Evolving Your Workplace

"AI isn't replacing human connection — it's making it more valuable than ever.", Morana Mizrahi

In this episode, Morana Mizrahi, co-founder and COO of Rebillia Platform, shares insights on how AI is transforming business operations, strengthening leadership authenticity, and fostering better client relationships.

This conversation explores why the most successful leaders in the AI era won't be the ones who automate everything, but the ones who lead with authenticity, build real relationships, and use AI to create more time for what matters most.

Discover practical tips for leveraging AI to boost productivity and maintain genuine connections.

We discussed:

◼ Why AI should free people to build stronger relationships — not replace them

◼ How authentic leadership is becoming the biggest competitive advantage in business

◼ Why the future belongs to leaders who manage AI instead of letting AI manage them

◼ How automation helped a startup grow without laying off a single employee

◼ Why being more human—not more corporate—is the key to thriving in the AI era

🎧 Find us

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72jbAC9Hk4P0EH9wxW1vy4?si=b0eab40cecc343e3

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolving-your-workplace/id1562180951

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 [email protected] 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!

Connect with Morana Mizrahi

Find out more information about Morana and her company on LinkedIn and Rebillia Platform

In this week's episode of Throwback Thursday we revisit my conversations with Jimmy Rayford. The episode got so much great feedback that we thought it was necessary to revisit it.

"People don't check their personal lives at the door—and pretending they do just makes it show up somewhere else." – Jimmy Rayford

In this week's episode, Carol Schultz sits down with Jimmy Rayford, CEO of Dealers Wholesale, to challenge the old-school belief that "work is work, personal is personal"—and to share the tried-and-true technique leaders can use to build real connection with their teams.

Jimmy explains why suppressing what's happening in people's lives doesn't make it disappear—it just resurfaces in the work—and why the single most powerful move a leader can make is to model the openness they want to see. They dig into how simple rituals like "share something good" check-ins and Personal Growth Mondays turn ordinary meetings into genuine connection, why Jimmy embraced the role of "Chief Reassurance Officer" during COVID, and how a leader can build a culture of care without forcing anyone to overshare.

The episode closes with candid talk on empowering your team, avoiding the founder-CEO bottleneck, and knowing when to give someone "enough rope"—plus Jimmy's parting advice on finding the environment that brings out your best work.

Takeaways

1. "Work is work, personal is personal" is outdated—people bring their whole selves to work whether leaders acknowledge it or not.

2. You can't ask employees to be open and transparent while everything about you stays closed—modeling comes first.

3. The most effective connection technique is simple: model the behavior you want to drive.

4. Small, consistent rituals (like weekly "good news" shares) build deep familiarity over time.

5. Personal Growth Mondays and deep-question prompts create space for real vulnerability—voluntarily.

6. Timing matters: expect early adopters, late adopters, and never-adopters, and focus on whoever shows up.

7. Vulnerability from a leader creates a "permission structure" for the whole organization.

8. Smaller companies offer outsized impact—your decisions actually matter and you can see the results.

9. Founder and CEO leaders risk becoming the bottleneck by involving themselves where they're not needed.

10. Give people "enough rope"—but calibrate how much based on their track record and the stakes of the decision.

Chapters

00:00 Intro: Why "work is work, personal is personal" couldn't be further from the truth

00:51 What Dealers Wholesale does & Jimmy's role as CEO

02:38 Why the smallest company he's worked for became the best chapter of his career

04:11 The hidden cost of bureaucracy and office politics in large organizations

05:30 The former CEO who stayed on—and a 38-year lesson in humility and loyalty

07:48 The death of the "company guy" and why companies aren't loyal anymore

09:58 How getting older changed Jimmy's view on bringing your whole self to work

11:24 Becoming "Chief Reassurance Officer" during COVID

13:53 The tried-and-true technique: model the behavior you want to see

14:53 Vulnerability in action: why leading through emotion builds trust

21:19 "Share something good": how small check-ins build connection over time

21:47 Personal Growth Mondays & the 365-question ritual

22:46 Timing, adopters, and focusing on who shows up

24:40 Why shared vulnerability makes leaders more open and sensitive

30:58 Building a leadership team empowered to call you out

31:27 Avoiding the founder-CEO bottleneck

32:47 Giving people "enough rope" and situational leadership

33:56 The one thing Jimmy would solve to unlock business growth

35:58 Final thoughts: take a true inventory of what really matters to you

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 [email protected] 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!

