Women Who Lead: Celebrating the Voices Shaping Our Future

March marks Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, leadership, and contributions of women past and present. It is an opportunity to recognize the progress that has been made while also honoring the women who continue to shape the future through their work, leadership, and influence. We are proud to spotlight women within our organization who are making a meaningful impact and inspiring those around them. Throughout March, we will be sharing responses from women in leadership as they reflect on their influences, values, challenges, and what Women’s History Month means to them.

Today, we’re celebrating Alyssa Molaro, whose leadership and vision help shape the future of our organization.

Leadership Philosophy

Q: What values guide you most as a leader?

A: Ownership and Accountability

A Defining Moment

Q: Was there a moment in your career that helped shape the leader you are today?

A: Early in my career at the City of Myrtle Beach, working with Dr. Kegler and Becky Small in HR leadership became a defining moment in how I lead today. I was responsible for analytics and reporting, focused on delivering hard-hitting numbers. At first, I believed the value was simply in presenting the data clearly.

What I quickly learned that stays with me today is that numbers alone do not lead - insight does. The data was only the starting point to a story, the beginning pages. I had to transition from a reporting analyst to an executor. This navigated my growth from a specialist who not only found issues but focused on solving them.

Lessons in Leadership

Q: What is one lesson leadership has taught you that you wish you knew earlier?

A: Real leadership is not about being the most liked person in the room. Its about making the decisions that move the organization forward, even when they make you unpopular.

Challenges & Growth

Q: What challenges have helped you grow the most in your career?

A: Accepting that failure is not something that may occur, it is an absolute. However, the lessons from failure are extremely valuable, allowing judgment and process to be sharpened to lead effectively.

Mentorship & Influence

Q: Who has been influential in your professional journey?

A: Dr. Kegler and Becky Small have played a defining role in shaping my career. Both demonstrated patience and belief in people who are committed to hard work and growth. Early in my career, watching Dr. Kegler navigate difficult decisions in high-pressure moments—while always being transparent about the “why”—left a lasting impression on how I approach leadership today.

Impact

Q: What impact do you hope to have on your team or the next generation of leaders?

A: I hope to develop leaders who are comfortable owning mistakes instead of shifting blame. Strong teams spend less time protecting themselves and more time figuring out how to improve. When something doesn’t go right, the first question should always be: what could I have done differently? Could I have influenced the outcome more, clarified expectations, or built a better process?

I try to make that impact by modeling it every day. When things fall short, I take responsibility first and focus on how I could have been better as a leader. Over time, that mindset spreads. When leaders take accountability openly, people become more willing to own challenges, learn from them, and grow into stronger leaders themselves.

Something You Might Not Know

Q: What is one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

A: One thing people might be surprised to learn about me is that I consider myself a student of self-awareness. I’m interested in understanding how leaders think, make decisions, and grow over time. I try to approach that reflection without judgment—just with the idea of continuous improvement. That mindset helps me stay open to feedback, learn from experiences, and keep evolving as a leader.

Women’s History Month Reflection

Q: What does Women’s History Month or International Women’s Day mean to you?

A: To me, it’s about honoring the women who paved the way by showing what’s possible through dedication, accountability, and strong character. It’s also a reminder of the responsibility to continue building opportunities for the next generation so they can pursue their goals, develop their talents, and make their own impact, whatever that may be!