Ryan explains how REDCOM has built collaboration into its operating model by bringing all departments under one roof—eliminating silos, increasing accountability, and forcing teams to work together from start to finish. He shares the company’s “top-level talks” initiative, where employees from different departments meet offsite without managers or agendas, creating authentic conversations that later translate into stronger working relationships back in the office.

They also discuss why collaboration isn’t just about people—it’s about systems, trust, and culture. From breaking down communication barriers to designing workspaces and training programs that encourage interaction, the episode highlights how organizations can move beyond surface-level teamwork and build environments where collaboration happens naturally. The conversation closes with practical insights on feedback culture, work-life balance, and why investing in people is critical for long-term success.

🔑 Takeaways

• Collaboration doesn’t happen by accident—it must be intentionally designed
• Physical proximity (working under one roof) improves accountability and teamwork
• Departments working in silos are one of the biggest barriers to collaboration
• Informal, offsite conversations can break down communication barriers
• Shared personal connections make professional collaboration easier
• Younger employees often struggle with in-person communication post-COVID
• Leaders must actively create opportunities for employees to interact
• Trust is the foundation of any collaborative culture
• Open feedback systems cannot exist without transparency
• Collaboration reveals both people issues and process inefficiencies
• Cross-department interaction helps identify operational bottlenecks
• Workspace design can directly impact how teams collaborate
• Leadership must model collaboration, not just talk about it
• Work-life balance plays a key role in employee engagement
• Flexibility increases trust and productivity
• Culture is built through consistent actions, not just stated values
• Core values must be reinforced regularly to stay meaningful
• Personalized training is more effective than generic programs
• Investing in employee development strengthens retention
• Collaboration is both a cultural mindset and a structural system

⏱️ Chapters

00:03:15 Intro: The challenge of collaboration in an increasingly isolated world

00:04:06 REDCOM’s integrated model: all teams under one roof

00:05:17 Accountability and eliminating blame between departments

00:06:00 Communication challenges in younger employees

00:06:28 “Top-level talks”: creating offsite collaboration

00:06:53 No managers, no agenda—just conversation

00:07:14 Building relationships beyond work topics

00:07:54 How shared experiences improve teamwork

00:08:27 Creating a culture of feedback

00:09:15 Encouraging openness in conversations

00:09:47 Why feedback cannot be fully confidential

00:10:24 Trust as the foundation of collaboration

00:11:29 Challenges with management-level communication

00:13:00 Personal issues affecting workplace behavior

00:13:59 Breaking silos between departments

00:14:39 Collaboration revealing process improvements

00:15:03 Building a culture of collaboration and accountability

00:15:28 Work-life balance and the “fifth day flex”

00:16:33 Flexibility vs traditional corporate structures

00:18:35 Collaboration as a competitive advantage

00:24:52 Core values: collaboration, trust, accountability

00:26:25 Reinforcing values in daily operations

00:27:11 Workspace design for collaboration

00:30:18 Investing in employee training and development

00:31:16 Personalized training across departments

00:32:15 Final thoughts on building a collaborative workplace

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this week’s episode, Carol Schultz sits down with Adnan Haroon (Founder & CEO of BIMAC Group) to break down what it actually takes to expand a business beyond North America—and why many companies never make that leap despite having the capital and capability.

Adnan shares how he started his company in Canada and evolved into a multi-country operation across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe—driven not by aggressive scaling, but by opportunity, relationships, and strategic partnerships. He explains how one inbound lead in the Middle East became the catalyst for global expansion, and why regions like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and South Asia offer significant advantages—from tax structures to growing consumer markets.

We discuss the mindset gap holding North American companies back, the importance of building local partnerships instead of centralized teams, and how global expansion is less about size and more about access—access to networks, knowledge, and the right people on the ground. The episode also explores operational realities: structuring international teams, navigating cross-border finance, and why the biggest bottleneck to scaling globally is not opportunity—but finding the right partners.

We conclude our conversation with practical insights on when to expand, how to think about global markets strategically, and why companies that fail to look beyond their home market risk missing the next wave of growth.

Takeaways

• Many North American companies have capital but lack a global perspective
• Expansion often begins through opportunity, not long-term planning
• One international lead can unlock multiple markets
• The UAE serves as a strategic hub for global expansion
• Tax advantages play a major role in international decisions
• Emerging markets offer large and growing consumer bases
• Regions like the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia present strong opportunities
• Local partnerships are essential for entering new markets
• Strong networks matter more than company size in global expansion
• Decentralized teams allow flexibility across countries
• Each region requires local expertise and relationship-building
• Personalized service can outperform large, hierarchical firms
• Early clients and referrals drive initial international growth
• Companies must adapt to different financial and regulatory systems
• Cross-border expansion requires strong financial knowledge
• Founders should not assume they can manage all functions alone
• Hiring experienced financial leaders improves decision-making
• Fractional CFO models can support growing companies globally
• Expansion requires balancing growth with execution
• Large M&A deals take time and require strong buyer networks
• Stable service offerings help balance long sales cycles
• Global networking creates unexpected business opportunities
• A single connection can lead to high-value deals
• Clients often expand engagement once trust is established
• The biggest bottleneck is finding the right partners
• Lack of specialization can limit growth in key regions
• Bandwidth constraints can lead to missed opportunities
• Some markets require multiple specialists, not generalists
• Travel remains important for building international relationships
• Short, strategic trips are more effective than long stays
• Global expansion requires both strategy and discipline
• Companies must think beyond domestic markets to stay competitive
• Diversification across regions reduces business risk
• International markets can offer cost advantages
• Building trust is critical in cross-border business
• The right team is more important than rapid expansion
• Execution becomes more important after initial growth
• Scaling globally requires long-term thinking
• Companies that delay expansion may miss market opportunities

Chapters

00:01:29 Intro: Expanding beyond North America

00:01:55 What Bismarck Group does

00:03:03 First international opportunity (Middle East)

00:03:24 Expansion into UAE and beyond

00:05:33 From Canada to global operations

00:06:43 Early challenges and competition

00:07:45 First clients and early traction

00:08:04 Decision to expand globally

00:08:40 Tax advantages in international markets

00:10:12 Partner model and structure

00:11:28 What makes a strong international partner

00:12:55 Advice for North American companies

00:13:34 Global expansion trends and examples

00:13:52 Market opportunities outside North America

00:14:56 Founder mindset: “Go global”

00:17:25 Evolution of services and strategy

00:18:05 Power of networking in global growth

00:19:24 Growth bottlenecks and challenges

00:20:09 Need for specialization in regions

00:21:28 Opportunities in Middle East markets

00:22:44 M&A and execution challenges

00:23:47 Shift toward execution-focused growth

00:24:08 Team structure across countries

00:25:37 Fractional CFO model introduction

00:27:31 Balancing expansion with execution

00:28:13 Future expansion plans

00:29:09 Role of travel in global business

00:30:24 Importance of financial expertise

00:31:05 Why companies must think globally

00:31:41 Tax and diversification strategies

00:32:01 How to connect with Adnan

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

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In this week’s episode, Carol Schultz sits down with Jasen Gundersen (Founder & CEO of CardioOne) to unpack what it actually takes to build an autonomous work culture—and why most leaders unknowingly become the biggest bottleneck to their company’s growth.

Jasen explains why micromanagement isn’t just inefficient—it’s a direct path to failure when trying to scale. Drawing from his own leadership journey, he shares how working under both empowering and controlling leaders shaped his philosophy: hire strong people, give them ownership, and get out of their way. The conversation dives into how autonomy drives retention, attracts top talent, and allows companies to operate at speed without constant oversight. They also explore why many founders struggle to let go, how “founder syndrome” limits growth, and what it really means to build a team that can function without you. The episode closes with practical insights on hiring for ownership, encouraging open dialogue, and creating a culture where people step up without being asked.

Takeaways

Autonomy is required for scale—not just a leadership preference.

Micromanagement is one of the fastest ways to kill growth.

Leaders who stay involved in everything become bottlenecks.

Retention improves when employees feel trusted and empowered.

Autonomous teams move faster and solve problems independently.

Hiring should focus on ownership, not just skill sets.

Strong teams don’t wait for instructions—they take initiative.

Open communication and questioning improve decision-making.

Silence inside teams is often a warning sign.

Founder syndrome limits company growth and scalability.

Leaders should aim to build teams that don’t depend on them.

Delegation is essential for long-term success.

Culture is a major driver of performance and growth.

High-performing environments attract top-tier talent.

Early hires should be versatile and capable of handling multiple roles.

Trust enables teams to “lean in” without being asked.

Growth accelerates when responsibility is distributed.

The best leaders create systems, not dependency.

Empowered teams create momentum inside organizations.

Letting go is not a weakness—it’s a requirement for scaling.

Chapters

00:00 Intro: Why leaders feel they must control everything

00:43 The core problem: “If I want it done right, I’ll do it myself”

01:24 What Cardio One does and the problem it solves

03:23 Growth of the company and early traction

05:28 Loss of autonomy in traditional systems

07:22 Jasen’s leadership philosophy

07:31 Leading how you want to be led

08:00 Why micromanagement fails

08:31 Building a company that runs without the founder

09:24 Founder syndrome and control issues

10:21 Communication as the foundation of scaling

11:21 Encouraging team feedback and pushback

12:12 Hiring people who thrive in autonomy

13:10 Benefits of autonomous teams

13:21 Retention and scalability advantages

14:35 How autonomy attracts better talent

15:14 The danger of being the only decision-maker

16:10 Early leadership lessons and delegation

16:39 Hiring your replacement mindset

17:27 The origin story behind Cardio One

20:16 Simplicity vs complexity in business building

22:27 How the company evolved over time

25:19 Trusting teams to execute independently

28:57 Growth bottlenecks and risk-taking

29:11 Fear vs entrepreneurship mindset

31:05 Teams taking initiative without leadership

33:34 Changing mindset of modern professionals

36:07 Mission-driven work and culture

39:38 Final thoughts on empowering teams

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

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John explains that private equity is often misunderstood. While it can provide a significant payout for current owners, it comes with trade-offs—loss of control, pressure to hit aggressive financial targets, and in some cases, forced layoffs if performance doesn’t meet expectations. Many firms turn to private equity not because it’s ideal, but because they failed to build a pipeline of future leaders who could take over internally.

They also discuss Anders’ long-term approach to growth, including a hiring philosophy that prioritizes talent over timing. Instead of waiting until there’s immediate need, the firm hires exceptional people ahead of demand—trusting that strong performers will grow into profitability and bring long-term value through relationships, expertise, and new business.

The conversation explores why succession planning is one of the most overlooked responsibilities in leadership. John emphasizes that it’s not a one-time decision, but an ongoing process of developing, trusting, and eventually stepping aside for the next generation. Businesses that remain dependent on their founders often struggle with valuation and continuity, while those that build systems and leaders early are positioned for stronger exits and sustained growth.

Carol and John also dive into the rise of Virtual CFO services and fractional leadership. For many small to mid-sized companies, hiring a full-time executive is both expensive and risky. A fractional model allows companies to access strategic financial leadership, operational support, and systems expertise—while maintaining flexibility and reducing hiring risk.

The discussion also touches on remote work and communication challenges in modern organizations. John shares how embracing a distributed workforce has enabled faster growth and broader access to talent, while also highlighting a key issue: over-reliance on email and messaging tools often slows down decision-making compared to direct conversations.

The episode closes with a focus on employee ownership and long-term alignment. John outlines how Anders has implemented structured equity models—including synthetic shares—to give employees a stake in the firm’s success. Without some form of ownership or participation, loyalty declines, especially during major transitions like acquisitions or leadership changes.

Takeaways

Private equity can provide strong financial exits—but often reduces autonomy and increases pressure.

Many firms sell because they failed to develop internal leadership pipelines.

Hiring great talent ahead of need can create long-term competitive advantage.

Succession planning must be continuous, not reactive.

Founder-dependent businesses are less valuable and harder to scale.

Virtual CFO models reduce hiring risk while improving financial visibility.

Clean financials and forecasting directly increase company valuation.

Remote work expands access to talent and accelerates growth.

Poor communication—especially over email—slows execution.

Employee ownership models improve retention and long-term alignment.

Chapters

00:00 Intro: Private equity, succession, and building lasting firms

01:06 John Scott’s background and Virtual CFO services at Anders

02:03 Private equity: benefits, risks, and real-world consequences

03:13 Hiring ahead of need and long-term talent strategy

04:30 Investor pressure vs. independent ownership decisions

05:58 Succession planning and developing future leaders

07:11 Mandatory retirement and creating growth paths

07:47 Why firms sell to private equity

10:42 Advice for leaders: hiring, delegation, and trust

12:21 Founder dependency and business valuation

15:42 Virtual CFO model and fractional leadership

17:17 Onboarding, systems, and financial optimization

18:25 Remote work and scaling through distributed teams

21:07 Communication breakdown in modern workplaces

24:06 Financial discipline and valuation impact

26:07 Team structure and specialization

27:53 Private equity trade-offs revisited

33:52 Employee ownership and equity models

36:24 Final thoughts and resources

Download John's Book: Judicial Dollars and Cents

To take John's business assessment: Maturity Model Assessment - Anders

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this episode of Evolving Your Workplace, host Carol Schultz sits down with Chris Carter, Founder and CEO of Approyo, to discuss the hard realities founders face when building and scaling a company — particularly inside the highly complex SAP ecosystem. From hiring mistakes to enterprise technology transformations, Chris shares candid insights drawn from decades of experience working with SAP systems and leading a global technology company.

Chris explains how he came out of retirement in 2011 to start Approyo and quickly discovered one of the most common traps founders fall into: trying to do everything themselves. Early in the company’s growth, he delayed hiring key leadership roles and found himself stretched across operations, technology, sales, and management. Looking back, he believes bringing in strong operators earlier would have accelerated growth and prevented unnecessary strain.

The conversation explores why leadership teams must be built around complementary strengths. Chris describes this balance as a “yin and yang” dynamic between visionary founders and operational leaders who can manage the day-to-day execution required to scale a company.

Carol and Chris also dive into the realities of competing in the enterprise technology space. As the SAP ecosystem experiences one of the largest upgrade cycles in its history, companies are under pressure to migrate legacy systems to modern cloud platforms. Yet many organizations continue to delay these transitions due to cost concerns, internal resistance to change, and employees reluctant to learn new systems.

Chris also highlights a growing challenge across the industry: talent shortages and an aging workforce within the SAP ecosystem. With many experienced professionals nearing retirement, companies are struggling to attract younger talent — while at the same time expecting new hires to bring real-world experience rather than just academic credentials.

The discussion also addresses the growing role of AI in enterprise technology. Chris shares how he is actively experimenting with emerging AI tools to build applications, automate processes, and help companies understand how artificial intelligence will reshape enterprise systems in the coming years.

The episode closes with a conversation about leadership culture. Chris believes successful companies are built by combining accountability with empathy — creating environments where employees are trusted to deliver results while being treated with respect and flexibility.

The message is clear: scaling a company requires more than technology or strategy. It requires leaders who know when to delegate, how to build balanced teams, and why investing in people is the foundation of long-term growth.

Key topics covered:

1. Why founders often wait too long to hire key leadership roles
2. The leadership “yin and yang” between vision and operational execution
3. Lessons learned from building a global SAP consulting company
4. The massive global migration from legacy SAP systems to cloud platforms
5. Why many organizations delay enterprise technology upgrades
6. Talent shortages and workforce challenges in the SAP ecosystem
7. Why real-world experience matters more than degrees in modern hiring
8. The growing role of AI in enterprise software and business operations
9. Building company culture through accountability, trust, and empathy

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Ed shares how leading with integrity, empathy, and accountability has shaped his career, and why stepping into the CEO role brought a new level of pressure. Responsible for nearly 70 employees, shareholders, lenders, and board members, he explains what it means to serve multiple constituencies while still driving performance and growth.

The conversation explores the difference between authentic leadership and performative leadership. Ed breaks down why self-awareness is non-negotiable, why people follow leaders (not companies), and what happens when high performers are promoted into management without the right support systems. He also explains why he refuses to “throw people into the lion’s den” without tools, coaching, and structured checkpoints.

Carol and Ed dive into the risks of bringing trusted team members with you to a new organization, the reality of startup probability and failure rates, and the hard truth that leadership cannot rely on blind loyalty. Servant leadership requires radical candor, resilience, and the ability to pace yourself under constant pressure.

Ed also reflects candidly on the personal cost of leadership — taking on too much, rarely saying no, and learning the importance of self-care and balance. He shares how Aerwave reduced its sales cycle from 360 days to 270 days through tighter qualification and objection handling, and why building culture remains his core focus as CEO.

The message is clear: servant leadership is not soft. It demands strength, accountability, and intentional investment in people.

Key topics covered:

1. What servant leadership truly means at the CEO level
2. Why self-awareness determines leadership longevity
3. The risk and responsibility of bringing former team members with you
4. Why promoting star performers without support often fails
5. Building capability instead of dependency in management teams
6. Serving shareholders, boards, employees, and lenders simultaneously
7. Reducing long enterprise sales cycles through better qualification
8. The importance of executive self-care and sustainable pacing
9. Investing intentionally in professional growth at every stage

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this episode of Evolving Your Workplace, host Carol Schultz sits down with Adam Povlitz, CEO and President of Anago Cleaning Systems, to explore what AI actually does inside an organization—and what it absolutely cannot do. While many companies are rushing to automate everything, Adam shares a grounded approach: use AI to remove busywork, identify performance gaps, and strengthen training, while doubling down on human development where it matters most.

