“Leadership Through Service: The Power of Showing Up”
Morgan Teal – Community Relations Director, Community First Credit Union
For Morgan Teal, leadership has never been about titles or authority – it has always been about showing up.
From her very first job as a dishwasher at age 12, to her current career in corporate social responsibility (CSR), Teal has consistently sought opportunities to contribute, connect and serve. As a first-generation graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, she found what she calls her professional “forever home” in CSR, a field where she has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the community every day. The role of CSR is to connect a company’s business goals with the needs of the communities it serves, helping organizations make a meaningful impact through volunteerism, charitable giving and community partnerships.
“Less than one percent of the workforce operates in the CSR space,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful to spend every day working in the service of my community.”
That commitment to service extends well beyond the workplace. As the mother of two young boys, Teal hopes her career demonstrates the value of civic responsibility.
“When I was pregnant, I faced the familiar question of whether I would step back from my career,” she said. “I chose to stay the course because I want my boys to grow up knowing that the time I spend away from home is spent with purpose – dedicated to lifting up the community and supporting others.”
That sense of purpose has also guided her leadership journey through the Fox Cities Chamber. A member of Leadership Fox Cities Class of 2026, where she was nominated by her classmates as graduation speaker, and a participant in the Pulse Mentorship Program, Teal says the Chamber’s leadership opportunities have challenged her to grow both professionally and personally.
“We are blessed with a local Chamber that doesn’t just stand out regionally but is recognized nationally for its programming,” she said. “These programs don’t just help excel your career; they genuinely shape who you are as a person.”
For Teal, leadership itself is something far more universal than a job title.
“Leadership exists in everyone,” she said with a smile. “My nearly three-year-old son makes leadership decisions every single day, mostly deciding whether he is going to let Mom run the show or if he is.”
While the stakes may be different at home than in the workplace, she believes leadership always comes down to choice – how we lead ourselves and how we influence those around us.
Her own leadership philosophy centers on creating an environment where people can thrive. Inspired by a quote from Encompass CEO Missy Schmeling, “Your attitude predicts the weather of the center, so be the sunshine,” Teal strives to build teams rooted in trust, autonomy and mutual respect.
“It’s about leading the exact way I hope to be led,” she said. “From that foundation, we can be ambitious, work incredibly hard but effectively, and always make time to celebrate and share gratitude.”
Throughout her career, Teal has been fortunate to work for leaders who encouraged stretch goals and created supportive environments to pursue them. One especially challenging fundraising campaign reinforced a lesson that continues to shape her leadership today. After weeks of travel, speaking engagements and long days pursuing an ambitious goal, her team exceeded expectations. Yet the biggest takeaway wasn’t the number they achieved.
“I learned very quickly that making people feel seen and simply showing up goes a long way,” she said.
That same desire to show up for others has fueled her passion for service, something she credits to her mother.
“I don’t know how not to serve others,” she said. “You see a need, and you do what you can to meet it.”
Still, leadership has also taught her difficult lessons.
One of her greatest challenges came while serving as a middle manager under a difficult leader. Determined to protect her team from unnecessary stress, she absorbed much of the negativity herself. While her team remained largely unaware of what was happening behind the scenes, the emotional toll was significant.
“It taught me a brutal, necessary lesson,” she said. “You cannot save others by setting yourself on fire.”
Mentors helped her recognize that supporting others also requires protecting her own well-being, a lesson she now carries into every leadership role.
When asked what advice she would offer aspiring leaders, Teal doesn’t hesitate.
“Care about your people, be dependable, and then get out of the way.”
She believes one of the greatest gifts leaders can give their teams is trust. Rather than solving every problem, leaders should empower others to navigate challenges independently, reserving their own energy for the moments when it’s truly needed.
Likewise, she encourages emerging leaders to stop chasing perfection.
“True leadership isn’t about always saying the perfect thing or mapping out a flawless path,” she said. “It’s about having the courage to follow what brings you genuine joy and leaning into the spaces where your authentic skills can shine.”
Over the past year, Teal’s resilience has been tested in profound ways. As she was beginning a new job, receiving the Insight 40 Under 40 award and being selected by her Leadership Fox Cities classmates as graduation speaker, she was also grieving the loss of a baby. Rather than keeping that experience private, Teal chooses to speak openly about it, hoping to normalize conversations around grief and remind others they don’t have to carry those experiences alone.
Looking back, she says she is most proud not of the professional recognition, but of her perseverance during that challenge.
“I am most proud of the fact that I didn’t give up on myself. I balanced an immense amount of change and grief in a short window, and I stood tall through it. But it also softened me quite a bit, opening a new level of empathy and vulnerability in me that I hope carry into serving others.”
As she looks toward the future, Teal believes leadership will increasingly be defined by authenticity, empathy and connection.
“The younger generations entering the workforce deeply value honesty, flexibility and leaders who actively live out their values,” she said.
Leadership Fox Cities reinforced those beliefs while challenging her to become a more curious leader. One of her biggest takeaways has been intentionally slowing down and asking better questions, a practice that has broadened her perspective and strengthened both her work and community involvement.
Reflecting on the experience, Teal says the greatest leaders are often the most generous with one resource that can never be replaced.
“The best leaders are always the ones who share their time with others.”