Summer break just won't quit, so here's another edition of Throwback Thursday with one of Carol's favorite Venture Capitalists and a hell of a good guy.

If you’re curious about the process of venture capital (VC) funding or looking to get funding, this episode is for you.

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 [email protected] 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!

It's vacation time for us, so here's another Throwback Thursday.

For leaders seeking guidance on building a winning culture, this one is for you.

In this conversation Carol Schultz speaks with Jason Andrews, multiple time founder, expert in space travel, and the current Cofounder & CEO of Orbite.

Carol and Jason discuss the intricacies of building a company that retains talent and the challenges of entrepreneurship. They 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.

Takeaways

• Creating a company that people don't want to leave is essential for success.
• Building a strong team and company culture is crucial for retention.
• Every entrepreneur faces challenges, and adaptability is key.
• Funding strategies can vary; organic growth is often beneficial.
• The future of space travel is becoming more accessible to the public.
• Effective marketing and customer engagement are vital for growth.
• Understanding your ideal customer profile is essential for targeting.
• Vision and mission drive the company forward and inspire the team.
• Entrepreneurship requires a unique mindset and resilience.
• Learning from failures is part of the entrepreneurial journey.

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.

Find out more about our guest, Jason Andrews, and his company at Orbite Space, LinkedIn, and Instagram

Want to be our next guest expert? Email [email protected] 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!

We're on a much needed vacation as we typically are in August, so it's time for Throwback Thursday.

Curious to learn more about Founder’s syndrome, or working for someone who may have it? This episode is for you.

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 [email protected] 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!

One in four employees is seriously mentally distressed — and it's rarely about the person; it's about the workplace itself!

This conversation dives into why workplace mental health is quietly collapsing, the hidden cost of untrained managers, and the simple systems — from tracked airtime to two-minute check-ins — that can turn a toxic culture around.

We discussed:

◼ Why depression rates tripled during the pandemic and never came back down

◼ How one Gallup number predicts 70% of your team's engagement

◼ The two simple questions that instantly rebuild trust with your team

◼ Why fixing individuals is solving for the completely wrong problem

◼ How one CEO's 30,000 handwritten notes turned a failing company around

🎙️ Host: Carol Schultz

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/

Vertical Elevation: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vertical-elevation/

🎤 Guest: Laura Putnam

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraputnam/

Motion Infusion: https://www.linkedin.com/company/various-schools-and-organizations/

🎧 Find us

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EvolvingYourWorkplace

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72jbAC9Hk4P0EH9wxW1vy4?si=b0eab40cecc343e3

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolving-your-workplace/id1562180951

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 [email protected] 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!

A company with no staff, no payroll, and no traditional org chart — just AI models, subscriptions, and 300 hand-picked consultants!

How a business scales with zero employees: AI-powered prospecting, brutal consultant vetting, deliberately thin 33% margins, virtual CIOs delivering 400% ROI, and why vendors are keeping the AI savings their clients deserve.

We discussed: ◼ Why a firm deliberately keeps just 33% margin while competitors keep 60% ◼ How interviewing 800 consultants during COVID built a 300-person network ◼ The single interview question that exposes technologists who can't think like executives ◼ Why fractional leadership commonly delivers 400% ROI in the mid-market ◼ The "AI dividend" your suppliers are banking as margin instead of passing to you

🎙️ Host: Carol Schultz

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/

Vertical Elevation: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vertical-elevation/

🎤 Guest: Jeff Roberts

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsjeff/

Innovation Vista: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovationvista/

🎧 Find us YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EvolvingYourWorkplace

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72jbAC9Hk4P0EH9wxW1vy4?si=b0eab40cecc343e3

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolving-your-workplace/id1562180951

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 [email protected] 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!

"Businesses don't fail because of what they do. They fail because of everything else." – Michael Sakata

In this week’s episode, Carol Schultz sits down with Michael Sakata, President & CEO of the Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association (MTBMA), to discuss how federal policy decisions are impacting small businesses, contractors, and transportation firms across the country. The conversation centers on recent changes to disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) programs, the uncertainty created by shifting regulations, and what business owners can do when the rules suddenly change.