Adam walks through how Anago built a system that connects operational data, analytics, and AI-powered learning to improve performance across a distributed franchise network. Instead of relying on static training manuals or one-size-fits-all onboarding, the company uses real-time performance signals to trigger targeted retraining and deliver interactive e-learning experiences that help workers correct issues quickly and consistently.

The conversation challenges the idea that AI can replace relationship-driven work. Adam explains why fully automated sales and service models repeatedly underperform compared to teams supported by AI tools, and why leaders should focus less on replacing employees and more on teaching them how to use technology effectively.

Carol and Adam also discuss why AI adoption must start at the leadership level, how companies can avoid overwhelming employees with new tools, and why investing in structured upskilling programs is becoming a competitive advantage. The message is clear: as AI handles more repetitive tasks, the human experience becomes more—not less—valuable.

Key topics covered:

How Anago uses AI to streamline training and retraining across locations

Why AI should accelerate work, not replace people.

Using operational data to trigger targeted learning interventions

The role of AI-driven e-learning, avatars, and testing in workforce development

Why CEOs must lead AI adoption for it to stick inside organizations

Balancing automation with in-person coaching and accountability

How removing grunt work allows employees to focus on higher-value human interactions

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

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In this episode of Evolving Your Workplace, host Carol Schultz sits down with Beth Raboin, Founder and CEO of Global Medical Virtual Assistants (GMVA), to unpack what actually drives low turnover and high morale—especially when most of your workforce is remote and distributed across the globe.

Beth shares how GMVA has maintained roughly a 4% turnover rate while scaling to 1,500+ team members in the Philippines. The core lesson: retention isn’t a perks problem—it’s a culture + management problem. Beth explains why the first three months are the truth-teller for culture fit, why educating candidates upfront reduces early churn, and why “getting someone in the door” isn’t the same as keeping them engaged.

The conversation gets practical on the leadership systems GMVA uses to keep morale high: monthly manager-focused surveys, 15 random HR one-on-ones per month, and a feedback culture built on psychological safety. Beth breaks down why people leave managers more than companies, how leaders can spot red flags early, and how stronger empathy and communication in middle management directly reduces attrition.

Beth also shares a simple but powerful example of listening in action: employees repeatedly asked for an optical benefit—because they’re on screens all day—and GMVA added it. The takeaway is clear: leaders don’t need to do everything, but they do need to hear patterns, make smart trade-offs, and show people their feedback turns into real change.

Key topics covered

1. How GMVA sustains a 4% turnover rate through growth
2. Why the first 90 days determine culture fit (and retention)
3. The real retention lever: great managers + communication
4. A simple morale system: surveys + one-on-ones + safe feedback
5. How to identify a skill issue vs. will issue (and what’s usually behind it)
6. Turning feedback into action (the optical benefit example)
7. Why leaders must be ready to hear feedback they may not like

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

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In this episode of Evolving Your Workplace, Carol Schultz sits down with Jed Meyer, CEO of St. Cloud Financial Credit Union, to break down what actually works — and what fails — when leading and connecting with Gen Z workers. The conversation centers on a core shift many leaders are resisting: Gen Z is not motivated by fear, hierarchy, or delayed recognition. They respond to clarity, authenticity, and lived values — not slogans on a wall.

Jed explains how leadership expectations must evolve from command-and-control to clarity-and-support. He outlines a practical coaching framework built around responsibility on the leader’s side first: clear expectations, real resources, and visible support before accountability. Instead of defaulting to performance warnings, his organization uses retention-focused coaching, frequent recognition, and structured feedback systems designed to keep high-potential young employees engaged rather than managed through pressure.

The discussion goes deeper into what Gen Z is signaling to the workforce at large: they will not trade life quality for money alone, they question institutional loyalty based on what they watched happen to prior generations, and they expect culture to be measurable in behavior — not branding. Jed shares specific operational strategies including values-based culture teams, gamified engagement, flexible scheduling experiments, and leadership vulnerability as a performance multiplier rather than a weakness.

They close with a leadership reality check: every generation brings value, but connection requires adaptation. Leaders who slow down enough to show up for employees — especially on their worst days — build the trust that Gen Z uses to decide whether to stay, contribute, and grow.

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

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In this episode of Evolving Your Workplace, Carol Schultz sits down with Dr. Dean Hendrickson, co-founder of SurgiReal Products, Inc. and a professor at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, to unpack a leadership reality that quietly derails teams: you don’t know what you don’t know—and the cost shows up in decisions, people, and momentum.

Dean shares the founder-side blind spots he ran into while building a company as a career surgeon and educator. He explains why getting pulled into “startup mode” without the right guidance can send leaders down the wrong path fast—and why the smartest move early is to sit with people who’ve actually built startups and ask a simple question: What am I not seeing? What questions am I not asking?

The conversation gets practical on how leaders should evaluate advice. Dean and Carol break down why “successful” doesn’t always mean “relevant,” how to do real due diligence on mentors, and why experience in large organizations doesn’t automatically translate to early-stage chaos. Dean also shares what happens when leaders miss people-related blind spots: needing different players at different stages, hiring someone exceptional who unintentionally triggers insecurity in others, and realizing too late that you can’t “coach” certain structural problems into working.

They close with a clear playbook for leaders who want fewer blind spots and faster learning: know your risk tolerance, seek outside input early, hire people who are better than you in key functions, and build a system to continuously ask customers and stakeholders what they need that they’re not getting. The goal isn’t to have all the answers—it’s to build the habits that reveal the gaps before they become expensive.

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

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In this episode of Evolving Your Workplace, Carol Schultz sits down with Marti Nyman, President and CEO of New Wave Design, to unpack a practical question most leaders face while scaling: how do you keep culture strong, consistent, and real—without turning it into a slogan?

Marti explains why culture is more than “values on a wall.” It’s a growth engine that affects how teams collaborate, solve problems, and attract top talent. He shares how culture can quietly weaken during expansion if leaders don’t intentionally reinforce it—especially when priorities shift to hiring, delivery, and day-to-day execution.

The conversation gets tactical. Marti breaks down a simple operating rhythm his leadership team uses to keep culture front-and-center, plus an “S-curve” way of thinking about culture initiatives: early momentum, inevitable plateau, then a deliberate reset to keep the culture alive. They also discuss how leadership handles uncertainty, how slow procurement cycles can become a real growth constraint, and what “speed of execution” looks like inside a complex industry.

They close with the CEO-level levers Marti focused on early: building predictability, creating scalable systems, and strengthening data-driven decision-making (including a risk-adjusted scorecard). Marti also shares what employees really want from work—being of value, being valued, and being part of something bigger—and why a real culture of feedback starts at the top.

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this episode of Evolving Your Workplace, Carol Schultz sits down with Rohit Kumar, Founder and CEO of Chapter Apps, to explore one of the hardest transitions for founders: knowing when hands-on leadership turns into micromanagement — and how that mindset quietly becomes a bottleneck to growth.

Rohit shares the evolution of Chapter Apps, from its early days as a mobile-first learning platform to its current focus on enterprise AI solutions for sales and employee assistance. He explains why the pivot toward AI was driven not by hype, but by real customer demand — especially the need for instant, accurate answers in high-stakes sales conversations.

The conversation digs into what “babysitting” actually looks like at the CEO level: testing products personally, double-checking team output, and stepping in when managers aren’t driving execution forward. Rohit generously opens up about the deeper reason founders struggle to let go — fear of disappointing customers — and how confidence in the team directly affects a leader’s ability to delegate.

Carol and Rohit also discuss scaling across geographies, co-founding a company with a spouse across time zones, and why relocating to San Francisco has accelerated Chapter Apps’ AI innovation through proximity to partners, platforms, and real-time problem solving.

They close by examining growth constraints, talent challenges, inbound vs outbound sales, and whether roles like Chief of Staff and Customer Success are luxuries — or necessities — for founders who want to stop reacting and start leading.

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this week’s episode, Carol Schultz sits down with Dave Gulas, Co-Founder and President of EZDC 3PL, to talk about what sales teams must lean into as 2026 approaches: visibility, authenticity, and relationship-driven selling in a world flooded with AI-generated noise. Dave explains why generic cold pitches on LinkedIn are failing, and how personal branding and real opinions help salespeople differentiate and build trust.

Dave also shares the origin story of EZDC 3PL, built after seeing “big box” logistics providers become complacent during and after the supply chain chaos of COVID. He breaks down why customer service, communication, and accountability are the real advantage in a market where thousands of 3PLs offer similar “space and labor.”

The conversation begins with a timely real-world issue in freight: theft and “burning an MC number,” where bad actors exploit carrier identity loopholes to steal loads fast before anyone can respond. From there, they move into scaling a logistics company, managing a remote warehouse team from a different state, and why hiring the right people (and learning from the wrong hires) is core to building a strong workplace culture.

Finally, Dave talks about launching the Beyond Fulfillment podcast as a learning tool during the hardest early stages of growth — and how consistency turned it into 220+ episodes, a growing YouTube channel, and high-level founders reaching out to be guests.

Takeaways:

Authenticity and visibility are essential for sales in 2026.

Cold pitching without relationships is not real selling.

AI is making generic outreach worse, not better.

Differentiation comes from real opinions and human connection.

Great customer service and over-communication build long-term trust.

Founder-led selling is difficult to replace at high-stakes moments.

Early growth mistakes help define your ideal customer profile.

Remote teams work best with strong leaders and clear systems.

Hiring the right people is a growth multiplier.

Consistency in content can create unexpected opportunities.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome + Why sales teams need this in 2026

00:32 What EZDC 3PL does (warehousing, fulfillment, transportation)

01:04 Real-time supply chain theft and diverted freight

02:27 How freight theft happens + “burning an MC number”

03:22 The #1 sales strategy for 2026: visibility and authenticity

04:33 Why cold pitching on LinkedIn is broken

05:11 The “fake compliment → wild promise → demand a meeting” script

06:01 How AI reinforces bad sales outreach

06:48 Why Dave founded EZDC 3PL

08:17 The meaning behind the name EZDC 3PL

09:23 How COVID changed logistics and created complacency

10:29 Customer service as the real differentiator

12:50 Why Kentucky is a strategic warehouse location

13:15 Managing a remote warehouse team as a founder

14:21 Founder’s “zone of genius” and role clarity

15:40 Why 3PL isn’t just “space and labor”

16:37 Early mistakes: taking the wrong clients

18:06 Bottlenecks to growth: space, timing, inventory transfers

20:34 Will Dave always lead sales?

21:53 Founder presence on sales calls (even at billion-dollar scale)

24:11 Why sales hires often fumble the message

27:56 Building culture through hiring lessons

30:13 Why Dave started the Beyond Fulfillment podcast

31:29 Consistency results: 220+ episodes and 13K YouTube subscribers

32:58 Where to learn more about EZDC 3PL + closing

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this week’s episode, Carol Schultz sits down with employment attorney Brittany Stevens (Partner at Phillips & Associates) to unpack the realities of sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, and power dynamics—and what leaders can do to create workplaces where people feel safe speaking up.

Brittany explains how harassment is defined under the law (and why it often differs from what people assume), why so many cases come down to evidence and “totality of circumstances,” and how fear of retaliation keeps employees silent—especially when the harasser holds power. They discuss what strong workplace policies and training should actually include, why some organizations make it hard to report, and how employees can protect themselves when a company is focused on protecting itself. The episode closes with practical guidance for both leaders and employees on building safer systems, documenting issues, and knowing when to seek confidential legal advice.

Takeaways

1. Sexual harassment isn’t always “obvious”—many cases are subtle and pattern-based.
2. Legal definitions of harassment/discrimination vary across federal, state, and city laws.
3. Power imbalances (boss vs. employee) make reporting feel risky and unsafe.
4. Fear of retaliation is one of the biggest reasons people stay silent.
5. Documentation and internal complaints can significantly strengthen a case.
6. Many companies fail by not having clear reporting policies or trusted processes.
7. Leaders must train managers not only on behavior—but on how to respond to complaints.
8. Discrimination can happen anywhere—industry, company size, and role don’t matter.
9. Some terminations get “hidden” behind restructuring or reductions in force.
10. Consulting a law firm can be a confidential way to understand your options.

Chapters

00:00 Intro: The taboo topic—sexual harassment & workplace safety

00:49 What Brittany’s firm does (employee-side discrimination law)

02:19 Why the firm was founded & what motivates this work

02:50 Defining harassment vs. what people think harassment is

04:28 Harassment isn’t always sexual: hostile work environments & protected classes

05:15 Evidence, documentation, and why cases are fact-dependent

06:16 Power dynamics: why “just say no” isn’t realistic

07:43 What victims can do when they fear repercussions

08:25 Why policies and reporting systems often fail (or don’t exist)

10:40 Vetting employers: red flags, lawsuits, and research before accepting jobs

11:13 DEI changes and what may shift over time

12:01 Discrimination happens everywhere (yes—even “good” companies)

13:00 What leaders should do: training, reporting, investigations, real support

15:54 Women vs. men: patterns Brittany sees in harassment and discrimination cases

16:46 Disability/medical termination & “restructuring” as a cover

18:35 How Phillips & Associates evolved and expanded over time

20:05 Growth bottlenecks: why jurisdiction/laws matter

21:21 Why expand into less employee-friendly states like Florida

22:58 Client trust: the importance of fast support and connection

23:54 Internal training: listening, empathy, and handling emotional calls

26:10 Choosing a path: quiet resolution vs. litigation

27:03 How to find the firm & their contingency model

29:24 Final thoughts: protecting yourself when the company protects itself

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this week's episode Carol Schultz and Maury Rogow delve into the significance of storytelling in sales and marketing.

Maury shares his journey from the tech industry to Hollywood, emphasizing the importance of differentiation and relatability in business. They discuss the need for effective communication, understanding audience needs, and the role of emotional engagement in sales.

Maury also provides unconventional strategies for generating sales, highlighting the power of personalization and the impact of AI in modern marketing. The discussion culminates with insights from Maury's book, 'Rise of the Entrepreneur', which focuses on leveraging storytelling as a superpower in business.

Takeaways

Businesses struggle to differentiate themselves in a crowded market.

Storytelling is essential for effective branding and sales.

Understanding your audience's needs is crucial for success.

Effective communication involves asking the right questions.

Sales should focus on serving the customer, not just selling.

Personalization in marketing can significantly enhance engagement.

Emotional connections drive customer loyalty and sales.

Unconventional sales strategies can set you apart from competitors.

AI is transforming the landscape of sales and marketing.

Your unique story can be a powerful tool for business growth.

Chapters

00:00 The Power of Storytelling in Sales

03:08 Maury's Journey: From Tech to Hollywood

05:59 Building Rip Media Group: A New Chapter

08:54 The Art of Relatable Storytelling

11:59 Understanding the Why Behind Your Story

15:00 Overcoming Founderitis in Marketing

17:49 Simplifying Complex Ideas for Sales

20:52 Unconventional Sales Strategies

21:49 The Power of Relatable Storytelling

25:32 Emotional Marketing Techniques

25:59 Innovative Sales Approaches

29:55 Personalization in Outreach

34:53 The Rise of the Entrepreneur

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

"The world is noisier than ever." - Melih Oztalay

In this conversation, Carol Schultz speaks with Melih Oztalay, CEO and internet marketing expert of Smartfinds Internet Marketing. They discuss the significant changes in marketing due to AI, the importance of adapting to these changes, and the four A's of change: anticipate, accept, adapt, and adopt.

Carol and Melih explore the necessity for businesses to invest in marketing to stay competitive. The discussion also touches on the impact of the political climate on business growth and the importance of a strong marketing foundation to navigate these challenges.

Takeaways

AI is transforming the marketing landscape significantly.

Businesses must anticipate and accept changes to thrive.

The four A's of change are crucial for adaptation.

Notable sources are essential for AI recognition.

The competitive landscape is noisier than ever.

Waiting to invest can lead to missed opportunities.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Change in Marketing

08:54 The Impact of AI on SEO

16:37 The Evolution of Smart Finds Marketing

20:52 Building a Resilient Team Culture

23:56 Building a Collaborative Culture

25:25 Navigating Political Climate Challenges

28:20 Investing in Growth Amid Uncertainty

29:11 Understanding Client Investment Decisions

31:38 The Importance of Omni-Channel Marketing

34:49 Impact of Political Climate on Business

37:02 Morale and Investment in the Workplace

38:35 Lessons from Historical Business Failures

40:46 The Interplay of Marketing and Sales

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this conversation I speak with Jason Andrews, multiple time founder and expert in space travel.

We discuss the intricacies of building a company that retains talent and the challenges of entrepreneurship. We also explore the importance of company culture, effective marketing strategies, and the financial aspects of running a startup.

Jason shares insights from his journey with Orbite, emphasizing the need for vision, adaptability, and the right team to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.

This is an episode you won't want to miss.

Chapters

00:00 Creating a Company People Don't Want to Leave

01:11 The Vision Behind Orbit and Human Spaceflight

03:18 The Challenges of Building a New Industry

06:21 Employee Retention in Startups

10:14 Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur

12:47 Funding Strategies for Startups

17:15 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

19:20 Understanding Space Training Costs

22:08 The Adventure of Space Training

24:58 Overcoming Perceptions of Space Travel

28:07 Marketing Challenges in the Space Industry

30:25 Building a Mission-Driven Team

32:43 Navigating Growth and Resource Limitations

35:47 The Journey of Entrepreneurship

40:41 Navigating Space Experiences and Virtual Operations

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Tune in for a fascinating conversation with immigration attorney Matt Meltzer where we explore the implications of ICE policies, compliance challenges, and the importance of understanding employee travel risks.

