Evolving Your Workplace

At just 19, Carson launched her business in Reno, Nevada, driven by a passion for special education and a glaring need for 24/7 childcare options in her community.

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 [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 conversation, Carol Schultz and Bill Benjamin discuss the challenges of having difficult conversations in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and creating a culture of feedback.

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 [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!

If you’re curious about how tariffs are impacting the workplace right now, this one is for you. 

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 [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 episode of Evolving Your Workplace After Hours, host Carol Schultz is joined by Kevin Legg to explore the topic of self-learning in the workplace. Kevin starts things off by sharing insights from his consulting work, specifically referencing a recent survey where most employees identified as "self learners." However, Kevin believes their actions—such as rarely reading, seeking feedback, or actively pursuing learning opportunities—suggest otherwise. This gets the ball rolling on a rich conversation about the complexities of self-perception, self-awareness, and what truly constitutes being a self learner.  

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!

In this brand new episode of "Evolving Your Workplace After Hours," Carol Schultz introduces her new cohost, Kevin Legg, who brings a global perspective and a focus on workplace learning to the show. Kevin highlights his experience building organizations in various international markets and discusses his current work at Sage, which focuses on how people teach and learn at work. Together, the two hosts prepare for a candid discussion about the evolving nature of the workplace as companies continue to navigate the return-to-office debate. 

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!

Wondering how the Internet of Things (IoT) is quietly revolutionizing office spaces and boosting employee productivity? This one is for you. 

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 [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!

This episode of "Evolving Your Workplace After Hours," features hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer taking on the pressing topic of why top performers quit. Not only that, the two discuss what is often left unsaid in exit interviews.

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 [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!

This episode of "Evolving Your Workplace: After Hours" features hosts Rob Swymer and Carol Schultz discussing best practices and challenges involved with leading through organizational changes. The conversation gets rolling with a discussion on how constant transformation is a usual part of life in the modern business world, such as when you must adjust to new leadership. Rob emphasizes that consistent communication is needed from leaders as he opens up about his personal experience merging vastly different company cultures. 

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!

If you’re planning to integrate AI into your company’s workflow or have done so already, this one is for you. 

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 [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!

This episode of "Evolving Your Workplace After Hours" features co-hosts Rob Swymer and Carol Schultz looking at the challenges leaders face in the business world along with the complexities of performance management. The conversation starts with a discussion on the importance of human connection before shifting to the convoluted performance ranking systems at major tech companies like Microsoft and Meta. In the conversation, Rob reflects on his own experiences with layoffs and performance reviews while emphasizing the intellectual and emotional toll it takes on leaders. 

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.