Michael explains how the removal of race-based criteria from DBE certification has created new questions for businesses that have relied on these programs for decades. Rather than focusing on politics, the discussion explores the practical realities facing contractors, engineers, and small business owners as they navigate evolving requirements, funding concerns, and changing government priorities. Carol and Michael also dive into the role of relationships in business success, why networking matters more than ever, and how organizations can remain resilient during periods of uncertainty.

The episode closes with lessons on leadership, communication, membership growth, and the importance of staying engaged with industry associations and policymakers. Michael shares how MTBMA has more than doubled its membership under his leadership and why consistent communication remains one of the most important drivers of retention and long-term success.

• Federal policy changes can create significant uncertainty for small businesses.
• Changes to DBE certification programs are forcing many companies to reassess their strategy.
• Business owners should focus on impact rather than politics when evaluating policy decisions.
• Strong relationships often matter more than formal programs or certifications.
• Companies that stay engaged with industry groups are better positioned to adapt to change.
• Infrastructure remains one of the few areas that continues to receive bipartisan support.
• Consistency and predictability are critical for business growth and planning.
• Communication is one of the strongest drivers of member, customer, and employee retention.
• Successful organizations create value through networking, advocacy, and education.
• Leaders must focus on what they can control rather than reacting to every external change.
• Trade associations can give businesses a stronger collective voice with policymakers.
• Growth often comes from listening closely to members, customers, and stakeholders.

00:00 Intro: How federal decisions impact everyday businesses

01:05 Michael Sakata's role and the mission of MTBMA

02:19 Changes to disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) programs

03:40 What the new certification landscape means for small businesses

05:10 Why uncertainty creates challenges for business owners

06:22 Relationship-building vs. government-supported opportunities

08:19 The original purpose of DBE programs and ongoing debates

10:30 Advice for businesses navigating regulatory changes

11:44 How disadvantaged business status has changed

13:38 Political perspectives and the impact on transportation businesses

15:04 Why businesses need consistency to thrive

17:35 What business owners can do when policies change

18:04 Infrastructure as a rare bipartisan issue

19:45 Michael's career journey into transportation advocacy

20:36 Legislative wins and improving transportation safety

22:14 Why trade associations can influence policy effectively

23:54 The secret behind a 96%+ membership retention rate

26:38 Creating value for members through networking and advocacy

30:28 Collaboration between transportation organizations across states

32:21 Managing change instead of being controlled by it

34:02 How MTBMA more than doubled its membership

36:10 Final thoughts and closing remarks

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 [email protected] 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 Beth Goff- McMillan, CEO of SKG and founder/CEO of FOLIO, to dig into how office design has completely transformed since COVID—and why most companies are stuck in what Beth calls a "vortex of confusion" about what their workspace should even be.

Beth shares 30 years of industry insight on the shift from rigid cubicle layouts to fully open offices to today's hybrid chaos, and explains why the real question leaders need to ask isn't "what furniture do we buy" but "why do we even need an office." They get into what makes employees actually want to come back in (hint: it's not ping pong tables), the most expensive and most overlooked design mistakes companies make, and how a simple employee survey can save a business tens of thousands of dollars. The episode wraps with a look at FOLIO, the tech platform Beth built to drag a notoriously slow-moving industry into the SaaS era.

Takeaways

1. Most leaders are stuck on "what" to put in their office instead of asking "why" they need an office at all.
2. Return-to-office policies alone don't drive engagement or productivity—you need clear KPIs tied to purpose.
3. Employee surveys (before AND after a redesign) can prevent massively expensive, unused investments.
4. Noise and acoustics should be the #1 design priority post-COVID—people need more visual/sound barriers, not fewer.
5. Gimmicks like ping pong and shuffleboard tables rarely get used and often signal a lack of real design intent.
6. Storage and file cabinets are some of the most expensive—and most unnecessary—line items in office design.
7. "Resi-mercial" design (home-like textures, plants, varied seating) makes employees feel more connected and productive.
8. Large conference rooms often go underused—flexible lounge spaces can replace them entirely.
9. Workplace design decisions involve far more stakeholders than people expect: C-suite, facilities, HR, IT, and legal.
10. The furniture/design industry is still behind on technology—and AI-driven tools are starting to close that gap.