Matt shares insights on visa strategies for entrepreneurs and the evolution of his firm, Meltzer Hellrung, highlighting lessons learned from founding a business and the challenges of scaling.

The discussion also touches on client acquisition, organizational structure, and the future needs of the firm, culminating in a powerful message about the value of hiring non-US citizens. 

Chapters 

00:00 Navigating Immigration in the Workplace 

03:06 Compliance and Investigations 

05:35 Travel Considerations for Employees 

08:36 Visa Strategies for Entrepreneurs 

11:27 The Evolution of Meltzer Hellrung 

14:23 Lessons Learned in Leadership 

17:17 Client Acquisition and Marketing Strategies 

20:49 Navigating Growth Challenges 

23:58 Team Structure and Leadership Dynamics 

26:50 Sustainability and Unique Market Positioning 

30:11 Identifying Organizational Gaps for Growth 

32:06 Reflections on Founding and Mentorship 

35:14 The Value of Hiring Non-US Citizens 

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this conversation, Carol Schultz speaks with Sandi Luck, founder & CEO of Bully Brew Coffee, ND Coffee Roastery, and Board Room Coffee & Taphouse. They discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by women in male-dominated industries, particularly in the coffee business. Sandi shares her entrepreneurial journey, the importance of mentorship, and the dynamics of co-founder relationships.

They explore customer acquisition strategies, the significance of company culture, and the financial aspects of running a business. Sandy emphasizes the need for independent coffee shops and her vision for growth while addressing the challenges of employee retention and workplace evolution. 

Chapters 

00:00 Introduction to Gender Dynamics in Business 

03:04 Sandy Luck's Entrepreneurial Journey 

05:59 Navigating Co-Founder Relationships 

08:58 Customer Acquisition Strategies 

11:55 Women in the Coffee Industry 

14:48 Mentorship and Empowerment 

17:49 Future Growth and Business Philosophy 

19:22 The Cookie Cutter Model and Licensing Opportunities 

20:27 Ambitious Growth Plans for Bully Brew Coffee 

21:23 Community Engagement and Ownership in Small Towns 

22:42 Empowering Employees and Building Future Owners 

23:13 Creating a Welcoming Customer Experience 

24:00 Revenue Targets and Financial Challenges 

26:13 Bottlenecks to Growth and Risk Management 

29:14 The Reality of Entrepreneurship and Work-Life Balance 

31:14 Company Culture and Leadership Development 

33:37 Evolution of the Workplace and Leadership Skills 

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Carol Schulz sits down with Paul Pacun, founder and CEO of Vablet—a leading sales enablement tool focused on life sciences and medical device sales teams. 

Paul dives into his leadership strategy post-COVID and how that has transformed his team’s productivity.

He also walks us through Vablet’s evolution from a simple video tablet concept to a comprehensive platform used by global sales teams.

Tune in to hear how this successful CEO has transformed his workplace to meet ever-changing demands.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Vablet and Its Origins

02:38 Evolution of Workplace Dynamics

05:33 Navigating the Medical Device Market

08:29 The Impact of Remote Work and Team Structure

11:36 Challenges and Opportunities with AI

14:28 Future Innovations and Market Expansion

22:18 Sales Strategy and Market Expansion

25:16 Navigating Government Sales and Compliance

26:17 Sustainability and Financial Strategy

29:32 Growth Trajectory and Funding Options

34:01 Technology Adaptation and Testing Innovations

38:48 Passion in the Workplace and Company Culture

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this conversation, Carol Schultz interviews Carson about the challenges and experiences of being a young entrepreneur.

Carson shares her journey facing ageism, building a team, and navigating client relationships. She emphasizes the importance of trust, community, and ethical growth in business, while also providing valuable advice for young leaders.

Key Topics: 

• Carson’s Entrepreneurial Journey 
• Facing Reverse Ageism 
• Leadership as a Young Founder 
• Advice for Young and Emerging Leaders 
• Healthy Client Relationships 

Chapters 

00:00 Introduction to Young Entrepreneurship 

02:43 The Journey of Starting a Business 

05:50 Experiencing Reverse Ageism 

08:52 Building a Team and Leadership Challenges 

11:51 Growth and Franchising Strategies 

14:43 Customer Acquisition and Marketing Strategies 

17:40 Priorities for Future Growth 

20:40 Navigating Client Relationships 

23:31 Advice for Young Leaders 

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

They explore the concept of the 'last 8%'—the unspoken words in tough discussions—and how to foster an environment where employees feel safe to express themselves. The discussion also touches on the impact of toxic leadership, the necessity of assessing emotional intelligence, and the role of organizational culture in driving performance.

Bill shares insights from his experience at the Institute for Health and Human Potential, highlighting the need for courage and connection in building a high-performing culture. 

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this episode, host Carol Schultz sits down with supply chain expert Matt Spooner to break down what tariffs really mean for businesses—from small bike shops to multinational corporations.  

Are tariffs really the catastrophe we’re hearing about, or are there hidden opportunities for innovation and growth? Get insights on how leaders should communicate with their teams, why some industries might actually benefit, and what American consumers might have to change about their buying habits.  

Whether you manage a manufacturing company or just want to know how the latest news might affect your daily life, this episode brings clarity—and even a little optimism—to one of today’s most debated workplace issues. Don’t miss it! 

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Carol draws parallels between self-assessing learning styles and overestimating workplace communication skills and points out that many people tend to see themselves in a more generous light. Carol and Kevin discuss the critical role of experience in genuine learning, emphasizing that simply claiming to be a self learner isn't enough. They believe it's about actively engaging in reflective practices, seeking coaching or mentorship, and being open to feedback. The conversation highlights that the deepest learning often comes from real-life experience, thoughtful self-examination, and interaction with others. 

The conversation pivots to the role of AI in shaping self-learning habits at work. Kevin believes that AI could amplify the growth of those already inclined toward self-improvement while also making less self-directed learners more passive. Both Carol and Kevin close out the episode by encouraging listeners to reflect on their own learning behaviors, challenge their self-perceptions, and consider how they (and their teams) can foster an environment of ongoing, authentic growth and feedback. 

Takeaways 

• Self-perception of being a self-learner can be misleading. 
• Books provide knowledge but lack interactive learning. 
• Experience is crucial for true learning and growth. 
• AI tools can enhance self-learning for some individuals. 
• The quality of learning experiences differs among individuals. 
• Self-awareness is often lacking in individuals' assessments. 

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.  

Find more information about our guest Kevin Legg on Linkedin.  

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Host Carol Schultz teams up with social impact entrepreneur Sophia Shaw to dive deep into the tricky dynamics of founder syndrome. From understanding why founders struggle to let go, to practical strategies for succession planning and building a culture that supports new leadership, the conversation is packed with real-world stories and actionable advice for both founders and their teams. 

Whether you’re just starting your business or looking for ways to future-proof your organization, you won’t want to miss these insights on evolving—without losing what makes your company unique. Hit play and start evolving your workplace today. 

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

The conversation highlights controversial employer tactics like imposing stricter in-office requirements. Kevin and Carol discuss whether remote work is truly a perk or an integral part of modern workplace expectations. The hosts cite examples from companies such as Meta and Amazon, raising important questions about how performance management and compensation strategies are being utilized. A major theme of this conversation is the role of proper communication and maintaining trust with employees, especially avoiding "bait and switch" tactics.  

Towards the end of the conversation, the duo reflects on the tension between short-term market pressures and the long-term importance of people-centered, strategic leadership. Carol and Kevin challenge listeners to ponder if some of the changes being rolled out by today’s largest tech companies are driven by necessity, cowardice, or simply pressure from shareholders. The hosts close out the episode by inviting the audience to weigh in on these issues, setting the tone for more thought-provoking conversations ahead. 

Connect With Us

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.  

Find more information about our co-host Kevin Legg on Linkedin.  

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this episode, host Carol Schultz sits down with IoT expert Fabio Zaniboni to unpack how smart technology is transforming everything from lighting and air quality to sound environments in the workplace. He explains the basics of IoT—embedding intelligence into everyday devices to collect data and enhance building performance. 

The conversation digs into concerns about electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) and how Fabio’s technology addresses these with extremely low power usage, much less than standard Wi-Fi routers.  

Fabio also shares real-world insights—from increasing ROI and employee wellness, to the hidden impacts of lighting and air, and what leaders need to know before making their next office upgrade.  

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

The two reflect on their own experiences and break down how common it is for high performers to leave without ever opening up about the real reasons. This especially happens if a company lacks a true culture of feedback. The longtime hosts emphasize that truly honest feedback cultures are hard to find. But without them, leaders don’t fully understand what makes their best performers leave. 

The conversation dives into many of the major reasons that drive high performers away, such as declining product or lack of product innovation, poor management,  lack of attention to customer needs, frequent changes to compensation or quotas, and limited career growth opportunities. Carol and Rob reflect on their time in the sales world to illustrate the significant cost (both financial and cultural) when top talent leaves an organization. The two conclude that many of these problems could be avoided if companies truly aligned incentives and roles to individuals' ambitions, listened to their employees and customers, and encouraged open lines of communication. 

Rob and Carol also point out the distinction between  "high potentials" and "high performers," highlighting that excelling in a current role doesn’t mean someone is immediately ready for more responsibility. The hosts wrap up Rob’s final episode with the show by reminding the audience that fostering feedback, alignment, and challenge is key to keeping the best people engaged. The longtime friends end on a reflective note, expressing gratitude for their partnership and urging listeners to build workplaces where honesty drives employee retention and overall success. 

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Host Carol Schultz sits down with Seth Levine of the prestigious VC firm Foundry. Whether you're an eager founder, a startup dreamer, or just VC-curious, Seth cuts through the noise, sharing hard-won insights on when to actually seek funding, why VC money might not be as glamorous as you think, how to successfully pitch investors, and what sets standout founders apart. 

Carol and Seth also dig into the toughest founder challenges, from when to bootstrap versus raise capital, to smart hiring as you grow. Packed with practical advice, stories from the trenches, and candid wisdom about navigating the funding world, this episode will help you avoid the common pitfalls and make smarter choices for your company’s future. 

Tune in for a straight-talking look inside the journey to funding a business. 

 Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

As the conversation continues, Carol highlights the importance of teaching adaptability and resilience to employees, especially if uncertainty is felt after events like acquisitions or layoffs. Rob urges leaders, and companies as a whole, to clarify what resilience means for their teams and to model their preferred behaviors. Both hosts advocate for collaboration and vulnerability in difficult times. 

Ultimately, both hosts agree that there are three essential factors in effective change leadership: trust, communication, and alignment. The two also share stories about the necessity of personal responsibility in leadership as well as issues with promoting leaders that haven’t received proper training. The episode closes with a reminder that having a growth mindset and embracing transformation can help teams and leaders not just survive, but thrive. 

Connect With Us

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this episode, AI expert Aydin Mirzaee sits down with Carol to share a candid look at how AI is reshaping workplace productivity—and why leaders need to rethink their entire approach to technology. 

From the security risks hiding in everyday tools, to how teams resist (or embrace) AI, Aydin offers real stories and actionable strategies for every organization navigating the new AI frontier.  

Tune in to hear the surprising ways companies succeed—or stumble—when adopting AI, and find out what you should be doing now to protect your workplace and unlock its full potential.

Connect With Host Carol Schultz

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

The show’s co-hosts also cover the controversial management practices at companies like GE, with Carol critiquing Jack Welch's old GE ranking system and its modern implementation at Microsoft. After all, this type of system can create unnecessary competition along with a toxic work environment. With this in mind, Rob puts an emphasis on the need to avoid mishandling performance evaluations by improving training and coaching for leaders. 

In a more emotional moment of the episode, Carol and Rob recount the heartbreaking story of an employee who was laid off and left without health insurance while his wife struggled with an illness. The two reflect on the fact that the business world is inherently human and needs to be guided by principles of servant leadership and conscious capitalism. As the episode concludes, the co-hosts agree that although the pressures of a publicly traded company can be massive, there’s always room for improvement with a human-centered approach to business. 

Connect With Us

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.  

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Host Carol Schultz dives into the intriguing world of PBCs with expert Marion Siboni, founder and CEO of La Creme de la Stem. Marion tells listeners why she chose to structure her company as PBC and how it integrates social goals into a traditional business model.  

Learn about the distinct advantages of this corporate structure over the typical C Corp and LLC, and why it might be the perfect choice for organizations with a mission-driven heart.  

Whether you're an entrepreneur grappling with corporate structure decisions or curious about how businesses can serve the greater good while turning a profit, this episode offers valuable insights and solutions.  

Connect with Us

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Rob puts his focus on the human aspect of business and brings up how the pandemic has ingrained a sense of comfort in remote working which has possibly affected human connection. He says we’re experiencing a "mental health pandemic" that necessitates a different leadership style, centered on human connection and genuine purpose. Rob compares the concept of catering to individual employee needs to parenting different children according to their unique needs and strengths.  

This episode of the podcast critiques the one-size-fits-all mandates from companies like JP Morgan Chase and Amazon, instead suggesting that successful leadership and workplace satisfaction stem from a shared purpose and personal connections. Both hosts call attention to the importance of honest communication and organizational alignment. They argue that this focus will cultivate a positive work culture that inspires and engages employees, ending the debate over physical versus remote workplaces. 

Connect with us

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.  

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.  

In this episode, host Carol Schultz dives into the topic with expert David Alsup, the Chief Human Resources Officer at Ultradent Products.  

David shares his approach to fostering a trusting environment. He emphasizes the importance of hiring the right personnel, managing performance, and ensuring transparent communication. Carol stresses the importance of measuring competencies to avoid bad hires.  

Tune in to explore how safety and performance can drive innovation and long-term success in your organization. Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Carol brings up an interesting article she came across about a manager implementing three essential weekly meetings after transitioning to a remote workplace. Meanwhile, Rob echoes the importance of intentionality, feedback, and consistency in ensuring a thriving remote work environment. 

Drawing from his own personal experience during the pandemic, Rob highlights the importance of staying connected with teams through regular meetings, even in a virtual environment. The discussion highlights the need to ensure personal connections and welcome feedback from all levels of the organization for continuous improvement and growth. 

Plus, Rob and Carol stress the importance of in-person connections that have been overshadowed by technology and virtual meetings. While they admit technology can be extremely convenient, they caution against over-reliance on virtual interactions. The two co-hosts spotlight the need for balance between virtual convenience and personal face-to-face interactions in order to foster a robust company culture. 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.   

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.   

Host Carol Schultz calls on expert Jovan Shojlevski to answer your most common questions when it comes to sending cold emails.   

They dive into common mistakes companies make, such as sending bulk emails from a single domain. He shares how to make messages feel more personalized and relevant, highlighting the importance of targeting the right audience.  

Through their discussion, they explore best practices in crafting effective subject lines and how to approach finding a legitimate lead generation service.  

This episode is a must-listen for founders and small business owners—both B2B and B2C-- looking to refine their outreach strategies.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Throughout the podcast, Rob and Carol emphasize the role of leadership in facilitating a smooth transition back to the office. Both hosts encourage leaders to engage in conversations about expectations and office etiquette and work on additional guidance and training. The two believe that empathy and understanding are vital in navigating these changes considering mental health issues and other problems faced by modern employees. 

The episode also addresses the need for grace and professionalism in all workplace interactions. Carol shares insights on maintaining professional relationships and advises caution about personal disclosures at work considering the risk of gossip. The episode concludes with a reminder to build trust and create a supportive, inclusive workplace culture.  

Connect With Us

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.  

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.  

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought! 

Host Carol Schultz dives into a conversation with leadership expert and CEO, Matt DeWolf, exploring the crucial question: “Who is the most important person in a company?” Matt shares his philosophy on market focus and customer-centricity. 

Together, they tackle shifting workplace dynamics, balancing leadership and management cultures, and why aligning your organization from top to bottom is the key to unlocking growth and success. They also reflect on lessons learned through adversity and how commitment and persistence shape lasting impact in both leadership and business.  

Connect with us

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

The discussion features some perspective from Rob’s time leading a remote team during the pandemic. He believes that simple strategies such as virtual coffee meetings and consistent gratitude exercises can make all the difference. Carol also highlights some kind words from her chief of staff and emphasizes the importance of vulnerability in a management position.  

One of the main highlights of the episode is the overall emphasis on creating an engaged culture, communicating with employees, and improving leadership plans. The hosts emphasize that companies need to be more personable with employees in order to succeed.  

Connect with us

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

In this powerful episode, DEI expert Stacey Gordon breaks down what's really driving the current attacks on diversity initiatives and why it matters for the future of business...and how politics skew the conversation.

Tune in to hear host Carol Schultz and Stacey discuss common myths about DEI, why not to abandon

these programs, and practical advice for leaders who want to build truly inclusive workplaces.

This timely conversation tackles hard truths while offering hope and guidance for moving forward.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

The hosts debate the root of the issue behind these cuts. Is it insufficient training, poor hiring practices, or inadequate leadership? It’s important to get your hiring strategy right the first time around. This way you avoid cost-inefficient methods of hiring, firing, and rehiring. Both hosts give their unique perspectives throughout, with Rob questioning if a perfect hiring system is possible and Carol breaking down different strategies for companies.  

The episode has one main focus: human connection. Arbitrary cuts and annual reviews can hold a company back in the long run. Without building vital workplace relationships, it’s impossible to create a productive workplace culture.  

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

One in every four adults reported feeling lonely in the world, yet very few are talking about it. In and out of the workplace, it is something greatly affecting businesses.

In this eye-opening episode, Chief Scientist at the Academy to Innovate HR Dr. Dieter Veldsman joins Carol to give insight and tips for leaders.

