Made for Impact

The most powerful growth happens when we pause, reflect, and embrace the lessons shared by those around us.   This special episode is a heartfelt reflection on the wisdom gained from extraordinary conversations over the years. Host Gretchen Schott revisits powerful lessons shared by inspiring leaders, exploring themes like authentic leadership, the value of feedback, and the power of stillness in...

"Busyness without prioritization gets confused with effectiveness."  - Gretchen Schott In this Leadership Lesson, Gretchen Schott breaks down the real and imitation traits of high-performing employees, challenging common misconceptions about what true productivity and effectiveness look like. By examining behaviors often mistaken for high performance—like constant busyness and multitasking—Gretche...

"Community is a superpower for women. It allows us to be more energetic, more focused, and to create greater impact." - Amri Kibbler In this episode, host Gretchen Schott sits down with Amri Kibbler and Erika Hanafin , the visionaries behind HeyMama , to explore how their community is empowering moms to thrive both professionally and personally. They discuss the unique challenges working mothers f...

"If you are focused on highly loyal and highly satisfied people, then you will lead them to engagement." – Gretchen Schott What are the top engagement pitfalls businesses face today, and how can leaders avoid them? In this episode,  Gretchen Schott highlights the five most common mistakes organizations make when trying to engage their teams.  Join us as Gretchen discusses why perks can't replace p...

"When you're out of sorts and feeling overwhelmed, what are you doing to find rest? What are you doing to experience contentment?" - Gretchen Schott In this Leadership Lesson, Gretchen Schott explores the surprising connection between contentment and the content we consume. By reflecting on how the information, media, and goals we chase affect our sense of satisfaction, Gretchen reveals that true...

“If you do the right things, then money will always follow. Being nice to people doesn’t cost money. Empathy is not a weakness." — Robert Irvine Chef, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Robert Irvine shares his powerful perspective on leading with empathy, kindness, and authenticity. According to Robert, true leadership is about understanding and supporting your team, embracing failure as a learning...

"We need to be reminded of the fact that when someone joins your organization, even though they've said yes and even though you've interviewed them and even though they seem like the perfect fit, the journey has just begun." - Gretchen Schott.   Employee loyalty and satisfaction start with a successful onboarding program.   In this Leadership Lesson, Gretchen Schott discusses the importance of an...

"If you want to be a problem solver, you're going to fail, and that's okay. What you don't want to do is fail the same way multiple times over and over again." — Matt Tait. Matt Tait , CEO of Decimal and a self-described serial entrepreneur, gives us a wealth of knowledge about problem-solving and leadership. Matt shares the paradigms and steps for creating a supportive, growth-oriented work envir...

"Processing allows you to feel your emotions and create a plan to move forward, while dwelling holds you back in repetitive negativity." - Gretchen Schott   There’s a huge difference between dwelling and processing. And choosing one over the other can either make or break your next steps ahead.   In this Leadership Lesson, Gretchen Schott discusses the differences between dwelling and processing a...

"Working Genius helps us tap into what intrinsically motivates us, leading to greater joy and productivity." - Dr. Ali Atkison Understanding your Working Genius can unlock new levels of productivity and fulfillment in your work. But failing to recognize it can leave you stuck in frustration and inefficiency. In this episode, Gretchen Schott is joined by Dr. Ali Atkison of HRD and Whitney Bandemer...

"The magic happens when we create a safe space, allowing authenticity and vulnerability to surface—only then do we truly connect and grow." — Deseri Garcia   Deseri Garcia , leadership development facilitator and executive coach at Vida Aventura , hands us the key to opening deeper connections and high-performing teams. She shares how to transform challenges into opportunities by breaking them dow...

“Integrity and consistency are the bedrock of successful leadership." – Amy Jones   Amy Jones exemplifies what it means to lead with integrity and empathy. As a business advisor at Cultivate Advisors, founder of a real estate flipping company, third-degree black belt, and published author, Amy is deeply committed to her teams and clients. Guided by her father's influence, Amy built a career that s...

