In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz is joined by leadership advisor and author Carol Enneking for a candid conversation about the constant rebalancing act required in both business and life.

Drawing from Carol’s decades of experience across corporate and entrepreneurial environments, the conversation explores why leaders struggle with priorities, decision-making, and clarity, even when they are capable, driven, and well-intentioned. Rather than chasing the idea of “work-life balance,” Melissa and Carol focus on agility, tradeoffs, and the ongoing process of rebalancing as conditions change.

Throughout the episode, they discuss how leaders often overload themselves and their teams by treating everything as important, and how that lack of focus shows up as stress, misalignment, and stalled execution.

Key topics covered in this episode include:

• Why “balance” is less realistic than continuous rebalancing
• How unclear priorities create pressure for leaders and teams
• Why leaders struggle to name what matters most right now
• The connection between personal overwhelm and organizational overload
• How decision-making improves when leaders get honest about tradeoffs
• Why leadership requires letting go, not just doing more

This episode is especially valuable for founders, executives, and leadership teams who feel stretched thin or overwhelmed by competing demands. Rather than offering quick fixes, the conversation provides perspective on how clarity, focus, and intentional decision-making reduce both personal and organizational strain.

If you’re leading a business and feeling pulled in too many directions at once, this episode offers a grounded reminder that leadership is not about perfect balance, but about making conscious choices in each season.

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz is joined by organizational leader Amy Perenon to explore how artificial intelligence is already changing leadership, management, and organizational decision-making.

Rather than focusing on future predictions, Melissa and Amy discuss how AI is showing up in real workplaces today. They explore how leaders are using AI as a thinking partner, where it can reduce cognitive load for managers, and why AI should support leadership judgment rather than replace it.

The conversation also addresses the challenges leaders face when introducing AI, including skepticism, ethical considerations, and the importance of transparency and trust with teams.

Key topics covered in this episode include:

• How AI is entering the org chart and leadership workflows
• Using AI to support managers and reduce friction
• Where AI adds value without replacing human decision-making
• Transparency, trust, and ethical considerations in AI use
• How AI is reshaping leadership expectations and roles
• What leaders should experiment with now versus approach cautiously

This episode is especially valuable for founders, operators, and people leaders who are navigating AI adoption and want practical, grounded insight rather than hype.

If you are trying to understand how AI fits into your organization while maintaining clarity, trust, and strong leadership, this episode offers thoughtful perspective and real-world examples.

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz is joined by organizational consultant Michelle Scribner to explore one of the most common, and costly, leadership questions: when to hire full-time, when to go part-time, and when fractional or outsourced support makes more sense.

Using accounting and operational roles as real-world examples, Melissa and Michelle discuss how leaders often default to hiring before fully understanding the work that actually needs to be done. They unpack how compliance requirements, especially in states like California, add complexity and risk to hiring decisions, and why many organizations unintentionally overcommit too early.

Key topics covered in this episode include:

• The difference between fractional, part-time, and outsourced roles
• How to evaluate capability needs before committing to headcount
• Why some functions are better handled externally at certain stages
• The hidden costs of premature or misaligned hires
• How to think about scale, flexibility, and risk when building your team.

This episode is especially valuable for founders, operators, and leadership teams navigating growth, compliance pressure, or uncertainty about their next hire. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all answer, the conversation helps leaders ask better questions before making long-term people decisions.

If you’re wrestling with whether a role truly needs to be internal, or how to structure support without overextending your organization, this episode offers practical clarity.

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz talks with Sarah Seitz and Kate Mathalone from The Enrichery, an organization dedicated to helping students discover how they learn, grow, and thrive—both in school and beyond.

From early education to career readiness, Sarah and Kate share how The Enrichery empowers students and families to navigate challenges, set goals, and build confidence. Melissa draws powerful parallels between raising kids and managing people—because as she says, “It’s the same skill set.”

You’ll learn how to:

• Foster growth mindsets in students and employees alike
• Build systems that support long-term success
• Lead with empathy and clarity—at home and at work
• Translate education principles into leadership practices

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or leader, this episode offers fresh insight into what it means to develop potential in others.

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Dustin Bonn, VP of Operations at Marco Technologies, to talk about the power of clarity and accountability in leadership.

With more than a decade of experience integrating teams through acquisitions, Dustin has seen firsthand how strong communication, clear expectations, and trust drive lasting success.

You’ll learn how to:

• Build alignment across newly combined teams
• Lead through change without losing culture
• Use accountability to strengthen trust and performance
• Keep clarity front and center in fast-paced growth

Whether you’re navigating a merger, restructuring, or just trying to unify your team, this episode offers practical insight into what it really takes to lead people well.

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Jenna Dillon, CEO of Visionology Coaching, to talk about self-awareness, blind spots, and how leaders can unlock the potential of their teams. As an executive coach working with senior leaders, Jenna helps people step into their best so their organizations can thrive.

You’ll learn how to:

• Recognize and address leadership blind spots
• Develop self-awareness as a foundation for growth
• Elevate team performance through better coaching
• Create sustainable results by focusing on people, not just outcomes

Whether you’re an experienced executive or an emerging leader, this conversation is full of practical ways to strengthen your leadership and support your team’s success.

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz welcomes Katie McConnell-Olson, Founder of GrowthWise Search Partners, to talk about what it really means to have the right recruiting partner.

Katie shares how her firm operates as a fractional recruiting arm—helping businesses find and screen top talent without the limitations of traditional hiring models.

You’ll learn how to:

• Rethink recruiting as a long-term partnership, not a transaction
• Build hiring processes that reflect your culture and values
• Avoid costly mis-hires by aligning people with purpose
• Strengthen your employer brand through candidate experience

Whether you’re scaling your team or struggling to fill key roles, this episode is packed with actionable insights on how to find the right people—and keep them.

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Luke Ross, CEO of Kotman Technologies, to talk about the evolution from an office-first culture to a hybrid and remote model.

Luke shares how his team has adapted to recruiting, onboarding, and leading employees across geographies—while maintaining strong communication, culture, and accountability.

You’ll learn how to:

• Transition from in-office to remote teams without losing connection
• Build trust and accountability in hybrid environments
• Recruit and integrate remote talent effectively
• Balance flexibility with clear structure and expectations

If your organization is navigating remote or hybrid work, this episode offers practical insight on what it really takes to evolve your culture and leadership mindset.

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Mike Drolet of Six Degrees to talk about what it takes to step into a new organization and quickly chart a path forward.

With nearly two decades of experience leading private equity–backed companies through growth and transformation, Mike shares how he uses clarity, communication, and trust to strengthen retention and loyalty—especially during times of change.

You’ll learn how to:

+ Step into leadership with confidence and empathy
+ Assess culture and build alignment early
+ Retain key talent during transitions
+ Leverage data and people insights to drive engagement

Whether you’re taking on a new leadership role or helping your organization navigate change, this episode offers a grounded look at how intentional leadership keeps teams connected and committed.

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with David Satterwhite to talk about one of the most pressing leadership challenges today: how to beat burnout and prime productivity. With over 35 years in tech—including two decades as a CRO scaling companies from millions to hundreds of millions in revenue—David has seen firsthand that growth isn’t just about strategy or systems. It’s about people.

You’ll learn how to:
+Recognize the signs of burnout before they derail performance
+Create environments where people thrive and stay engaged
+Build scale by focusing on team health, not just business metrics
+Leverage mentorship and leadership practices to sustain productivity over the long haul

Whether you’re leading a fast-growing startup or an established enterprise, this conversation is packed with hard-earned lessons on keeping your people energized, engaged, and ready to fuel growth.