They dive deep into why simply returning to the office isn't the solution, debunk common myths about workplace loneliness, and discuss practical strategies for both leaders and employees to build meaningful connections in today's evolving workplace environment.

Don't miss this important conversation about one of the most pressing yet overlooked challenges facing modern organizations.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this episode of "Evolving Your Workplace," hosts Rob Swymer and Carol Schultz explore a recent employee exodus around return-to-office (RTO) policies. Rob expresses strong concerns about the use of terms like "revenge quitting" and "resentment" as both speakers point to fundamental problems with company culture and leadership for employees leaving. 

Plus, the experts discuss how technology has shifted modern workplace dynamics significantly since their early careers. While in-person interaction can be important for building culture, the two advocate for a balanced approach and communication over mandatory full-time office attendance.  

The episode also touches on the struggle of maintaining an expensive office space for hybrid work schedules. Could quarterly in-person meetings with more engagement and flexible scheduling be the answer? 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.   

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.   

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!  

Why should someone want to work for your company? — This is the question you should answer before you start your search for talent.

Experts Carol Schultz and Steve Cadigan discuss the underlying factor to pay attention to as a leader when recruiting. Forget the magic of AI, no tool will help if companies don’t do this first.

They also walk through areas AI can improve the recruiting process rather than the applications currently in place. Carol expresses skepticism about AI tools that distance recruiters from candidates and cautions against biases.

The episode concludes with examples of recruiting solutions that will fortify human connections.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Carol and Rob unpack the deeper issues behind the feud. Does it come down to dollars and cents or leadership styles? As two longtime corporate leaders themselves, Carol and Rob draw upon their decades of experience to share insights on motivating and engaging employees. We’ll give you a hint: it's not only about the money.  

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.  

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.  

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!  

Job hopping is on the rise in younger generations as we enter a shift from staying at one company for 30 years to focusing on personal growth and the benefits in diverse roles. Once looked down upon, job hopping has now become something to be proud of (or some believe). 

Host Carol Schultz brings on expert recruiter Rich Deakmann to explore what leaders can do to keep these workers. The two dive into the causes of job hopping, especially in the tech industry.  

Rich walks through how to provide the space for employees to be more likely to stay long-term. Certain key factors must be intentionally implemented on the part of companies if they expect employees to enjoy working for them. 

They also discuss common mistakes they see leaders make when it comes to picking an ideal candidate. 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Welcome to "Evolving Your Workplace," the podcast where we unpack the core drivers of a thriving, engaged work culture. In this episode, hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer draw on Gallup's research to reveal how an engaged workforce can boost profitability by 22%. Yet, with less than half of U.S. employees clear on their job expectations, miscommunication and disconnection cost companies billions. 

Rob introduces the "DOSE" framework—Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Endorphins—linking it to business success and using college sports as a lens to explore employee retention challenges. He emphasizes the impact of a shared mission and vision in reducing turnover and driving productivity, dispelling the myth that cultural engagement is "fluffy." The episode also addresses the growing need for leadership to foster connection in an era of remote work. 

Discover how strong leadership, authentic culture, and strategic engagement are essential for navigating today’s evolving workplace. Follow and review the podcast to stay inspired with future insights and stories.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Timestamps:  

00:00 - Introduction  

00:12 - Engaged culture increases profitability by 22%. 

05:56 - Evaluating transfer motives, building team culture. 

07:59 - Career success requires engagement and mission focus. 

09:55 - Lack of training diminishes employee engagement, productivity. 

15:24 - Working from home allows flexible daily routines. 

17:32 - Keynote speaker notes companies delaying meetings, cohesion. 

22:37 - Colleague founded firm for higher commission rates. 

23:35 - Bait and switch led to contract buyout. 

27:04 - Engaged cultures fulfill human need for belonging. 

Throughout the conversation, Didwall stresses the balance between using AI for efficiency and the necessity of human oversight to maintain brand integrity and voice. The discussion addresses content effectiveness across different media and different generations, focusing on video, static images, and written content.

The two also explore the evolving role of SEO in an AI-driven world and propose experiments to compare AI-generated content with human-written content to assess efficiency. Both Paul and Carol express skepticism over the ability of AI to fully mimic brand voices, advocating for a mix of artificial intelligence tools and human expertise.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In today’s episode, Entitlement Mindset, we’re tackling how a culture of entitlement at the top can derail company growth and undermine collaboration. Host Carol Schultz, joined by co-host Rob Swymer, breaks down a powerful article by Bart Fanelli, CEO of Skillibrium, to explore the difference between managing and true leadership. 

Discover why culture starts at the top, how entitlement impacts long-term success, and how consistent coaching and communication can drive a thriving workplace. Whether you’re a leader, aspiring manager, or an employee looking to understand how entitlement affects growth, this conversation is for you.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Timestamps: 

00:00 Entitlement mindset prevalent in many companies. 

06:04 Engaged culture boosts profitability by 22%. 

07:27 Politicians often exhibit entitlement and dishonesty. 

11:48 Influencers earn millions for single sponsored posts. 

14:29 Reward and mentor for effective team development. 

17:18 Praising innovative coaching and mentoring efforts. 

19:43 Servant leaders give time to help others. 

The discussion highlights the importance of flexibility, noting preferences for voice interaction to avoid misinterpretation and the challenges posed by remote work and communication technologies.

They also touch on societal issues like generational divides and respect for older generations, with Michael sharing concerns about younger generations' attitudes toward older people.

The episode concludes with insights into the evolving nature of media, the impact of AI, and the need for embracing communication attempts and efforts to bridge the gap between generations.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Co-hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer dive into the pressing issues of the modern workplace. In this episode, they tackle the alarming statistics surrounding Gen Z and job hunting's impact on mental health. As they explore a recent article revealing that 72% of job seekers report mental health struggles during the job search, Carol and Rob discuss the pressures of today's recruitment processes, the role of technology like AI, and the challenges faced by different generations.

Tune in as they share insights on resilience, the importance of a supportive organizational culture, and tools for mental wellness in the face of job market stress.

Whether you're navigating your early career or leading a team, this episode offers valuable perspectives on thriving amidst the evolving demands of the business world. 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought! 

Sharing insights from his experience, Bob highlights his journey through several degrees to government work and beyond. He makes a bold suggestion to switch your mindset when it comes to selling assets versus selling time and how it helped him.  

They also delve into the evolving energy industry, focusing on the shift towards more reliable electricity sources like nuclear power to support data centers and AI applications. Bob discusses the environmental benefits of nuclear energy while stressing the safety and handling of radioactive waste.  

Tune in to learn from his journey in developing a multi-million-dollar business through strategic licensing agreements. 

Learn more about Dr. Robert Brooks and RBAC Inc.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this episode, your co-hosts, Carol Schultz & Rob Swymer dive into the recent headlines surrounding Walmart's relocation mandate. With the deadline fast approaching, Walmart employees are faced with the controversial decision to relocate to one of their hubs or face potential layoffs.

Join Carol and Rob as they dissect the situation, highlighting the implications on company culture, the possible financial motivations behind such corporate moves, and what this means for employees of publicly traded companies. With over 70 years of combined experience in the business world, Carol and Rob provide expert insights and candid opinions on the real issues behind the headlines.

Connect With US

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Taelor’s service, aimed at busy men, offers fashion convenience with AI-driven efficiency. Phoebe and her co-founder shifted to men's fashion as an underserved market, cleverly partnering with dating apps. Despite its geographic distribution, the company maintains a collaborative culture focused on feedback and continuous improvement.  

Phoebe shares the importance of authentic communication and building genuine connections, especially in pitch competitions, where she learned to rely on prepared slides. She also provides helpful insights on perseverance, networking, and resource optimization. 

Listen along for practical information in the fashion and start up space.   

Learn more about Phoebe Tan and Taelor.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this episode of the Authentically Successful - After Hours, hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer discuss the misconceptions that employers have about Gen Z workers. They dive into topics like Gen Z's perceived over-dependence on technology, their aversion to corporate jargon, and the importance of human connection in the workplace.

With 70 years of combined experience, Carol and Rob offer insightful perspectives on how employers can better understand and engage this up-and-coming generation of talent.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

John details his diverse journey from finessing a test to secure a job to working at ABC to eventually diving into entrepreneurship. To date, John’s educational tools have been used  worldwide by tens of thousands students interested in business. He walks us through what brought him to the realization to start the company in the first place.  

Later in the discussion, he candidly shares about a nightmare situation with an old business partner and explains why vetting people in business is so important.  

Listen to discover John’s way to get ahead in business. No matter the industry you’re in, you’ll gain valuable insights into building and sustaining a company as a soloprenuer.  Learn more about John Cousins and MBA ASAP.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

- Rob Swymer

Today on Authentically Successful - After Hours, we'll dissect a revealing Business Insider article, "The Depressing Reality of Quiet Vacationing," and probe the pressures that push all generations—not just millennials or Gen Z—toward this silent struggle. Our discussion will be peppered with personal stories, like my own from the trenches of passive-aggressive workplace dynamics, and Rob's recount of a pivotal piece of advice from a mentor urging much-needed rest.

We'll also shine a light on the impact of remote work, the persistent stigma around mental health breaks, and the crucial role of leadership in fostering a supportive work-life culture. From scheduling fake work emails to coping with the fear of being replaced, we'll explore how today's relentless connectivity has morphed work and leisure into an indistinguishable blur.

Inspired by Tony Robbins' advice to visit the "mental gym," co-host Rob Swymer shares his insight on how personal growth directly transforms professional life, emphasizing a shift towards healthier work cultures. We'll discuss some eye-opening statistics, personal anecdotes from our own careers, and the critical need for employees to truly disconnect.

Join us as we navigate through this timely discussion, offering practical advice and thought-provoking conversation on creating a more balanced and fulfilling work environment. So, get ready to uncover the realities of quiet vacationing and learn how to advocate for your well-being in today's always-on business landscape.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Matt shares his personal journey, from his early days in the automotive industry to founding Business Automation Experts, and the trials of building a business from the ground up.

He breaks down the economics of cyber threats, explaining how attackers often have an edge due to their pay-only-for-success model. The conversation leads to the triple-ransom strategy cybercriminals use—stealing, analyzing, and encrypting data.

Listen to discover how healthcare entities constantly juggle changing regulations and why they often find themselves reacting to cyber threats. In addition, a wealth of applicable information for your business.

Learn more about Matt Lepkowski and Business Automation Experts.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this special edition of Authentically Successful - After Hours, we dive deep into the complex and sometimes controversial world of AI in recruiting. Host Carol Schultz, an experienced recruiter and executive coach, along with co-host Rob Swymer, a veteran sales leader and best-selling author, bring their combined 70 years of expertise to the table. Joining them is Darryl C. Clements, principal of the DCC Group, who offers a wealth of knowledge in HR strategy, recruitment, and operations design. 

The episode navigates the potential and pitfalls of AI technology in the hiring process. Rob Swymer cautions against overselling AI's capabilities while exploring its practical applications. Carol Schultz raises significant concerns about AI's biases, particularly in law enforcement, and criticizes AI-generated job descriptions for lacking the nuance and detail required in recruitment. Darryl C. Clements adds depth to the conversation by discussing AI's struggles with grasping complex job requirements and its limitations in HR interactions. 

Together, they delve into the strengths and weaknesses of comprehensive HRIS systems like SuccessFactors and PeopleSoft, highlighting their user-friendliness and compliance challenges. They also touch on the high costs and hurdles of hiring talent with specific software expertise. 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought! 

Marc's journey is a fascinating tale of innovation, resilience, and the pursuit of independence. From his beginnings as a bond trader to impactful roles at IBM and SWIFT, Marc's career has been a testament to his relentless quest for creativity and meaningful impact.

Join us as Marc shares his experiences transitioning from large corporations to spearheading a successful tech startup. He reveals the motivations behind his move, the challenges of navigating a saturated tech market, and the importance of making decisive leadership choices.

We also delve into the essence of building a company culture filled with trust, agility, and humor, the intricacies of real-time data solutions, and Marc's unique approach to business-driven data management. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned leader, or simply curious about the tech industry, this conversation is sure to inspire and enlighten.

Learn more about Marc Delbaere.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

They dive into a rare conversation about love in the workplace. What it looks like to show love to your workers and the benefits it can bring.

Check out Splunk at https://www.splunk.com/.

You can find more information and all episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcast and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz.

In this week’s episode, our hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer dive into a thought-provoking discussion about the evolving nature of middle management and the increasing role of technology in the workplace. They explore the impact of cutting middle management roles on mentorship, the changing work preferences of millennials and Gen Zers, and the necessity of maintaining a human connection amidst technological advancements. Join us as we uncover the complexities of business leadership, the significance of purpose, and the pivotal role of disruptive thinking in shaping the future of work. Get ready for a candid and insightful conversation that delves deep into the heart of workplace dynamics and the power of human connection.  

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought.

In this episode, Bill reflects on early setbacks as a new CEO, moments of success, and the lessons learned along the way. He offers a rare glimpse into the world of architecture and design, notably the transformative TSX Broadway project in Times Square. 

Carol also dives into Bill’s talent and business strategy. Bill and his business partner, Christian Giordano, emphasized the need to diversify their firm's work to avoid reliance on specific client types or projects.  

Finally, he leaves listeners with the single most important aspect he's learned about business.  

Learn more about Bill Mandara and Mancini Duffy.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Join hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer as they share their insights and experiences on how to keep employees engaged and thriving in a virtual work environment. From personal anecdotes to practical strategies, they discuss the power of authentic leadership, the importance of empathy, and the impact of consistent communication. Get ready to be inspired and gain valuable knowledge as we explore how to foster human connections in the digital age. 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought! 

 Rasmus has managed teams in 14 different countries, traveled to over 100 countries, and has had customers in all nations, giving him a unique perspective on cultures and businesses. In this episode, he delves into Zensai's unique approach to product design, recruiting strategies, and the ever-important balance of gender diversity in the executive team.

They also dive into a hiring mistake he’s made more than once. The conversation also touches on the challenges incoming CEOs face at larger established companies.

Tune in now to gain valuable insights into successful leadership, team dynamics, and the intersection of personal journey and beliefs in human success.

Learn more about Rasmus and Zensai.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Today, hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer delve into the timely and provocative topic of "quiet quitting." This episode explores the underlying causes and far-reaching implications of quiet quitting in the workplace. 

Carol and Rob share personal anecdotes and professional insights to highlight how leadership and company culture significantly influence employee engagement and motivation. They unravel the significance of having a sense of purpose, fostering meaningful relationships, and cultivating emotional investment in one's work. 

Whether you're an employee seeking more engagement or a leader aiming to inspire your team, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you achieve authentic success in the workplace. 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought! 

Wendy's career spans nearly 30 years in technology and leadership, with notable successes in building and selling companies like Infosys and Infinity HR. In this episode, they discuss the complexities and opportunities of managing a business in the 1099 space of the human capital management industry.  

From navigating the legislative landscape to transitioning to a remote model during covid, Wendy's experiences offer valuable lessons for leaders and entrepreneurs. The episode also touches on the topic of being a woman in tech and how Wendy is helping others.  

Join us as we explore Wendy's strategies for business and mentorship.  Learn more about Wendy Greenland and Openforce.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Join hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer as they delve into the vital topic of mental health in the workplace. They share personal stories, practical tips, and valuable insights on navigating challenges, prioritizing self-care, and maintaining a positive mindset.

From the Triple A formula to the significance of self-love and purpose, Carol and Rob provide essential perspectives on achieving balance and well-being in both professional and personal life. Join us as we normalize conversations around mental health and explore how to prioritize self-care for success. 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought! 

Together, they delve into a wide range of topics, from the potential of AI to the allure of Silicon Valley. Steve walks us through key factors he thinks startups must embody to be funded right now and the flow of VC funding.

Offering invaluable insights for entrepreneurs, Steve assesses the readiness of startups, bringing to the forefront the importance of being different and attuned to customer needs. They also discuss the dangers of AI when it gets into the wrong hands.

Join us as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of business and technology.

Learn more about Steve Hoffman and Founders Space.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Join hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer as they delve into the rising phenomenon of employees juggling multiple remote jobs. From dissecting the driving forces behind this trend to examining its impact on mental well-being, this thought-provoking discussion navigates the intricacies of modern work dynamics. Drawing from their wealth of business and leadership experience, Rob and Carol explore the crucial role of effective communication and talent strategy in navigating this evolving landscape. Join us as we challenge conventional wisdom and invite listeners to participate in the ongoing conversation surrounding ambition, employee expectations, and the changing nature of work.  

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought! 

They first delve into her career prior to becoming an entrepreneur, including being fired twice, and how it led her to found The Ten Spot. She also recounts the unique approach she took to brand voice early on and how that helped her company stand out.  

From the challenges of franchising and navigating the US market to the impact of the pandemic on her business and franchisees, Kristen's candid insights offer invaluable wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs. Learn more about Kristen Gale and The Ten Spot.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Join host Carol Schultz and guest Rob Swymer in another enlightening episode of 'Authentically Successful: After Hours' as they tackle the pervasive problem of email and LinkedIn spam in sales outreach. Drawing on their extensive experience, they explore the evolution of sales strategies, dissecting the influence of automation and technology. From distinguishing red ocean versus blue ocean approaches to navigating a saturated marketplace, they offer invaluable insights into modern sales tactics. Discover the significance of human connection amidst tech-driven dynamics as we delve into the complexities of contemporary sales. 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought! 

