Being a top performer rarely comes down to a single moment or metric. Rather, it’s based on how people lead, support others and respond when challenges arise.
This Women’s History Month, three winners of ADT’s highest employee honor reflect on the often-unseen work that drives their success.
Helping others grow
Laura Leonard, ADT Team Manager for Existing Customer Retention, has grown in her 27-year career at ADT, moving from an entry-level call center role to a leadership position in sales and customer experience. In that time, she has been named to the ADT Circle of Excellence — the company’s highest employee honor — four times.
Focusing on people anchors Leonard’s leadership style, and she pays close attention to her team members’ individual growth. “I spend the majority of my day asking, ‘How can I get this person to get three more sales, how can I get them to hit that next milestone, how can we tweak what they’re doing?’ ” Leonard says.
Reaching the Circle of Excellence, awarded annually to the top 1% of performers, comes down to showing up with consistent effort every day, she says. “If you come to work every day and you’re just clocking in, you’re going to be an average performer because you’re putting in average effort,” Leonard says.
Her advice to young women is to be proud of putting in above-average effort. She advises them to be confident in their abilities, to speak up and to avoid downplaying their success. It is OK, she says, to acknowledge your impact and own your wins.
Leonard is also intentional about mentoring women on her team. “I want them to feel seen,” she says.
Leading through pressure
If supporting people creates the foundation for strong performance, protecting outcomes sustains it. Angie Muci, ADT Monitoring Unit Manager and three-time Circle of Excellence winner, has been with ADT for 25 years, starting as a frontline supervisor and growing in her career within the monitoring team.
Muci defines excellence as taking responsibility, using good judgment and leading through moments when the stakes are high.
Shaped by years in male-dominated environments, including her time in the military from 1990-1994, Muci leads with preparation, confidence and a clear voice. “I’m not shy to talk and speak up,” she says. “That comes from knowing my facts and being able to speak to them in a group, so they understand that I know what they’re talking about.”
Muci encourages women to be confident and direct, especially when conversations are difficult. She pushes leaders on her team to speak up, ask questions and address issues directly. “Don’t shy away from tough conversations — just address them head-on,” she says.
Her advice for those aiming for excellence in their roles is to take on challenges, volunteer for unfamiliar projects, and be willing to step forward to learn and grow.
Showing up with persistence
In sales, results are delivered one conversation at a time, and performance depends on persistence and trust. That is where Rosanna Spontelli, ADT Solutions Advisor and 13-time Circle of Excellence winner, shines.
Spontelli joined ADT 27 years ago, starting in the billing department as a collections agent. Today, she focuses primarily on working with customers to reactivate their systems, upgrade their equipment and understand the benefits of new products. She has built her success through consistency and personal connection.
As a woman working in sales, Spontelli has encountered challenges that come with being highly visible in a customer-facing role. Rather than letting those moments define the interaction, she says she stays focused on what matters most. She approaches each visit calmly and centers the conversation on the service she is there to provide and what the customer needs.
A self-described people-person, Spontelli believes success in her role requires compassion, the ability to read customers and, above all, determination. “It’s a lot of work — calling, calling, being persistent,” she says. “If they didn’t buy today, they will one day.”
Spontelli's advice to women in sales is to be consistent and never give up. “Have a plan,” she says. “Every day you have to know what you’re doing, who you’re calling. Follow up and put in the work.”
Interested in joining the team? Visit the ADT Careers Site to find our current job openings.