Donnie McMillan Jr. Shares Tips for Leading DaBella

Leadership is often seen as the ability to guide a team toward success, but for Donnie McMillan Jr., CEO of DaBella, it’s much more than that. It’s about empowering people, fostering growth, and building a culture that inspires excellence. Since founding DaBella in 2011, McMillan has developed a leadership approach that has driven the company to extraordinary heights. Operating in 20 states, DaBella has become a leader in home improvement under McMillan’s guidance.

In this article, McMillan shares his insights and practical tips for leading a successful company like DaBella, emphasizing the importance of servant leadership, investing in people, and creating a values-driven organization.

For McMillan, the foundation of effective leadership is a servant mindset. “Leadership is an awesome responsibility,” he says. “It’s not about money. You’d better know that it’s about taking care of other people.” This philosophy shapes every decision McMillan makes as a leader, from empowering his team to ensuring the company delivers exceptional customer service​.

One of McMillan’s core principles is never asking someone to do something he hasn’t done himself. “I’ve done every job, with the exception of payroll and accounting,” he explains. This hands-on approach builds credibility and also ensures that leaders at DaBella understand the challenges faced by their teams. New executives are required to spend time in each of the roles they oversee before taking on leadership responsibilities. “You can’t allow people to look down at somebody else,” McMillan emphasizes​.

2. Invest in Employee Growth

One of McMillan’s key tips for successful leadership is investing in the growth and development of employees. At DaBella, this starts with robust training programs and clear paths for advancement. “We spend a lot of time on leadership development and teamwork,” McMillan says. “Roughly, you know, an average employee is getting about two hours a week in some sort of self-growth, teamwork, or leadership deal.”​

McMillan also prioritizes promoting from within. Nearly all of DaBella’s leaders began their careers in entry-level roles, such as canvassing or operations. “It doesn’t matter where you start. It matters where you finish,” he says. By creating opportunities for advancement, DaBella fosters a culture of loyalty and excellence. “All of our branches — there’s 52 of them now — are all started by people who started off in entry-level positions,” McMillan explains​​.

Leaders at DaBella are also expected to mentor and coach their teams, dedicating 10% of their time to helping others grow. This commitment to employee development not only strengthens the organization; it also ensures that DaBella’s values are upheld at every level​.

3. Build a Values-Driven Organization

McMillan believes that strong values are the backbone of any successful company. At DaBella, the core values of leadership, growth, and care guide every decision and action. During a company rebranding process, a third-party consultant interviewed employees about DaBella’s culture and found that these values were universally understood and embraced. “What was interesting to them is the employee base … all could nail the core values, the culture of the company very well,” McMillan says​.

Leadership at DaBella is about influence and integrity. “We only like [to hire] people who want to lead through influence — which means you’ve got to be a good person, and people have to want to follow you,” Donnie McMillan Jr. explains. Growth, on the other hand, is about achieving success through collaboration. “Growth with success through the success of others. That’s a cultural thing. We can’t get anywhere on our own,” he says​.

Finally, care is central to both customer service and employee engagement. McMillan encourages his team to approach every interaction with empathy. “I like to ask people, if that was your grandmother, or was your mother, how would you want to treat that person?” he says. This commitment to care has earned DaBella a reputation for excellence and integrity​.

4. Foster a Sense of Purpose

For McMillan, DaBella’s purpose is evident in the company’s philanthropic initiatives, such as DaBella Cares, which raises funds for cancer charities, and free home improvement projects for veterans and families in need. “It’s not just about growing the business. It’s about making a difference, one home at a time,” McMillan says​​.

DaBella also encourages employees to give back through volunteerism, offering a full day of paid time off for community service. “We offer PTO for each employee to do local community volunteerism,” McMillan explains. These initiatives strengthen community ties and also inspire employees, creating a culture of pride and fulfillment​. DaBella employees have taken care of communities with initiatives such as cleanup at local parks or volunteering at soup kitchens.

5. Adapt and Innovate

Another tip McMillan offers is the importance of staying adaptable and embracing innovation. “We refer to ourselves as a continuous startup,” he says. “What we’re doing today won’t be the way we do it six months or a year from now.” This mindset has helped DaBella remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry​.

Under McMillan’s leadership, DaBella has expanded its product offerings to include energy-efficient windows, solar roofing, and sustainable siding. These innovations align with changing consumer preferences while reinforcing the company’s commitment to quality and sustainability. “Our goal is to provide solutions that make homes not just beautiful but also functional and sustainable,” McMillan says​.

6. Empower Others to Lead

McMillan’s final tip for effective leadership is empowering others to take on leadership roles. At DaBella, every employee is seen as a potential leader, and the company provides the tools and support needed to help them succeed. “We try to treat everybody like they’re family,” McMillan says. “We only like [to hire] people who want to lead through influence — which means you’ve got to be a good person, and people have to want to follow you.”

This focus on empowerment has created a culture where employees feel valued and motivated. “Every voice here matters,” McMillan says. “If you’re in leadership, it’s an awesome responsibility.”

A Blueprint for Success

Donnie McMillan Jr.’s leadership tips are the principles that have propelled DaBella to success. By serving others, investing in people, and fostering a values-driven culture, McMillan has built a company that excels in business and also makes a meaningful impact on its employees and communities.

“Leadership is an awesome responsibility, and it’s about taking care of other people. That’s what sets us apart,” says Donnie McMillan Jr.