He reveals some of the key strategies that led to the tremendous success of his consulting firm, including a unique marketing approach. He emphasizes the need for lawyers to create social proof and develop authority through social media, in addition to traditional lead generation. 

They discuss the idea that paying workers isn’t enough to motivate and engage them and how to do so. He also shares tools to create a workplace where even remote workers want to come in.  

Learn more about Luis Scott and 8 Figure Firm Consulting.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this episode of Authentically Successful: After Hours, co-hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer delve into the intriguing dynamics of tech industry perks, job anxiety, and the shifting landscape of job interviews. They explore the influence of tech giants like Google in establishing high expectations through lavish perks and its impact on employee loyalty. The duo also examines the evolving recruiting process and its effects on candidate behavior. Join them as they discuss innovative ways to motivate employees, the necessity of breaks during long work hours, and the growing emphasis on perk-centric work environments. Gain insights into career growth, challenges, and the importance of discussing current events in the ever-changing tech industry landscape. Don't miss this insightful conversation that sheds light on the realities of the modern workplace.  

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought! 

generation company focused on outbound prospecting. The two dive into a

candid conversation about the importance of honesty in client relationships, the

evolution of recruitment processes, and the emphasis on happiness,

accountability, and transparency in RevBoss's culture manifesto.

Eric shares his story from graduation to eventually founding RevBoss. He gives

insights into managing a geographically dispersed team, a unique approach to

client screening, and how RevBoss differs from other lead generation companies.

He also takes us into his journey from micromanaging to trusting and

empowering his team, allowing for their growth within the company.

Listen along to gain valuable perspectives on entrepreneurship, personal wellbeing, and team leading from this engaging discussion.

Learn more about Eric Boggs and RevBoss.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In today's episode, our hosts delve into the world of virtual communication and the impact it has on building relationships and trust. They discuss the preferences for different communication methods, Zoom etiquette, and the challenges of maintaining a strong organizational culture in virtual meetings. The conversation touches on the importance of vulnerability, human connection, and authenticity in virtual interactions and the potential biases and judgments based on visible backgrounds during virtual meetings. They also highlight the significance of CEOs and executives showing relatability and authenticity in virtual meetings, sharing examples of impactful leadership. Join us as we explore the complexities and nuances of remote communication, and stay tuned for a preview of our next episode about big tech companies and job anxiety.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Carol and Liam delve into a fascinating discussion about time tracking in a remote environment, HR tech, and the reasons why employees leave companies. Liam shares his journey from sociology graduate to successful entrepreneur and the evolution of Time Doctor into a 20 million ARR business.  

We'll explore topics like the future of remote work and the unique approach to cultural alignment that Liam has implemented within his globally diverse team. Tune in to gain a wealth of knowledge about leading organizations like Time Doctor.  

Learn more about Liam Martin and Time Doctor.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Randy shares invaluable lessons from his past, from transitioning from a military background to corporate leadership, to leading a venture-backed company.  

The two explore the capital structure, taking on debt, and the importance of having a reliable CFO. They also discuss the company’s unique approach to talent strategy: avoiding Silicon Valley and building a culture of high IQ, high EQ, and low ego. 

Join us as we unravel the story behind Maxio and delve into the world of B2B.  Learn more about Randy and Maxio.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Welcome to the inaugural episode of "Authentically Successful: After Hours," where hosts Carol Schultz and seasoned hi-tech sales leader Rob Swymer dive into the intricacies of performance reviews in today's business landscape. With over 30 years of experience, Rob brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, shedding light on the evolving dynamics post-pandemic and the crucial role of empathy in effective leadership.

In this insightful discussion, Carol and Rob dismantle the traditional approach to annual reviews, advocating for ongoing feedback and transparent communication. They emphasize the importance of cultivating a culture of trust within organizations, where clarity in expectations and written agreements serve as pillars for success. Through personal anecdotes and practical strategies, they explore the transformative power of embracing feedback with empathy and highlight the need to address biases in leadership.

Tune in as they challenge conventional norms and inspire listeners to reimagine their approach to employee performance evaluations. Join us for an engaging conversation that promises to ignite positive change in both personal and professional realms.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

During the podcast, Mitali candidly shares her diverse journey from engineering, to working at a software startup, to later founding Fashom. She even recounts the exact moment in New York City that caused her to start Fashom and also how the fashion industry has failed to represent the population it’s advertising to.  

Throughout the episode, she discusses the evolution of her business, her passion for promoting body positivity in the fashion industry, and the challenges and victories of entrepreneurship. She reflects on leadership mistakes, the misconceptions surrounding body image and health, and gives valuable advice for individuals seeking to enter the fashion industry. 

Tune in as Mitali Saxena shares her compelling story as a founder and offers advice for other entrepreneurs. 

Learn more about Mitali and Fashom.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

From his early days at a healthcare startup to founding his own IT consulting business and navigating the challenges of multiple startups, Joshua offers valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship. Topics such as the importance of understanding the target market, the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, and how to pivot are discussed.  

Joshua also delves into his role as the current director of entrepreneurship at the University of Denver where he teaches students the ins and outs of business. He discusses the program and his commitment to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.  

Listen for insight into forming a company, working with partners, overcoming failures, and more. 

Learn more about Joshua Ross and the Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Denver.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

The two delve into the founding of Backblaze and the decision-making process behind taking the company public. Gleb shares how his company offers an alternative for those seeking to optimize and be more efficient with their spending. 

They also discuss venture funding and bootstrapping in business, challenging the common belief in Silicon Valley that venture funding is the only path for startups.  

The conversation then focuses on the journey Gleb and his co-founders took to this point and the way they built their team. He also shares key moments in Backblaze's history, including a crisis in 2011 when a flood in Thailand disrupted the availability of hard drives.  

Listen for a glimpse into the day-to-day life of an influential leader in tech and the inside scoop on his company.  

Learn more about Gleb Budman and Backblaze.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

In this episode, Miranda shares her journey of building her consulting firm, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy, HR analytics, and inclusive product design.  

The two discuss the ongoing challenges of DEI in business, including varying struggles across different countries, media sensationalization, and the lesser-known aspects of DEI. The need for more control and certification of those hired in the DEI landscape was also mentioned.  

Miranda also dives into the challenges her clients face, the importance of evidence-based decision-making, and the complexities of selling services in the consulting industry. She also provides valuable insights into scaling a business, engaging with HR professionals, and the need for strategic buy-in from top executives.  

Tune in and don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave an honest review. 

Learn more about Miranda McKie and McKie Consultants.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

They delve into Jeff's fascinating journey, starting with his grassroots advocacy and political coverage in Santa Barbara in 1973. He details what motivated him to choose a career in storytelling.  

From there, Jeff tells us how working with the Salvation Army catapulted the founding of N&R Publications. He also walks us through the organization's unique approach to storytelling and driving social change through words.  

Tune in to hear about the unique method of marketing N&R Publications has developed and how companies are utilizing it to affect change. Listeners will also get a glimpse into the complexities of journalism today.  

Learn more about Jeff vonKaenel and N&R Publications.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

In today's episode, we are joined by a fellow author and founder Leif Cocks. He founded the world-renowned Orangutan Project, an international conservation charity.  

Through this engaging conversation, Leif shares his incredible journey from working at a zoo to becoming a founder and worldwide leader. He details the urgency of conserving the rainforest and species in this decade.  

From the dangers faced by rangers in Indonesia to the impact of the pandemic on fundraising, he provides valuable insights into the importance of collective action. On the topic of hiring, they discuss key strategies he uses in building his team. He also offers advice to leaders looking to get into conservation.  

Join us as we explore the vital work of the Orangutan Project and gain valuable lessons in leadership and environmental work. 

Learn more about Leif Cocks and the Orangutan Project.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

In today's episode, our host, Carol Schultz, sits down with Mike, president and CEO of Junxion, an international consultancy with a keen focus on sustainability and social impact.  

Mike discusses the evolving perceptions of work among millennials, the importance of a purposeful career, and how these ideas are reshaping the workforce. He also points out how businesses must react to the new generation seeking information about investments and critiquing companies' practices. 

We explore the importance of social responsibility and the complexities of building and growing a purpose-driven company. They dive into the three ways companies typically react to the climate crisis and how it affects consumers. Mike tells how businesses can better communicate about these topics.  

Tune in to the full episode to hear about the challenges that Junxion has faced and a rare question for our host.  

Learn more about Mike and Junxion, and follow him on Twitter.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

This week, our host Carol Schultz sits down with a renowned figure in the tech industry, Gavriella Schuster. Now a solopreneur, Gavriella was formerly a longtime leader at Microsoft and continued into an extensive career in the tech industry.  

Throughout her time at Microsoft, Gavriella witnessed the challenges faced by women in executive roles but found support from a few female mentors. She details what it was like at Microsoft and what led her to become an advocate for women in the workplace. 

They also dive into Gavriella’s experience in joining a board as a woman, whether it be private equity or public, and the disparities women face on boards. 

The episode wraps up with a breakdown of microaggressions in the workplace and actions that allies can take to lead an inclusive environment.  

Be sure to tune in to this inspiring episode to learn more about Gavriella's journey and her commitment to driving diversity in the tech industry. 

Learn more about Gavriella Schuster.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

"I see so often in business... (businesses) don’t create a strategic plan, they don’t have operating principles, and they don’t use it as a road map and manage to it. That’s where people get in trouble,” Conrad says.  

Conrad shares a valuable framework that he and his team use to make hiring decisions based on revenue growth projections. He discusses how to avoid unnecessary hires and financial strain. 

They also delve into what “just-in-time" manufacturing is, and how Covid flipped the process upside-down. From building resilient supply chains to focusing on employee engagement, Conrad provides insight to help companies thrive in today's ever-changing landscape.  

But it's not just about business– we dive into the personal too. Find out how Conrad's passion for being a sponsored athlete helps him release energy and clear his mind, leading to better decision-making. So, grab your favorite beverage and join us as we enter the world of talent strategies and supply chain innovation.  

Learn more about Conrad Snover and ProcureAbility.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Sudhir opens up about his journey as a software engineer and his first startup which opened the door to three more. He reflects on projects that failed and also shares successes, such as his company Vayulogic. 

The conversation shifts to the difference between working at a large “finance” focused company to being at a smaller “mission” focused company. They also discuss what Sudhir says is an emerging category of "reverse platform" or "procurement orchestration layer" in the space, which aims to improve user experience and provide companies with agility and control. He explains that there are several competitors in this space, each with slightly different approaches. 

Diversity is another crucial aspect discussed in this episode. Sudhir stresses the significance of investing in diversity and actively seeking out diverse ideas. He states that diversity extends beyond gender, incorporating religion and other aspects. The company is actively seeking to add executive members and individuals with diverse ideas to its team, with a goal of showcasing increased diversity within the company within six months.

Learn more about Sudhir Bhojwani and ORO Labs.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

With over 15 years of experience in strategy, consulting, innovation, and branding, Tobias now focuses on mentoring business owners, who he finds pleasure in helping. We learn about his journey to this point. 

During the episode, Tobias emphasizes the importance of building a business that can work even when the entrepreneur is not fully involved. He clarifies that this does not mean completely stepping away from the business, but rather separating oneself from the day-to-day operations. 

Throughout the episode, Tobias discusses the importance of simplifying and developing transparent systems in three core areas: attracting leads, sales conversion, and delivering consistent value at a profit. He also shares his experiences in shifting his business model and finding success by standardizing and productizing his offerings. 

Tune in to hear about the idea of consulting for equity or an upside instead of a flat fee and his "money equation" to analyze the cause and effect of a client’s business. 

Learn more about Tobias Dahlberg and The Simple Company.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

In this episode, you’ll learn about Paul’s winding journey through business, including his experience in retail and manufacturing, and what later lead him to retire. He also delves into the process of starting The Wall Printer post-retirement. 

The company is aimed at muralists, interior designers, painters, etc., and takes on a leading role in the current commercial printing industry. His years of entrepreneurship have given him the know-how to enter this space. 

Paul champions partnerships and believes in the strength of collaboration and making expectations clear. He currently has a 10% partner who brings expertise in printing. The partner has been instrumental in the company’s success, he says.

Tune in to gain insight into taking charge of your business, including marketing and branding, and how to find great partners. 

Learn more about Paul Baron and The Wall Printer.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Carol and Jonathan discuss consolidation within the healthcare industry and how the shift affects patients. This leads to a conversation about the significance of vaccinations for adults. Carol inquires specifically about his opinion on the covid vaccine.

Jonathan shares his unique career journey, emphasizing the importance of being open to new opportunities and not always relying on a sudden epiphany when making career changes. He dives into how he stays on top of all three organizations currently.

Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights into communication and culture within these three companies. Jonathan boasts his continuous learning program and emphasizes the importance of individual success and developing others for similar achievements.

Learn more about Jonathan Baktari and e7Health.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

On this episode of Authentically Successful, host Carol Schultz sits down with Rajeev, CEO of 1105 Media, a portfolio of four companies that provide B2B marketing events and media services. Rajeev shares his experience of joining the company after a big shift and the challenge of changing the culture within a business primarily built through acquisition. He also details what each business under his umbrella does.

Rajeev’s experience ranges from being in phone sales to working for Michael Dell and eventually becoming the CEO of 1105. You’ll hear about his winding career journey and how he got to where he is now. 

The episode concludes with Rajeev's thoughts on the disruption coming with the advent of Chat GPT and generative AI tools, and how his company is preparing for the future. And also a discussion of the importance of “enlightened leadership” as the workforce shifts towards Gen Z and millennials. 

Tune in to this episode to hear advice on managing a large group of businesses and brands all at once. 

Learn more about Rajeev Kapur and 1105 Media.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Ted’s company, ActivEngage, aims to help automotive companies sell and service more cars through an improved customer journey. It ultimately serves manufacturers, dealers, and aggregator sites, so it's crucial for employees to help both parties and not focus solely on the end customer. 

You’ll hear how ActivEngage became profitable in its first year. This technology is significant in facilitating effective and secure enterprise solutions for its customers, including at large organizations like General Motors, AutoNation, and Auto Trader, Ted says. 

His career progression through the automotive industry brought him a diversity of skills from working in operations, sales, technology, analytics, and M&A. 

Tune in to learn about the challenges and benefits of working in the tech and automotive industries, as well as how to prioritize employee engagement and create meaningful connections with both clients and customers. 

Learn more about Ted Rubin and ActivEngage.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Carbon Title offers transparency into the carbon emissions of all buildings, empowering stakeholders to understand, manage, and take action to reduce emissions across their portfolios. Trevor tells us the origin story of the company and how the platform can benefit not only the Earth but also individual buyers and large investors. 

The platform is similar to Zillow or Walk Score, allowing users to see the carbon output of properties and whether the owners are making efforts to reduce emissions. The two delve into which common building materials are least and most harmful to the environment.

Trevor reveals his experience using 1099 contractors for his agency and how he wishes he had focused on the commercial side of his product earlier. They discuss the challenges of educating the market about the impact of CO2 emissions in buildings, sustainable building design, and managing a distributed remote team. 

Listen for helpful tips on giving feedback, finding talent, the climate change space, and how you can help the environment as a homeowner. 

Learn more about Trevor Dryer and Carbon Title.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

On this episode of Authentically Successful, we hear from Tracy Smith, the CEO of Make-A-Wish Alabama, a nonprofit organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. 

Carol and Tracy discuss the origin story of Make-A-Wish and how the organization has evolved over time. Tracy points out how greatly one wish can affect the child’s future medically, leading to fewer ER visits and hospital stays according to data.  

You’ll hear what a typical day looks like for a “wish granter”, a key role in the nonprofit. They also discuss the success of her internship program, which is paving the way for paid internships in Alabama to break down socioeconomic and diversity barriers. 

On the leadership front, Tracy tells us about her long career in the nonprofit industry and her experiences with bad bosses in previous jobs, which taught her how not to behave when she became a leader. She also delves into the challenges of nonprofit work, including burnout and work-life balance.

Learn more about Tracy Smith and Make-A-Wish Alabama.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

It’s a 2-for-1 episode! This week Carol speaks to two leaders at Veterinary Emergency Group–aka VEG– David Glattstein and David Bessler. VEG is revolutionizing the veterinary emergency industry through a "Vegolution", a holistic experience for pet owners in emergencies. Their organization currently has 41 ERs for pets across 14 states and treats over 300,000 emergencies annually.

Both founders recount how luck and timing played a role in their successful partnership, and how they prioritize differentiation at every point for all their teams and employees. You'll also learn about VEG's unique "nerd program" to produce highly-skilled emergency doctors and nurses. 

The episode also discusses the misconception of dreading or avoiding the veterinary ER and how the company is changing that perception. They explore the historical precedent for separating patients from their loved ones in hospitals and how their “open” concept changes that.

Looking at the current state of emergency medicine, the founders delve into a post-Covid issue: the quickly growing pet population and the shortage of veterinarians. 

Learn more about David Bessler and David Glattstein and VEG.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

On this episode of Authentically Successful, Carol interviews Seth, the managing director and co-founder of Foundry Group. The venture capital firm was formed in 2007 and has now grown to 75 employees. 

You’ll hear about Seth’s winding journey from majoring in psychology and thinking he would become a professor to working long hours at an investment bank to eventually leading a large company. 

He talks about the founding of Foundry Group and the world of venture capital. According to Seth, taking venture capital is not always the best course of action for entrepreneurs and they should do their research carefully before taking the plunge.

They also discuss Seth’s first book called “The New Builders: Face to Face With the True Future of Business” and the surprising facts about entrepreneurism today. 

