Jon Stojan
Image credit: Donnie McMillan
Leadership is often defined by the ability to inspire, empower, and transform. For Donnie McMillan Jr., CEO of DaBella, an award-winning Idaho-based home improvement company, these qualities aren’t just theoretical — they are the cornerstones of his approach to leading one of the nation’s most dynamic home improvement companies. Since founding DaBella in 2011, McMillan has crafted a leadership style that prioritizes people, innovation, and purpose, propelling his company into 20 states with more, promises McMillan, on the horizon.
What sets McMillan apart isn’t just the impressive growth of his company — it’s the ethos and principles that guide his decisions every step of the way. Through servant leadership, an unrelenting focus on people, and a commitment to continuous growth, McMillan has redefined what it means to lead.
Servant Leadership: Leading Through Service
At the heart of McMillan’s leadership philosophy is a deep commitment to servant leadership. For him, leadership is not about authority but about uplifting others. “Leadership is an awesome responsibility. It’s not about money. You better know that it’s about taking care of other people,” McMillan explained. This mindset drives every aspect of his leadershipat DaBella, from empowering employees to serving customers with care and respect.
One way McMillan embodies this philosophy is by only asking employees to do things that he would do himself. “When the company was small, I did nearly every job, and I know the importance and intricacies,” he said. Even today, new executives who join DaBella must spend time in each of the roles they oversee, ensuring they understand the challenges and nuances of those positions. “You can’t allow people to look down at somebody else,” McMillan emphasized. “If you’re in leadership, it’s an awesome responsibility.”
At DaBella, leadership development is a companywide priority. Unlike many organizations that recruit managers and executives from outside, DaBella promotes almost exclusively from within. This practice reflects McMillan’s belief in the potential of every employee. “It doesn’t matter where you start. It matters where you finish,” he says.
To support this growth, DaBella invests heavily in training and development. Employees at every level participate in weekly self-improvement courses and leadership training, with managers dedicating about 10% of their time to coaching and mentoring others. “We spend a lot of time on leadership development and teamwork,” McMillan shared. “Roughly, you know, an average employee is getting about two hours a week in some sort of self-growth, teamwork, or leadership time.”
This commitment to employee growth creates opportunities for individuals to advance quickly within the company. Nearly all of DaBella’s branch leaders began their careers in entry-level positions, such as canvassing or operations. “All of our branches — there’s 52 of them now — are all started by people who started off in entry-level positions,” McMillan explained. This internal promotion structure strengthens the company’s culture while also ensuring that leaders fully understand the business.
Core Values That Define Leadership
McMillan’s leadership is also distinguished by the clear and consistent values that underpin every decision at DaBella. During a company rebranding process, McMillan worked with a third-party consultant to evaluate the organization’s culture. “What was interesting to them is the employee base … all could embody the core values, the culture of the company very well,” he said. Those values — leadership, growth, and care — continue to guide DaBella’s operations.
Leadership, as McMillan sees it, is about influence and example. “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,” he said. This philosophy shapes the way DaBella approaches hiring, training, and promoting employees.
Growth, both personal and professional, is another cornerstone of DaBella’s culture. McMillan explains, “Growth with success through the success of others. That’s a cultural thing. We can’t get anywhere on our own.” By fostering a collaborative environment, DaBella ensures that employees, customers, and the company as a whole succeed together.
Finally, care defines how DaBella interacts with both its employees and its customers. McMillan encourages his team to approach every project with empathy and integrity. “I like to ask people, if that was your grandmother, or was your mother, how would you want to treat that person?” he says.
Empowering Through Community Engagement
For McMillan, leadership extends beyond the workplace to the communities DaBella serves. Under his guidance, the company has made community engagement a central part of its identity. Initiatives like DaBella Cares, which raises funds for cancer charities, and free home improvement projects for veterans and families in need exemplify McMillan’s belief in giving back. “It’s not just about growing the business. It’s about making a difference, one home at a time,” he said.
These efforts strengthen DaBella’s ties to its communities — and also inspire employees. “We offer a full day of PTO for each person to do local community volunteerism,” McMillan shared, noting that these opportunities foster a sense of purpose and pride among his team. Local nonprofits that have benefited from this time include children’s programs and soup kitchens.
Balancing Innovation and Tradition
Another hallmark of Donnie McMillan Jr.’s leadership is his ability to balance innovation with tradition. While DaBella has embraced new technologies and expanded its product offerings to include energy-efficient windows, solar roofing, and sustainable siding, McMillan remains committed to the principles that have defined the company from the beginning.
“We refer to ourselves as a continuous startup,” he said, describing DaBella’s approach to growth and adaptation. “What we’re doing today won’t be the way we do it six months or a year from now.” This mindset ensures that DaBella stays competitive while maintaining the personal touch that sets it apart.
Leadership Rooted in Humanity
Ultimately, what sets Donnie McMillan Jr. apart as a leader is his deep understanding of people. Whether it’s empowering employees, serving customers, or giving back to the community, McMillan’s leadership is rooted in empathy and humanity. “Every voice here matters,” he says. “The company is full of 2,000 souls, and no one is better than the other.”
McMillan’s leadership philosophy is grounded in service, growth, and care, and has transformed DaBella into more than a company: It’s a community of people working together to make a difference.
In McMillan’s own words: “Leadership is an awesome responsibility, and it’s about taking care of other people. That’s what sets us apart.”