"Curiosity is the spark that ignites our potential." - Gretchen Schott   Maybe you want to learn more about playing an instrument, or maybe you want to learn how to cook something special. Or maybe there's a foreign language that you've always wanted to study, or perhaps you've even wanted to travel somewhere. Whatever you’re curious about, take that step forward to pursue it.   In this Leadership...

"Servant leadership is influencing with virtuous intent, leading in the best interest of others and the organization, and acting in the long-term best interest of others." — Kyle DeFur   Kyle DeFur , President of the National Christian Foundation of Indiana , shares specific strategies for showing up as your highest self as a leader. He uncovers the three core questions every leader should address...

"True servant leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge." - Gretchen Schott   There are many different ways to serve in your work environment, home life, and community. In this episode of "Made For Impact," host Gretchen Schott reveals the power behind servant leadership—a model centered on empathy, ethical decision-making, and empowering others.    Tu...

"When you align your business's core values with your passion to impact the community, you create a ripple effect that goes beyond profits and sales." - Andrea Ross Imagine transforming your company into a beacon of positive change without compromising your bottom line. Andrea Ross is no stranger to impactful leadership and social responsibility. As an entrepreneur, small business advisor, and lif...

"Servant leadership is about unlocking the potential of those you lead. It's about creating an environment where they can thrive and grow." – Dr. Clint Parker It’s a common question - how do you  truly inspire and elevate your teams while aligning them with your company's mission, vision, and goals? Dr. Clint Parker believes it’s through servant leadership – leaders who act in the best interest of...

"Great problem-solving is not just about finding any solution, but the right solution that truly addresses the core issue." - Gretchen Schott We seem to always struggle with finding the perfect solution to challenges at work or in your personal life. In this episode of "Made For Impact," Gretchen Schott unpacks the importance of defining the real problem before jumping to solutions, and she offers...

"Understanding internal motivation in both leaders and team members is crucial for improving communication and clarity within the team." - Jen Chapman Overcoming personal challenges transforms how you look at your life and can dramatically transform your leadership style and team dynamics. In this episode of Made For Impact, Jennifer Chapman, certified life and leadership coach, best-selling autho...

"Our purpose journey was around using our brand as a platform to bring forward and give a place for underrepresented talent... It became a way of working beyond just, hey, this is our purpose journey. It became the way the team started to think about everything we were doing." - Elizabell Marquez Elizabell Marquez , Chief Marketing Officer at Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, shares how one initiative foc...

"Leadership is about balance—the push and the pull. You need to know when to drive results and when to inspire and motivate your team." - Joe Folkman Joe Folkman , psychometrician and co-founder of Zenger Folkman, specializes in leadership inspiration and teaching companies to build trust among their employees. He covers the role of interpersonal skills, the impact of trust on national economies,...

"We can't lead others if we can't lead ourselves. We can't serve others if we aren't taking time to serve ourselves and our own needs as well." – Gretchen Schott Conflict is often viewed negatively, but it’s a part of daily life. Reflecting on areas of conflict gives you an opportunity to grow. In this insightful episode of Made For Impact, host Gretchen Schott digs into conflict management with a...

"If we start growing the company and we're not growing the people, the tension between the company and the people stretches and stretches and stretches. Eventually, it's going to snap or break." - Pamela Carrington-Rotto Dr. Pamela Carrington-Rotto is an executive coach specializing in neural leadership and neurolinguistic programming. With extensive experience facilitating company growth and stra...

“We need to be focusing on our inner self and trusting that deep voice inside of us that says that we can do things. Trusting that inner child that was joyful and happy.” - Gretchen Schott Gretchen Schott is a seasoned leadership coach and influencer and passionate advocate for empowering leaders to leave a lasting impact on their organizations, teams, and lives. With decades of experience, she ha...

“There's a huge difference between what am I actually good at and what I wish I were good at. If I can zero in on my real talent and stop worrying about the B's and the C's, then I can double down on things where I'm already getting an A and make them an A+.” - Tom Girard Tom Girard is no stranger to stress. With years spent in corporate retail and at startups in San Francisco and New York, Tom ma...