Learn more about Seth Levine and Foundry Group.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Bobbie, co-founder, and COO of Benekiva, is a second-time founder. She and her husband first created Docsmore, a document manager, and later moved on to join Benekiva, a platform that transforms the end-to-end insurance claims and servicing experience. 

In a previous episode, Carol interviewed Benekiva’s founder & CEO, Brent Williams. Now you’ll hear more about the industry from the perspective of his female co-founder.  Bobbie tells us how she and her husband met Brent initially and began working with him to form Benekiva. 

In this episode, she opens up to Carol about the reality of working with her spouse. They also discuss the delicate issue of being chosen because you’re a woman or racially diverse rather than being chosen based on what you bring to the table. 

There have been many lessons for Bobbie as a founder of both companies, but she touches on one that she considers most important: trust.

Learn more about Bobbie Shrivastav and Benekiva.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Leslie co-founded Circa, an organization that is reinventing rent. The company created a platform for renters to customize their payment experience, splitting payments if needed. Their goal is to increase the overall number of people that can successfully pay rent. 

After working at large companies for many years, Leslie decided to take the leap and build her own business. She details the impetus for that decision as well as the long road of funding she and her co-founders went through to gain a footing in the space. 

In this episode, Carol and Leslie dive into how the platform works and the ideal client. Leslie explains that no marketing is needed because the demand is so high on the part of renters. They also discuss how people are discovering Circa and how that is shifting as they grow. 

Learn more about Leslie Hyman and Circa.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

MarketMuse, an AI platform for content creation and strategy, began as a personal science project. The original founder, Aki Balogh, was researching the space when he met the second founder, Jeff Coyle, and they joined forces to create MarketMuse 10 years ago.  

Where does Chuck come in? After a long career in sales, you’ll hear what made him join the organization and what led him to become CEO, replacing Aki.  He also tells us his initial concern with the company and why he chose to work there despite it. 

In this episode, Carol and Chuck discuss all things content, from how to generate topics effectively to analyzing the “why” behind the content. You’ll also hear about Chuck’s views on introspection and why he believes it’s significant in success. 

Learn more about Chuck Frydenborg and MarketMuse.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Rick co-founded Field Agent, a marketplace that provides B2B retail solutions through mobile research and retail data collection. Rick dives into how his company functions and talks about their most recent creation of “Plum Marketplace” to speed up and transform the process of purchasing services. 

Field Agent was originally created as a tool for the larger product and eventually, they decided to focus in and scale it. You’ll hear how the economy at the time inspired people to start using their product.

In this episode, Carol and Rick discuss the swiftly changing technology in the industry and how Field Agent works to keep up with it. Rick discusses areas in his company’s growth that he would have approached differently in hindsight.

Learn more about Rick West and Field Agent.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

As CFO of Premier Claims, a public adjustment firm that advocates on behalf of the customer, Melissa leads with a people-first approach. 

Melissa says her company turns away about 50% of work because the policyholder may have been paid out appropriately or may not have had the right coverage in the first place. 

In this episode, Carol and Melissa discuss the inside workings and issues in the property insurance industry. They also delve into Melissa’s recruiting strategy and her unique way of hiring people based on skills- even if a title isn’t there. 

You’ll also hear about Melissa’s career journey including her time as an auditor, working concerts, and eventually the path that led her to Premier.

Learn more about Melissa Hurrington and Premier Claims.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Cynthia and two others started GrantStation in a one-room cabin in the woods of Alaska. The organization was created to connect nonprofits with grantmakers nationally and internationally in order to get the funding they need. Years later, it has now grown to 20 employees as a membership-based model. 

At just 14, Cynthia had her first encounter with fundraising-- for a horseback-riding club she was a part of. She discovered she had a special ability to get funding for projects and eventually began her career working for nonprofits. 

In this episode, Cynthia and Carol discuss a challenge in the philanthropy industry right now: new funding sources throwing off the traditional funding landscape. Cynthia also reflects on an issue that faces small nonprofits trying to get grants and how it is a “numbers game”.

They also discuss the future of her company as she is planning to fully retire in the coming years. 

Learn more about Cynthia Adams and GrantStation.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

In 2019 he founded UptimeAI, an artificial intelligence-based predictive maintenance software provider for companies in heavy industries. Since its start, the company has grown to 24 employees.

UptimeAI is different because it bridges the gap in knowledge in fields where this knowledge usually takes decades of experience to access. It uses human-like cognitive skills to problem-solve and self-learn, which distinguishes it from other tools, he says.

In this episode, he and Carol discuss the effect Covid had on the company and the culture he has proudly created at UptimeAI, along with the inner workings of his organization.

Learn more about Jagadish Gattu and UptimeAI.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Dan’s company, Ovation Health and Life Services, is an employee benefits firm aimed at helping employers create better health plans. 

Dan began his career in the restaurant industry, completely unrelated, and eventually got into insurance when he needed a license for one of his jobs. He later quit and since he had the license, he figured, why not find a job in the insurance industry? That’s where it all began. 

In this episode, Carol and Dan discuss diversity and how it affects communication in modern-day companies. Dan dives into a major lesson for him: how to adjust spending based on client numbers. He also talks about the concept of “self-funding” which is transforming health care benefits.

Learn more about Dan LaBroad and Ovation.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Brent founded Benekiva, a SaaS technology platform that aims to transform the end-to-end insurance claims and servicing experience. Four years ago the startup employed only three people, and today it employs almost 60 people.

After noticing the issue of an archaic claims and servicing system and then taking three years to research further, Brent began the journey of designing a platform to innovate it.

In this episode, Brent recounts the process he and his co-founders took to get the startup going, prioritizing product development over immediate sales. And they discuss a key part of their growth: speaking at conferences. 

Carol and Brent discuss his talent strategy, especially with such a high growth rate. And you’ll hear about his number one hobby-- golf.

Learn more about Brent Williams and Benekiva.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Jitesh, a three-time founder, most recently co-founded Credible, a SaaS company that helps businesses discover their environmental, social, and governance impact through data. 

His time growing up in India shaped his desire to become a business owner, he says. It also played a role in his current venture, Credible, which was initially formed after researching the state of manufacturing in India. 

In this episode, Jitesh recounts his experience founding previous startups, including one that captured the interest of both Google and Amazon. They discuss his company culture and the component he sees as key to having ambitious employees. 

You’ll also hear about a technique he uses once a week to stay present: silence.

Learn more about Jitesh Shetty and Credible.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Eric is a co-owner and Principal at PADT, a provider of tools and services that help companies design and manufacture their products. The origins of PADT trace back to the 90s when Eric and some fellow engineers at a large turbine engine company decided to create a startup based on three new technologies they had at the time.

In this episode, Eric describes his relationship with his clients–mechanical engineers–and how important it is to build informational content outside of transactions to establish trust with them. He also recounts the effects of COVID on his culture and the steps he’s taken to ensure his culture stays intact in the remote world.

They also discuss why he and his co-owners haven’t sold the company despite many offers and what it would take for them to sell.

Learn more about Eric Miller and PADT.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

VIC Tech began as a consulting firm for tech startups. After noticing that many professors with new technologies didn’t want to quit their roles to develop them, Calvin decided to shift. 

The company screens new technologies brought to them from various universities and analyzes the risks in moving forward and commercializing them. Few companies have made it to the funding stage where the startup is founded and functioning.

In this episode, Carol and Calvin delve into his first startup and the journey to eventually selling it. Calvin walks us through how his current business model works and why professors are willing to give up equity. 

Calvin also talks about the talent pipeline and startup pipeline he’s formed alongside VIC Tech.

Learn more about Calvin Goforth and VIC Tech.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Matt founded BentoHR, an HR operations consulting firm. After working as an HR executive for years, he saw the need to revamp how HR functions. He talks about his transition from corporate work to entrepreneurship and how his skills did or didn’t translate. 

In this episode, Carol and Matt discuss the current state of the workforce with Baby Boomers retiring and skillsets changing. Matt dives into the power dynamics between HR and executives in many organizations and the issues it causes. 

He also walks us through some examples from his past that demonstrate the problems with HR, starting with his MBA program. They also get into the idea of viewing employees from an “output” point-of-view rather than an “input.”

Learn more about Matt Burns and BentoHR.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Ozan founded Base64.ai, an artificial intelligence service that works as a one-stop-shop for processing any type of document. 

Before starting his own company, Ozan had been a part of major corporations such as Netflix, PayPal, Uber, and Microsoft after moving from Turkey. During his time at Uber, he came across the issue that Base64.ai now aims to solve.

Base64.ai differs from its competitors in its rate of accuracy when extracting data, having 25% more accuracy than competitors, Ozan says. 

In this episode, Carol and Ozan discuss what he’s learned from working for major companies. He talks about wanting clients to overuse their services, a strategy he picked up at Netflix. 

Ozan also walks us through what the “no-code revolution” is and how it will further transform the tech industry. 

Learn more about Ozan Bilgen and Base64ai.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Shahed co-founded SJ Innovation, an IT solutions company, with his wife almost two decades ago when they were two traveling freelancers.

The business has now grown to 170 employees across the globe. Although SJ Innovation is highly remote, Shahed talks about culture and how central it is to the company. 

In this episode, Carol and Shahed discuss coaching and the value of hiring one instead of relying on books. They also touch on the best way to gain clients, no matter the industry.  

Shahed opens up about his health and the importance of prioritizing self-care and family life over work. 

Learn more about Shahed Islam and SJ Innovation.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Phil first founded BriteCore, a cloud-native platform for P&C insurers, and almost two decades later co-founded DevStride, a strategic project and portfolio management solution. The idea for his second company came from an issue his team came across at the first. 

DevStride was co-founded by four people, one being Phil’s wife. He walks us through how he wound up with those co-founders and what it’s like to work alongside his life partner. 

In this episode, Carol inquires about Phil’s removal from his role as CEO at BriteCore. They get into the idea of a leader giving up their position if it means the company will be more successful with someone else, even as the founder. 

Later, he goes into the important distinction between hiring great people and hiring seasoned people. They also talk about chatbots and the future of bots versus humans for customer support.

Learn more about Phil Reynolds and DevStride.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Phil has founded several successful software companies, his latest: Moogsoft, an AIOps incident management platform for engineering teams of large businesses. The company currently staffs around 160 people.

Moogsoft was co-founded by Phil and his friend Mike Silvey. Phil tells us the story of how the two met over two decades ago, going from “drinking friends” to now being like an “old married couple” several businesses later.

In this episode, Carol inquires about Phil’s lessons from the many companies he’s grown, including three successful exits and one incubator. Phil tells us one principle he stands by: A company must authentically solve a problem.

They also get into Phil’s mindset on culture, how he sees the truth, and his practice of seeking out customers’ skepticism early on. He also provides advice for entrepreneurs looking to achieve the same success.

Learn more about Phil Tee and Moogsoft.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Vadim co-founded Diffco, an app development company.  Diffco helps tech startups build their software and, in some cases, also build out their business model. 

In order to make his days as CEO as efficient as possible, Vadim has learned to structure his tasks based on importance. With that comes leaving a meeting if it’s not crucial to be listening. He also encourages his team to do the same. 

In this episode, Carol and Vadim talk about another business he founded and why he decided to focus on Diffco in the end. They explore the concept of dividing attention, when it works and when it doesn’t. 

You’ll also hear them discuss Vadim’s challenges when it came to hiring and how he’s improved his process, especially when it comes to finding c-level talent.

Learn more about Vadim Peskov and Diffco.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Bob founded Hoban Law Group, which Clark Hill’s Cannabis Industry Group later acquired. His firm notably paved the way for lawyers in the brand-new industry of commercialized cannabis. 

Years into his career as a corporate lawyer, Bob’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. He began to explore cannabis as an alternative for her. This led him to naturally form relationships with leaders in the industry and start working in cannabis law.

Bob walks us through the early days of his law firm and one of his biggest challenges as his company grew exponentially: management. 

In this episode, Carol and Bob dive into how Covid transformed his firm and ultimately led to the acquisition. They also talk about the details of the transition into “big law” and how employees felt about it.

Learn more about Bob Hoban and Clark Hill’s Cannabis Industry Group.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

After being treated for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Michael founded Get Well, an organization that aims to empower patients to take an active role in their health journey. 

Get Well utilizes technology to give people access to information about their health. It currently staffs over 340 people. 

In this episode, Carol and Michael discuss the challenges of breaking into the healthcare industry with a new concept. Michael walks us through his journey of funding the company, selling it to a private equity firm, and then acquiring a competitor.

You'll hear about the variety of ways Get Well is now serving the industry beyond his original purpose. Michael also talks about his company values and the three elements he uses to balance his daily schedule as CEO. 

Learn more about Michael O’Neil and Get Well.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Years ago, Sofiat wanted to check out a food truck a friend had recommended and was unable to find it. This catapulted her and her friends into a journey to create GoodFynd, a way to connect customers to mobile businesses, helping food trucks to be more visible and profitable.

Sofiat is a first-generation American, born to immigrants from Nigeria. After getting a law degree and working in the field, she still had entrepreneurship in the back of her mind, influenced by her grandmother growing up. When her co-founder came to her with the idea for GoodFynd, she knew it was time to dive in. 

Sofiat tells us about the impact of the company beyond food, helping diverse business owners and bringing accessibility to affordable, authentic cuisine in food deserts. Sofiat discusses what she calls “servant leadership” and how she’s found success with that mindset. 

In this episode, Carol and Sofiat talk about how she met her co-founders and how being friends has caused issues but has also been helpful in situations. You’ll hear about the process of getting funded as both a person of color and a woman and how an unexpected call transformed the journey.

Learn more about Sofiat Abdulrazaaq and GoodFynd.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Brandon founded SEO Optimizers, a digital marketing agency that helps companies gain online traffic through search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), Pay Per Click (PPC), blogging, and social media marketing (SMM). His company now employs upwards of 50 employees. 

Brandon began working in the space after graduating and eventually decided to start his own company centered around the free tool of SEO. Once he found success, he took the plunge and committed to it full-time. 

In this episode, Carol and Brandon explore what makes his business stand out from the fierce competition: something called backlinks. He also takes us on his journey from being a one-man-show to hiring a team, allowing him to focus on the business as a whole.

Learn more about Brandon Leibowitz and SEO Optimizers.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Andrew co-founded Insured Nomads, an insurtech and travel-tech platform aimed at helping travelers, ex-pats, and digital nomads explore and live with their well-being in mind. Insured Nomads is disrupting the industry with much-needed technology updates to make traveling and living abroad easier, Andrew says. 

In this episode, Andrew walks us through the main issues his company solves for people and the red tape involved in attempting to innovate in a highly regulated space. Carol and Andrew discuss outsourcing and how Insured Nomads aims to give companies other options than outsourcing. 

Andrew co-founded his business with others, one being his wife, so you’ll hear how that dynamic works on an everyday basis. 

Learn more about Andrew Jernigan and Insured Nomads.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

He founded thoughtbot, an end-to-end product development and design consultancy. thoughtbot aims to bring a company’s idea to life and eventually give them the tools to have their own development team. 

In this episode, Chad tells us about his journey in zeroing in on a niche and realizing the necessity of saying “no” to certain prospective clients. 

Carol and Chad discuss strategies for gaining business and how Covid affected thoughtbot and its ability to stand out. 

You’ll also hear about Chad’s journey when growing the company from a small team to now a workforce of over 100 employees and the fear he had of becoming a large organization. 

Learn more about Chad Pytel and thoughtbot.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Today their company, “Beaconstac” employs over 60 people and has worked with brands such as Pepsi and Amazon.

Ravi and Sharat grew up together in the same city in India. And after both moving to the US decades later, they wound up being roommates in New York City, both working for large organizations at the time. Ravi says they constantly discussed start-ups and it was only a few years later that they began Beaconstac together. 

In this episode, Carol and Ravi explore the QR code space and how it’s rapidly growing in popularity. Ravi tells us about his goals moving forward with Beaconstac.

When talking about hiring, Ravi tells us about what he calls the “10,20,30 rule” that he uses for any new employee.

Learn more about Ravi Maddimsetty and Beaconstac.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Scott now uses his dad’s same methodology to help other businesses. As the president of the Exit Planning Institute (EPI), Scott provides learning experiences, performance-enhancing resources, and strategic tools designed to help businesses exit in the best way. Whether it’s a one-man operation or a large manufacturing company, EPI aims to train advisors to help them grow and exit effectively. 

In this episode, Scott delves into the ins and outs of his industry and how the last few years have affected it. 

Carol and Scott also discuss his militant leadership style and how feedback from his closest employees made him change. He tells us about a value he upholds at EPI that he calls “putting it on the table” and why that is so significant.

Learn more about Scott Snider and the Exit Planning Institute.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

XOi Technologies is an all-in-one communication tool connecting field service technicians, offices, and customers. His company now has over 90 employees. Aaron says a large part of the product's success comes from the fact that it’s built on actually listening to technicians and what they need. 

Aaron’s family worked in manufacturing and farming, leading him to have a passion for blue-collar work from a young age. And after seeing many companies struggle to find the right technician for specific work, his idea came to mind. He knew if he could connect the new technician on their first job with the man who had been repairing for 45 years, he’d close a wide gap. 

In this episode, Carol and Aaron discuss whether people have a price when it comes to accepting a new position or if the company culture is always the most important factor. They also talk about how insecurity played a part in his business creation.

Learn more about Aaron Salow and XOi Technologies.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Yotam’s company, Cyera, is a cloud data security firm that, while only being a year-and-a-half old, has already raised a large sum of capital. Carol presses Yotam on why he feels he is a “leader” in this emerging space. 