Chapters

00:00 Intro: How office spaces have transformed since COVID

01:49 What SKG actually does (workplace strategy, design, furniture procurement)

03:10 30 years of office evolution: from Dilbert cubicles to fully open floors

05:33 The "vortex of confusion"—why nobody has a playbook anymore

07:07 Shifting the conversation from "what" to "why"

09:24 Three things every workspace needs to succeed post-COVID

11:29 "I wanted to earn their commute"—how design changed employee behavior

12:48 Why noise and acoustics should be priority #1

14:21 Dress codes, client expectations, and reading the room

16:17 Two things to leave out of your office (gimmicks & excess storage)

18:41 Bringing "resi-mercial" design into the workplace

23:11 Who SKG actually meets with—from CEOs to facilities to legal

25:19 The survey that saved a client from a costly coffee bar mistake

28:21 Redesigning SKG's own HQ: what worked and what didn't

33:04 The privacy/acoustics fail—and how they fixed it

36:47 Why Beth joined SKG and what keeps her there 11 years later

39:03 Folio: building the first SaaS tool for the furniture dealership industry

43:11 Current bottlenecks: training talent in a fast-changing industry

45:00 Final thoughts

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 [email protected] 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!

“Lead yourself before you lead others.” – Jane Monroe

In this week’s episode, Carol Schultz sits down with Jane Monroe, founder of Embrace the Grape Beverage Catering, to explore one of the most overlooked leadership skills: self-awareness. What started as a conversation about leadership quickly became a masterclass on blind spots, delegation, personal growth, and building teams that can lead themselves.

Jane shares the unexpected story of how a bride’s wedding problem led her to launch a completely new business during the 2008 financial crisis. From there, she introduces her framework for leadership cohesion, breaking down the four versions of ourselves—the known self, blind self, hidden self, and mystery self—and explains how understanding each one can transform the way we lead.

Carol and Jane discuss why many leaders struggle with control, how delegation creates stronger organizations, and why hiring people who compensate for your weaknesses is a competitive advantage. They also dive into trust, employee empowerment, succession planning, and the importance of balancing logic with intuition to become a more whole-brained leader.

The episode closes with practical lessons for leaders looking to build high-performing teams, uncover their blind spots, and create workplaces where accountability starts from within.

Takeaways

• Self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership.

• Blind spots can limit growth until someone helps uncover them.

• Great leaders learn to lead themselves before leading others.

• Growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone.

• Delegation allows leaders to focus on their strengths.

• Hiring for your weaknesses creates stronger teams.

• Employees perform better when given ownership instead of micromanagement.

• Different perspectives often produce better outcomes than one leader working alone.

• Strong cultures are built on trust, communication, and accountability.

• Encouraging employees to “manage up” creates healthier organizations.

• Leadership exists at every level—not just in management positions.

• Balancing emotional intelligence with logical thinking leads to better decisions.

Chapters

00:00 Intro: Why self-awareness separates great leaders from everyone else

01:11 Meet Jane Monroe & the story behind Embrace the Grape

02:19 The bride who accidentally created a business opportunity

04:29 Turning blind spots into entrepreneurial breakthroughs

07:01 The four selves: known, blind, hidden, and mystery

09:37 Why growth requires getting comfortable being uncomfortable

11:54 Leading yourself before leading others

13:51 A powerful framework for humility and leadership

15:58 Learning to let go: delegation and control

17:03 Hiring for your weaknesses instead of your strengths

18:13 Diversity of thought and avoiding groupthink

19:15 How delegation unlocks team growth

20:05 Empowering employees through trust and ownership

21:41 Giving people opportunities to exceed expectations

22:41 When employees redesign your plans for the better

23:09 Managing up: why leaders need feedback too

24:05 Building a culture of accountability with part-time teams

25:38 Hiring experienced professionals and maintaining low turnover

26:39 Supporting employees through major life transitions

27:35 Succession planning when family doesn't want the business

29:12 Whole-brain leadership: balancing emotion and logic

31:38 Final thoughts & closing remarks

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 [email protected] 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!