue to expand their network to best assist clients in reaching their sustainability initiatives.