In this episode, Carol and Yotam discuss his company’s culture and Yotam challenges the widespread sentiment on work-life balance, saying some people prefer the fast-paced challenge of building something rather than being at a laid-back company. They also talk about the difficulties involved in being in such a new space and hiring employees. 

You’ll hear about his time in the renowned Talpiot Program in Israel and how it propelled him to be the leader he is now. Yotam says a big part of his culture is being open with each other about mistakes and discussing them as a team. 

Learn more about Yotam Segev and Cyera.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

That’s when he got the idea to start Hooray Health, a company aimed at providing limited healthcare benefits to hourly workers that won’t break the bank. Shane’s business now has contracts with urgent care centers in major cities that keep the bill to $25, no matter the services needed. 

Shane says the healthcare benefit space needed innovation, especially in current times with many Americans unable to afford major medical benefit plans.

Shane’s journey began in the airforce where he assisted with surgeries. He fell in love with medicine and later worked for several organizations in the field. Eventually, a friend asked him to help lead a healthcare benefits company, and that’s what gave him the knowledge to form his own.

In this episode, Carol and Shane discuss how his company gained credibility in the industry and the mistakes he made in the process of raising capital. Shane tells about his talent strategy and balancing contracted employees versus permanent employees. 

Shane also opens up about his goal of implementing a culture of feedback and why the company doesn’t have one yet. 

Learn more about Shane Foss and Hooray Health.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

“To me, it’s just about saying yes. That seems like a good idea. Sure I’ll try that! That seems like an awesome opportunity, yes let’s do that!” Jaci tells Carol. 

It was moving from Louisiana to Los Angeles and working at a large, well-known agency that changed Jaci’s mindset and gave her the confidence to do anything, she says. She eventually left her job to work at a start-up and then formed her own agency. 

Jaci says many of her clients simply don’t understand their target audience, in turn losing the effect of their messaging, so she acts as a translator. BrandRusso stands out from its 74,000 competitors in the way they do business, including how Jaci charges for services. 

In this episode, Carol and Jaci discuss the benefits of writing a book and how it can help a business. Jaci also tells us the common marketing mistakes she sees companies make before coming to her.

You’ll also hear about the ten years of mistakes she’s made with hiring and how she moved past it and now prefers a “lean and mean” organizational structure. 

Learn more about Jaci Russo and BrandRUSSO.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Elizondo co-founded Territorium, a global education technology leader providing an education delivery, measurement, and tracking ecosystem. With over nine million users worldwide currently, Territorium recently expanded into the U.S. partnering with major companies like Microsoft.

The goal of Territorium is to help students in their transition from education to work. Territorium focuses on the skills students obtain in school and how they will apply them in the field. 

Guillermo took on the role of CEO as a teenager. He says it helped him in some situations because he was a student and saw many leaders as mentors, but it also led to mistakes. 

In this episode, Carol and Guillermo talk about the “million-dollar mistake” he made early on and about the transforming landscape of higher education in today’s world.

Learn more about Guillermo Elizondo and Territorium.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Wayne says one key to success is thinking of clients as people rather than transactions and getting personal beyond the job at hand. It all comes down to two humans connecting, he says. 

In this week’s episode, you’ll hear how Wayne and his team prioritize human connection with clients. And then Carol and Wayne take a step back to dive into his journey from landscaper to founder of a marketing company. 

They discuss the company culture he’s created and an idea he lives by: Discomfort is necessary for growth. And he tells us how he implemented that concept among his employees. You’ll also hear how he chose his employees’ wellbeings over the expansion of his company and the tough decisions that came with that. 

Wayne speaks candidly about the marketing industry and what he believes many agencies are doing wrong: Measuring results based on “vanity metrics” rather than true leads.

Learn more about Wayne Mullins and Ugly Mug Marketing.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Knit helps brands understand the next generation of consumers by empowering Gen Z to share feedback over video. In other words, before brands launch marketing content, they hire Knit to make sure the content will appeal to the young generation; doing away with the archaic focus group method of gaining consumer feedback. 

“If you think about how brands are talking to their consumers today, it is definitely not built for this world,”  he tells Carol. 

Aneesh uses sports as an example: Data shows that Gen Z doesn’t broadcast games or go to watch in person as much as generations before them did. Instead, they stream games. So Knit helps sports-related brands figure out how to monetize streaming and how to enhance the in-person experience to fit Gen Z's interests. 

In this episode, Aneesh tells us about a high school program that shaped his business mindset. And he brings us on his journey of founding start-ups and dropping out of college to go all-in. 

Listen to hear how the pandemic actually helped him pivot his idea to solve an issue all-size companies were encountering. And how, as a young entrepreneur, he took on the hiring of a dozen employees. 

Learn more about Aneesh Dhawan and Knit.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Ted sought help and his doctor advised him to take a few months off; but as a business owner, he knew that was a near-impossible task for him. So he took small breaks. Ted reflected and pivoted his business and in turn, his company found more success than ever before.  

In this episode, Ted tells us how empathy changed his life — and business— for the better. 

Ted owns Ballistic Arts, a high-touch lead-gen digital marketing agency focused on helping B2B companies get leads. Ted and others started the company in a room above his parents' garage not long after graduating. Using Ted’s cold-calling know-how the team got off the ground and slowly found more and more clients. 

Ted takes us into his childhood and how his upbringing in an immigrant Chinese family shaped his attributes as a leader. And they discuss how seeing his workplace as his home negatively affected his employee relationships.

You’ll also hear how Ted’s agency stands out from the rest, offering both creativity and data.

Learn more about Ted Lau and Ballistic Arts

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz , LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/, and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verticalelevationinc/

Derrick started on a completely different path: film school. He worked in the creative industry for a short period before realizing he had more to offer; so he got his MBA and three years later he created FlowPlay. With revenues at $42 million, he recently sold it to a casino group and took on the role of President in the company. 

In this episode, Carol and Derrick delve into a unique talent strategy Derrick uses: the “no asshole” policy. The policy must be enforced by him personally and has been successful, he says. Listen to the episode to hear more about it and how the company managed to differentiate itself from the over 100,000 competitors by selling luck rather than tokens.

They also discuss the challenges he faced as a first-time founder, like the pressure he felt knowing people now relied on him for their salary. 

“It was the first time I had been responsible for people’s lives and livelihoods,” he told Carol. 

Derrick opens up about the change in culture he needed to make when his team was agreeing with his ideas, leading to some failures. He implemented what Carol calls a “culture of feedback.”

Learn more about Derrick Morton and FlowPlay.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

“It was going to be my sort of ‘good deed’ to help other entrepreneurs,” he told Carol. 

The Really Useful Information Company, aka TRUIC, has revenues north of $10 million and employs 37 people. And, to this day, everything on the website is free. 

So how does Bobby make money? Listen to the episode to learn how a business providing free information can earn a profit. 

Bobby started in the field of medicine in the U.K. and planned on continuing when he moved to the U.S. But a few months after moving, he got the bug to start his own business and did just that. He named it Saagra, a wellness services company. Shortly after, TRUIC came to be, and Bobby decided to put all of his efforts into it, with plans of one day using it to fund Saagra. 

In this episode, Carol and Bobby explore how his lack of humility and focus led to mistakes and how failure helped him change. They also discuss the structure Bobby built at TRUIC, having what he refers to as “mission commanders” and a culture of respect. 

Learn more about Bobby Peddi and TRUIC

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Jessica’s business, Rogue Valley Microdevices, is a micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) foundry, in other words, a contract manufacturer. They fabricate physical devices for other companies. Jessica tells us about the very beginnings and how the recession gutted her company, forcing her to lay off the team she’d built. She and Carol also discuss the CHIPS Act and how it may benefit her industry. 

Jessica paints us a picture of what it’s like being a young woman in her industry.

“I go to a conference and it’s 500 men in suits, and me and the staff,” Jessica says. Someone asks her, “Are you guys going to bring more coffee down for us? I think it is empty.” She responds, “No, no I’m actually here for the conference.”

In this episode, you’ll learn about Jessica’s troubled upbringing which left her homeless at one point, and how she found success against all odds.

Learn more about Jessica Gomez and Rogue Valley Microdevices

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

As the President and CEO of QHotels, Vimal owns and operates several hotels; on top of that, he founded Innrly, a software that streamlines the day-to-day duties of hoteliers. 

It all started when he moved to America in 1991; he stayed with his cousin who owned a motel. He took a job working for his cousin and eventually formed his own hotel management company. 

As he expanded from three hotels to four hotels, he discovered errors in accounting and wanted to ensure they wouldn’t continue to happen. So he developed software to automate day-to-day processes. Now he sells the software to other hotels to utilize. 

In this episode, Vimal tells us about the company culture he’s built — one of empowerment and respect. He retains employees, the majority in housekeeping, by not micromanaging them and encouraging career growth within the hotels. For example, when he promotes someone, he provides time for the employee to make sure that they like the new role and can succeed before moving them permanently to the new position. 

Vimal discusses how he has time to manage an entire tech firm while leading QHotels. He also talks to Carol about current issues facing the hotel industry: a labor shortage and skyrocketing insurance prices that are causing hotels to also raise rates. 

Learn more about Vimal Patel and QHotels & Innrly.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Joseph became the chief revenue officer of Nerdio, a technology firm that helps MSPs build cloud environments using Microsoft Azure. 

“Drop the dinosaur and get the goat!” he says, referring to when clients leave larger competitors for Nerdio because the company offers a better product at a lower cost. 

In this episode, we dive into what made Joseph stay with Microsoft for so long, and the adjustments he had to make moving from a massive organization to a startup. He talks about the even-keel mindset that one must have when running a startup and the importance of the entire company sharing that mindset.

Carol and Joseph also discuss a challenge facing Nerdio: competition with other technology companies for talent. Joseph likes to use the concept of drivers and passengers when deciding who to hire; “drivers” refer to talent who constantly strive to get work done and are proactive in nature, no matter their role, and “passengers” refer to those who clock in and clock out. They talk about how to identify drivers from the very first interview and look for something Joseph calls the generosity gene. 

Learn more about Joseph Landes and Nerdio.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Marco co-founded Marketing Boost, a B2B service that helps businesses improve their marketing strategy with incentive-based techniques. He tells us the driving thought behind it: Adding a bonus to whatever you’re selling instead of discounting it. For example, a company can offer a complimentary hotel stay or a restaurant voucher.

Marketing Boost’s ideal client is a business that is already killing the game but wants to add extra value for its customers, although some of its clients are in early stages.

Marco is based in Miami, but most of his employees are located outside of the United States. In this episode, Carol and Marco discuss what prompted him to look for workers abroad after hiring in the United States, and how Covid-19 affected a business highly based on travel.

If you’d like to learn more about affiliate marketing and how it works, this is a must-listen.

Learn more about Marco Torres and Marketing Boost.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Ken found early success working in agencies, known for dreaming up the Ocean Spray slogan, “Crave The Wave”, and working with brands like Jose Cuervo. But 10 years in, Ken hatched the idea to start freelancing on the side. He created a website of his own and bought a spot with a niche offering: banner ads.

Soon after, he received a message from a brand in South Africa and began fulfilling requests on his daily commute to New York City. After being burnt out from the overload of work, his wife Sharon encouraged him to quit his job and commit fully to Lounge Lizard, so he did.

Ken’s agency became a million-dollar company in its first year.

He does the work and does it well. Lounge Lizard offers help to companies of all sizes: Either developing a brand’s voice from the ground up or rethinking their current strategy. Ken often opens his client’s eyes to the metrics they already have at hand and how to use them to create a better working website.

In this episode, Carol and Ken discuss a prominent issue facing Lounge Lizard: Large companies poaching his employees. Listen to hear more about Ken’s journey and his advice for anyone trying to break into the industry.

Learn more about Ken Braun and Lounge Lizard Worldwide.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Matthew founded Davis Business Law, a “soup to nuts” law firm for small businesses, recently featured on the Inc. 5000 list. He also authored the book “The Art of Preventing Stupid”, is working on another, and currently hosts two business-focused podcasts.

It wasn’t Matthew’s dream to own a law firm though. Actually, it was quite the opposite. After working as a partner at a law firm early in his career, Matthew developed a revulsion to the idea of starting his own. But he also knew growth was limited on his own and the work as a solo attorney became overwhelming.

He decided if he were to take the plunge, he would do it the right way — focus on bringing in good people.

“I wasn’t going to put my heart and soul into building this company and not work with people that I just didn’t love hanging out with,” he told Carol.

He bought a space and that was it.

In this episode, Matthew opens up about his greatest challenges in transforming from a one-man-show into a manager of many and building a successful law firm with no outside funding. Carol also digs into his unique approach to finding lawyers to join his company — sending a message that stands out and is true to his culture.

Learn more about Matthew Davis and Davis Business Law.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Richard, founder and CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center, began his business out of his home with just a website and now operates a 300-seat call center.

In this episode, he walks us through the unique culture that differentiates his call center from his competitors, one of those aspects being gamification. Richard proudly compares the workplace environment he’s created to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. As the owner of one of the largest collections of restored pinball machines and jukeboxes, Richard strategically placed the games in-house for employees to blow off steam and socialize.

“I just want to help them out on a rainy Wednesday if they’re not feeling very well,” he says, “I’ve seen the difference when people have been in the arcade.”

He talks about the importance of genuinely celebrating his employees’ wins, and giving them a pep talk when they experience a low. It comes down to caring about them, he says, and showing vulnerability as a leader.

Listen to hear more about Richard’s philosophies and how he’s tackled one of his greatest challenges yet: COVID and a work-from-home environment.

Learn more about Richard Blank and Costa Rica's Call Center

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

From the get-go, it was vital to distinguish the company by not doing what everyone else was. That became a mantra of staying five years ahead of the competition and establishing a culture of solving problems, feedback, and the necessary alignment vital for continued growth. As you’ll hear, Laws is adamant about work-life balance so much so that he terms Saturday Drive as a lifestyle company. For instance, while side hustles are encouraged, staff must care about the company’s work first.

Of course, there were misfires and mishires where the culture ended up just happening. Laws now knows that it’s vital to lead culture intentionally to achieve alignment. And that alignment in goals, mission and values is vital for growth.

Working under the philosophy that no business deserves employees, he believes that those who want to work with you must be earned. To that end, Laws focuses his efforts on developing his leadership team around strategic initiatives and key hires. He keeps learning and growing by running his own podcast, Leading to Fulfillment, where he interviews other CEOs and industry leaders about their experience.

This podcast features a leader who always puts people and culture first. And it’s paid off.

Learn more about James Laws and Saturday Drive Incorporated

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

It’s based on a knowledge graph technology (sporting a new US patent) that makes the contract data usable and searchable. And Charles maintains knowledge graph technology is the benefit that makes the difference.

Most innovative technology starts with a problem that needs to be solved. Brecque felt that pain while working at Mind Foundry (artificial intelligence and automated data science) where the company was losing valuable contracts due to logjams at the legal review stage. Determining that a contract is really just a tangled set of relationships, Legislate was born out of the idea that contracts are knowledge graphs. The resulting templates are approved by lawyers and completely enforceable.

How Brecque obtained initial angel funding in 2020 as a first-time founder during a pandemic is a fascinating story of determination, steadfast belief and ingenuity that will inspire and impress. As a founder with little leadership experience, Brecque quickly recognized the value of mentors, investors and fellow CEOs in learning by doing. His growing confidence has helped to create credibility that resulted in raising one million dollars in funding for building a proper team that now includes a development team in Spain, a chief legal officer, and an ambitious growth plan.

Under Brecque’s calm leadership, the only path for Legislate and its straightforward focus on small business is up. Learn more about Charles Brecque and Legislate

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Founding Sorcero, an artificial intelligence and insights software platform that enables medical affairs teams to explore medically relevant content libraries, in 2018, Das was on a mission to bridge the gap between humans and acquiring the necessary data to make medically relevant decisions quickly. She was adamant about helping medical personnel find information that they normally wouldn’t have found. And Sorcero’s investors couldn’t be more pleased. They appreciate Das’s leadership in overseeing a “scrappy” team that keeps building on the fit-to-purpose platform while exercising diligent capital efficiency. Or as Das puts it, an effective marriage of purpose and profit.

Das is articulate and elegant in relating her mistakes as a CEO, her team’s success as a whole and her delight in working in a field now staffed with many female leaders and workers. She is committed to setting her team up for success through continuous improvement which means if one loses, they all lose. Working shoulder to shoulder, says Das, brings about the change necessary to keep Sorcero innovating and moving forward.

Learn more about Dipanwita Das and Sorcero

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

It all started when Towler’s brother asked him to partner in a company back in the 90s focusing on wide area networks (remember those?), website development and data storage. That spinoff became Phase 2, now building world class software created by an elite team of top tier software engineers headquartered in Oklahoma City. While Oklahoma isn’t exactly a tech mecca, Towler and Phase 2 have found it a very good place to do business.

Hearing how Towler and his team have built the business through practical decision-making, or as he puts it, saying no to the right things that makes it easier to say yes to the right things, is a good refresher course on doing business for the right reasons. That, says Towler, requires relentless focus on the business’s core DNA – in this case, heavy software engineering. What that means for Phase 2 is a smaller client base with larger spend.

Staying true to Phase 2’s identity and focus while keeping his team challenged by solving new problems has been a key element in building Towler’s role as the CEO. Because his background is in sales, marketing, and finance he realized that chasing dollars to grow revenue doesn’t make for retaining the best and the brightest in a highly specialized niche.

Towler and Phase 2 are on a successful path because they know who they want to be and they are authentic in staying in their lane. It’s a good lesson and a good listen.

Learn more about Mark Towler and Phase 2

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

After graduating from Whitman College in 2012, Katelyn blossomed as an intern at Devtest, learning and growing and working her way up to a directorship at Fierce, Inc. where she was among the youngest executive team members.

Of course, there were challenges – youth and lack of professional maturity chief among them. Sorenson credits amazing mentors, partner presidents and her executive coach with turning those challenges into problems solved. Those elements formed her as a leader who understands that incredible teams play a key role in her success.

Working in the dynamic world of social media means change is the biggest constant and Sorenson has learned to jump immediately and pivot when necessary in managing an international staff across multiple time zones. Post-Covid employment landscapes represent a brave new world for leaders like Sorenson and she's up for the task.

Sorenson’s refreshing perspective and gratitude for the lessons learned will continue to carry her far into the future. You’ll delight in Katelyn’s passion for people and her absolute authenticity throughout this energetic podcast.

Learn more about Katelyn Sorensen and Traject

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Like many of Madwire’s employees, Hoffman, recently promoted to COO, has found a home at a company that follows its own lead in doing everything they sell, or “eating its own dog food,” as she related how the owner described it. You’ll hear how Hoffman did it backwards – starting first at a big corporation and then transitioning to an award-winning small business acknowledged for its culture of making an impact, contributing to the solution, and providing the most value possible. Hoffman’s promotion caused some anxiety around making an immediate impact. What she’s learned about why every idea shouldn’t always be executed will surprise you.

The learning curve brought some valuable insight into empowering teams to do what’s right for the customer above all else. That awesomeness has led to winning awards and gaining recognition for innovation, culture, and an ever-growing customer base. Not to mention very pleased investors. Maintaining Madwire’s brand and execution excellence standards is what gets Hoffman out of bed every day. And you can hear that excitement and positive energy throughout this great conversation. Learn more about Amanda Hoffman and Madwire

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

What does Jebbit do? Its mission is to make digital experiences fun, engaging, and value driven by capturing the consumer’s data, intentions, motivations, and preferences with consent. First came the enterprise clients who needed to get in touch with their customers across all genders and demographics. Eventually, a free version was released to help non-enterprise businesses capture consumer engagement. Because privacy laws are changing, gathering usable and effective data has become a matter of consent. Coburn’s team at Jebbit has found an interactive way to get that consent that translates into real-time information companies can leverage into making marketing better now and into the future.

Coburn’s story of learning CEO-manship as a “ten-year overnight success” is fascinating. He admits he made all the cliché startup mistakes but maintains that the foundation of Jebbit’s culture starts with a very basic mantra – what you put in is what you get out. Coburn relates that he’s had eight jobs over the past ten years because his role as a CEO is always changing and he’s determined to keep learning and doing better.

Tom Coburn is proud of Jebbit’s position in the industry – the right side of history in helping brands engage customers directly with their permission.

Learn more about Tom Coburn and Jebbit

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

The CEO-to-be was trading, buying and selling baseball cards at 8 years old. That led to starting an investment club in college that earned him a prestigious internship at Lehman Brothers . . . in 2009 . . . during the crash. Surviving the transition to Barclays Bank, Dan dove into the world of investment banking, identifying and connecting with entrepreneurs. Along the way, he discovered that most entrepreneurs are ordinary people with an intense passion for making their ideas come alive.

Rediscovering his own passion for coding led to learning how to wear different hats, acquire more skills and bring like-minded people together. Fast forward to 2020 and the birth of Topia when he hired smarter people with passions that matched his to build a multi-million dollar company operating on three very powerful passions: being a defender of authentic human connections, a defender of accessibility and a defender of consent in safer spaces.

In this podcast, you’ll enjoying hearing about Daniel’s passion for connecting people, his sense of fun and love of community that define Topia’s culture. By leveraging technology that brings people together safely in the metaverse in real time, Daniel and Topia have set in motion the next big evolution.

Learn more about Daniel Liebeskind and Topia.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Similar to many tech leaders, David was just looking for a solution to a problem. After graduating from college, he tried the movies and ultimately made his way to San Diego where the real estate business beckoned through an uncle. Then came a recession. He built a team, bought leads, sent his team to training, and still couldn’t figure out why his agents weren’t getting return calls. When text messaging yielded an almost 100% response, David realized he was onto something.

Starting a company called Agentology with his brother who specialized in marketing, they focused on how to better communicate with and engage clients through engagement and qualification at the client’s pace.

Agentology rebranded itself to Verse.io (helping businesses converse with prospects) and implemented chat to deepen the customer’s engagement and qualification process while providing for immediate human contact. Verse.io is now tackling new industries such as mortgage companies, solar, insurance, and education to bring tech efficiencies that convert prospects to customers.

While this may sound mainstream, Verse.io’s differentiator is conversation automation campaigns where a two-way conversation can start immediately with a click and the conversation can be customized for each client’s prospect engagement.

If customer engagement is your focus and your challenge, you’ll appreciate what David Tal has to say about the future of automated contact and conversation.

Learn more about David Tal and Verse.io

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Although David learned valuable lessons at those failed startups, he still had to fight against the trends, the investors and the naysayers who couldn’t comprehend how a platform that was written before there was an iPhone or an app store would ever work. If they understood how it works.

How it works is brilliant – give it to employees for free. Let them fall in love with it and tell others who also will love it. They, in turn, tell their managers about it and those managers buy it. In building something meaningful that provides long-term value through being profitable, David keeps it simple at Expensify. He runs a flat company that empowers each employee to perform at their best through trust, peer evaluation, and collaboration. Having participated in a certain amount of corporate stupidity at other companies, he follows his instincts in what will and won’t work for Expensify. And David doesn’t let the noise of what other companies are doing or what he’s supposed to be doing drown out his belief in his business model or his high-performing team.

You’ll enjoy hearing this honest, authentic CEO relate how much staying true to his vision has made the difference.

Learn more about DAVID BARRETT and EXPENSIFY

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

In this episode, you’ll hear Christopher explain how pillar-based marketing goes way beyond SEO guesswork by letting the math lead the way. Christopher’s theories around aligning marketing messages organically with customer behaviors not only disrupts the standard, but pioneers a whole new approach to marketing based on relationships.

As with many entrepreneurs, Christopher has made mistakes in a variety of areas along the way. After graduating from Purdue where he ran a painting business to pay his way, he got into the brand new broadband business. While he eventually sold the company to Comcast and Time Warner, his tenure wasn’t without the pitfalls and challenges of learning to lead, hire and manage.

Eight companies later, Christopher applies three valuable leadership lessons as he continues to push the envelope in finding interesting ways to solve problems. I know you’ll find those three lessons and Christopher’s take on management as fascinating as I did.

Learn more about Christopher Day and DemandJump

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Even though Kathryn had no experience running companies correctly, she continued learning from her experience and passed that on as an instructor at Chico State, and through earning an MBA.

In 2007, Kathryn was introduced to the transportation industry, and she fell in love with the honest and honorable culture driven by people who embraced her and her considerable talents. Starting a business that catered to a mostly male-dominated sales force, Kathryn spent many of those early years proving herself and her company’s ability to make the lives of those guys easier in buying and selling commercial transportation vehicles. Supported by a husband who never stood in her way, Kathryn was soon raising funds and growing her staff to its present 85. Along the way, she learned three simple and valuable lessons.

Work Truck Solutions is now an integral part of the American trucking industry and Kathryn’s business practices provide a solid foundation for a sustainable and successful niche in that essential transportation space.

Learn more about Kathryn Schifferle and Work Truck Solutions

Work Truck Solutions Commercial Vehicle Business Summit is coming up on May 18 & 19. It's free to join and there's a lot to learn!

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Listen to this fascinating story of how Luke, starting his career as a sysadmin, pioneered Puppet that focused on IT DevOps. He wanted to bring sysadmins to the table with developers and sales where they could have a voice in developing the tools they needed to solve problems. Growing up with autism, maneuvering the corporate world meant Luke heard things differently and that required a tremendous amount of adjustment, compromise, and flexibility. It ultimately wore him down to a nub.

Leadership presented a new set of challenges for someone who just wanted to solve the problems that no one else thought were important. He figured out that leading people meant making hundreds of decisions daily around people. He struggled to find executives who put his and the company’s interests ahead of their own. And that led to burnout.

Luke’s take on leadership is refreshing, eye-opening, and flat out revolutionary. While his mission has always been solving problems that impact the world, Luke now understands that the right people, aligned with the right focus and vision, will always make the difference in success.

Learn more about Luke Kanies and Puppet

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

It took 3 years for Price and his team to get out of the basement and during that time, his company has stayed out of debt, had some fun, and built a culture of integrity, emotional intelligence, and family that pervades every aspect of the organization. Price attributes this continued success on customer relationships built on trust and producing results by doing it differently than peer competitors in the arena.

Accucode has established itself as a standout IT company that applies technology to solve problems in retail, manufacturing, and logistics. In differentiating his company, Price maintains that if Accucode doesn’t deliver as promised, he’ll absorb the loss. Early customers blanched at this concept, but as the Accucode team produced by working thoughtfully to solve the problems, they earned the trust that forged profitable relationships. Doing it differently has paid off for Price and Accucode, Inc. in a way even he couldn’t have envisioned that long ago Monday morning in his basement.

Learn more about Kevin Price and Accucode

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

The 12-year old company Annie founded and runs today didn’t happen without aches and pains in staffing, strategy and the occasional shift in work-life balance to too much work and not enough life. Annie discusses those aches, pains and successes with a unique and gracious understanding that it all starts and ends with her. As her company has grown, Annie has grown into her role as a leader who includes, inspires and invites a culture of feedback. Through this process, Annie has learned that running a pr firm requires strategy, insight and innovation in an ever-changing media world that runs 24/7.

Learn more about Annie Scranton and Pace Public Relations.

You can find more information on all our episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcasts, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Founded in 2013, ContentWriters is a full-service content writing agency that puts quality written content at the heart of a company's growth strategy. Their mission is to connect businesses with diverse audiences through powerful content crafted by a supreme network of writing talent - providing dynamic solutions to scale workflows for publishers, agencies, and individual proprietors in dozens of industries.

Emily’s diverse experience and education has her known for being an authentic leader, results-oriented professional, with tenacity and integrity as her foundation.

Take notes! Emily has a lot to share about her journey since the beginning. Enjoy!

Learn more about Emily O'Connor and CONTENTWRITERS at: https://contentwriters.com/

You can find more information on all our episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcasts, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

SPOC is an innovation company and the largest independent artificial lift controls manufacturer in North America, producing world-class variable frequency drive solutions for the oil and gas industry.

As experts in the industry, with over two decades of automation experience, they have been successful at reducing carbon emissions, while increasing production and lowering lifting costs, thus redefining the standard that drives automation in the oilfield.

Bobby shares SPOC’s “Lift Up” culture and why his 100 employees feel like a family unit and remain loyal and happy. Bobby says, “People are what makes companies run -treat them like a family and they go the extra mile”. Bobby goes the extra mile too, creating a team culture with core values at the heart of what’s important in retaining great talent including excellent pay and incentives.

Sit back and listen to this exploratory dialogue and discover how this solution-focused company is disrupting our country’s dependence on foreign sources and preparing for massive expansion.

"Always look for a better way. Innovation is never easy; it only follows mastery. But we are always looking for a better way to do things, and we want your help."

Learn more about Robert Mason and SPOC Automation

You can find more information on all our episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcasts, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Satic is a US Based Manufacturer of high-quality clean power electricity filters that protect your home and work environment. SATIC is an acronym for sinusoidal-wave-form-technology-incorporated, which means; engineered clean power.

Satic is a company driven by a passionate belief that "dirty electricity" is inefficient, wasteful, damaging to electronics and demonstrated beyond reasonable contestation harmful to the biological natural world including insects, plants, animals, and humans.

Since 2008, they have been recognized repeatedly for building award winning teams and creating an outstanding corporate culture.  Currently holding at 21 employees, the plan for 2022 calls for doubling that and tripling the square footage of their offices. 

Sustaining a high-level team and a culture that promotes fun, happy, and healthy vibes is attracting the necessary expansion for globalizing their unique product line.

BD's personal story is inspiring and empowering to any entrepreneur, professional, and parent.  After life took a turn, BD relocated from Hawaii to Montana.  He soon discovered something that was unnoticed at first then became a real concern for both his property and his family's health.  With a background in clean power manufacturing, he took his leadership skills and teamed up with amazing partners to launch this 13-year-old company that combines innovation, technology, and a heart to serve.

Listen and learn what has BD and Satic embody leadership and continue to thrive in the marketplace.

To learn more about BD Erickson and Satic visit: Satic USA

You can find more information on all our episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcasts, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Her focus is on high-caliber EAs who build powerful partnerships with their executives. This is no small task, so what goes on behind the scenes before a CXO even meets their potential EA is nothing short of brilliant matchmaking. One might think of Athena as a search firm or staffing firm, but Gina looks at her company as a contracting firm. Athena coaches and trains the EAs, and matches them to executives. Having grown the business to North of 500k may not seem like a lot, but her business is thriving and there is a waiting list of executives anxious to get a high-quality EA from her.

We speak about what's preventing her from taking on a co-founder and really growing the business. After all, she's providing an important service that many busy executives desperately need. We also discuss the differences between what Athena does and cheap VAs overseas. What's important to realize is that Gina sees her organization as one that places Virtual Executive Assistants, so listen in and learn what there is to know about this industry.

Learn more about Gina and Athena Executive Services

You can find more information on all our episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcasts, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Stephen is a second-time founder and he's not shy about discussing what he did in his first venture that didn't work as he expected and what he changed the second time around. He also talks candidly about hiring challenges and mistakes he's made and what he's doing to improve hiring success.

Learn more about Stephen and Street Diligence here: https://streetdiligence.com/

You can find more information on all our episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcasts, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

There are 25 million developers globally, which is expected to double in the next 10 years. This makes the market for Allstacks and platforms like it immense. This massive market is very attractive to investors because any company that employs software engineers really needs this problem solved.

In this conversation, Carol and Hersh talk about all this plus Hersh's journey from IBM to where he is now and his discovery of the importance of doing work that makes a real impact for him and the people he employs. We look at who the Allstacks ideal client is, which tends to be companies with a pressing need to get their product out the door, company size (250-10K employees), marketing strategies, hiring strategies, culture, and the very low turnover they have experienced.

Learn more about Hersh and Allstacks at: https://www.allstacks.com/

You can find more information on all our episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcasts, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Jonathan Co-founded AnyRoad with his brother Daniel in 2013. Daniel was the founder/publisher of the premier lifestyle magazine about alcohol culture. In addition, he wrote a book called Drink More Whiskey, and the research for this book took him all over the world to sample different whiskeys and visit amazing distilleries. This research provided him with experiences and brand loyalty he will never forget. Given the impact of these experiences, it seemed the logical next choice for Johathan and Daniel to move into this business full time and solve the data problem.

They discovered that companies investing in experiential marketing were winning the race for loyal customers and those who didn't invest in experiences were left on the sidelines. Brands are spending inordinate sums of money on experiences and have no data to determine if what they're doing is working.

Jonathan talks to Carol about pivoting from calling on small businesses to the F2000 and what wasn't working with small businesses. The pivot came four years after their founding in 2013 when they were close to shutting down the business. It was brought to their attention that enterprises desperately needed the data that AnyRoad supplied and the pivot has been extremely successful. It's also important to note that pivoting is not uncommon with first-time tech founders, but what's important is their commitment to the company.

With rapid revenue growth, AnyRoad is increasing its headcount and has to determine the best way to do that as the company doubles in size without ruining its culture. This is the age-old challenge with high-growth companies.

Learn more about Jonathan and AnyRoad: https://www.anyroad.com/

You can find more information on all our episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcasts, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

When it comes to building a talent-centric organization, Gal really walks the walk. Having grown the organization to approximately 150 employees, 53% of his workforce is female and diversity is important to him.

Carol and Gal talk about how to use content in a way that works for businesses without causing "brain damage". Zoomin is making it easier for companies to self-serve and get problems solved. In the first year of doing business Gal and his team closed business with McAfee and ServiceNow just to name two. They discuss product-market fit, investors and why they are so excited about Zoomin, company culture, what it means to be open and authentic as a leader and as a company, bootstrapping, what it means to be a category builder, and his commitment to a diverse workforce.

The company began in Israel and Gal tells Carol why they moved the headquarters to the US and chose NY rather than Silicon Valley and why they should have done it sooner. There were challenges with hiring from Israel and their go-to-market strategy. Additionally, they've grown so fast and there have been challenges with hiring so many employees in just one year.

To learn more about Zoomin: https://www.zoominsoftware.com/

You can find more information on all our episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcasts, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

Carol speaks to Stephen Nally, Founder & President of Black Briar Hotel Group, about choosing the right hotels and resorts to invest in, how to find and retain great employees in a low-wage industry, developing leaders from within, and all the other challenges that this industry presents.

To learn more about Black Briar, click on the link: https://blackbriarus.com/

You can find more information on all our episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcasts, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.

They have an unusual business model where they don't charge their clients to do this research. The client only pays when National Flood Experts is able to save them money. It is this model that had them skyrocket from $600k-$5M, with no end in sight.

In this conversation, Carol and Brad talk about bootstrapping, mistakes, epiphanies, learning how to hire for fit rather than how he originally did it by how much he thought he liked someone, which didn't often turn out how he thought it would, and the great successes Brad and National Flood Experts have had.

Learn more at: https://nationalfloodexperts.com/

You can find more information for all our episodes at verticalelevation.com/podcasts, and you can find Carol on Twitter @carolbschultz or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/.