Impactful Change, LLC

Create a high-performance culture where powerful leaders lead cohesive and efficient teams committed to the growth of your organization. Let me show you how through cutting-edge, data-proven strategies and customized solutions.

OD Consultant, Leadership Development Facilitator and Coach

Under the social media platform, "Lemonade Stand Mama," Jennifer started a movement as she advocated for kids lemonade stands and helped to get laws changed in 17 states. 
-Wall Street Journal Front Page,  the New York Times, Washington Post Magazine, CBS This Morning, Fox and Friends. 
-Consulted with Kraft Heinz Countrytime Lemonade to advocate policy change
-Author of the children's book,  "Awesome Adventures of the Lemonade Boys" available on Amazon.

LemonadeStandMama

Business Insider

I am pleased to share that I have recently taken on the role of Contributing Freelance Writer with Business Insider, a prominent global business and lifestyle publication boasting over 100 million monthly visitors and 198 million social media followers. 

I look forward to contributing insightful content that resonates with our diverse audience. 

Grateful for this opportunity, I am excited to embark on this writing journey with Business Insider.

Check out my first article, the #2 MOST READ article on Business Insider the week of February 19!
https://www.businessinsider.com/child-free-vacation-traveling-without-kids-better-parents-marriage-2024-2

Contributing Writer

Concordia University-Wisconsin

Develop and teach courses to Graduate Business School Students which include:
-Leading Transformation & Change
-Organizational Performance & Change
-Research
-Social Entrepreneurship
-Talent Management and Development
Current research focus is Women in the Workplace & Purpose/Fulfillment

Assistant Professor

Colorado State University

Teaches Graduate Level Courses in Organizational Learning, Performance & Change, and Research.

Adjunct Professor

DFS Group Limited

Talent Development Manager

UCSF, University of Michigan, & Mervyns (Target Corp)

Training & Development

Hi! I'm Jennifer Knowles, Growth and Change Expert for Leaders and Teams

► Who I Help
I work with:
-Leaders who feel stuck and need clarity
-Teams facing change and struggling with communication overload
-Organizations seeking leadership development and talent management support
-High achievers desiring coaching to unlock growth, well-being and career advancement

If you've ever asked:
"How do I engage and retain top talent?"
"What's the best way to prepare my team for organizational change?"
"How can I improve leadership skills across my company?"
      - this is where I can help.

My Mission:
►Amplify the talents of your leaders and teams, unleashing human potential for exponential growth

What I Deliver:

► I create custom coaching, training and keynotes that align with organizational goals, blending research-backed insights with practical application. 

Together, we can:
1.  Increase leadership potential
2. Transform corporate culture
3.  Elevate careers to new heights
4.  Transform change into opportunity
5.  Build productive teams
6.  Create happy workplace environments

► Challenges Organizations Face Today
-Rising stress and burnout among employees
-Constant change and uncertainty in business environments
-Retention struggles with top talent
-Engagement gaps leading to lost productivity
-Leaders needing new skills for future-ready workplaces

► Benefits of Working with Dr. Jennifer

Organizations that partner with me see measurable improvements in:
1. Talent Attraction & Retention- Reduce turnover and retain top performers
2. Positive Work Environments- Foster collaboration and well-being
3. Change Readiness- Equip teams to embrace transitions with confidence
4. Stronger Teamwork- Increase trust, clarity and efficiency
5. Strategic Clarity- Provide a clear roadmap for success
6. Productivity & Engagement- Unlock more energy, focus, and results

► Client Outcomes
 "Dr. Jennifer Knowles is a beacon of inspiration in leadership and talent development. Her ability to seamlessly blend research-backed insights with practical applications has consistently led to positive transformations, empowered teams, and elevated leadership capabilities.”

 "We love Dr. Jennifer. She leads with a big heart and has lots of passion for her work. She cares about us and has the gift to take complex ideas and break them down into simple steps."

► Services
1. Leadership coaching (1:1 and group)
2. Change management programs
3. Talent development workshops
4. Keynote speaking on growth, change, and leadership
5. Research-informed organizational development solutions



Jennifer Knowles, Ph.D

I recently finished teaching an innovative leadership class, and here's what I discovered: 


We can't stay comfortable and expect to thrive.

Look at these patterns:
➜ Blockbuster refused streaming
➜ Kodak ignored digital
➜ Apple embraced change

Here's what separates winners from losers:

1. Risk tolerance
➜ "That's too risky"
➜ "We've always done it this way"
➜ "Our customers won't like change"

2. Opportunity spotting
➜ "That's just a trend"
➜ "Our market is stable"
➜ "We're too big to fail"

3. Leadership mindset
➜ "Let others test it first"
➜ "We'll wait and see"
➜ "Innovation costs too much"

The reality:
➜ Innovation isn't optional
➜ Comfort kills companies
➜ Change drives growth

We must:
➜ Take calculated risks
➜ Spot emerging trends
➜ Lead through uncertainty
➜ Question everything

Stop waiting.
Start innovating.
Lead the change.

The market won't wait.
Neither should you.

📌 What innovation are you avoiding in your business or life?

Hey, no one said it's easy, but there are great things on the other side of fear 🙂

I help develop effective leaders + high-performing teams | Harvard Executive Leadership Coach | Best-Selling Author | Professor of Business | Tedx Speaker

This morning I got turned away from the gym. After I woke up at 4:50am to get there.


I forgot to sign up.

And they were full with a waitlist for the class.

So I drove home, annoyed at the girl who wouldn’t let me stay. 

Annoyed at myself for thinking I signed up when I hadn’t. 

I am not a morning person and getting up for this class was a struggle.

So here I am, writing this post. About ready to exercise at home. 

My dog is curled up near my, snuggled on a blanket. 

The house is quiet, with no kids or husband up yet causing a stir.

It is warm and cozy inside and I get to exercise while I clear my thoughts for the week. 

I get to move my body. 

My friend who recently overcame breast cancer reminded me that moving your body is a gift, and for months she had wished she could work out.

So I guess I say all of this to say- 

Look around at the small gifts around you. 

Both at work and at home, we can always choose to look at the good.

The nice co-worker who greeted you with a smile.

The driver of the car who let you in on your way to work.

The morning greeting your pet gives you when you wake up.

These moments are everywhere when we pause and look for them. 

Have a wonderful Monday and a great week.

No alternative text description for this image

From my family to yours, wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Enjoy those small moments, they are what matter the most!

📌 What is your favorite food you eat on Thanksgiving? 

(I love warm apple pie with ice cream!)

Flying somewhere for Thanksgiving? Use the silence at 35,000 ft to ask: Are you leading your life or just steering it?”

I have learned to love the undistracted time on airplane flights.

Somewhere between takeoff and landing, the noise finally stops.

Plane flights provide a time for a quiet time to evaluate and just be present with myself.

No meetings.
No notifications.
No urgent requests.
No driving kids around.
No taking the dog out. 

 Just altitude and truth. And me. 

At 35,000 ft, you get perspective.
 You see your life from above—literally—and things look different from that elevation.

You start asking:
 ✔ “Is this the life I’m intentionally leading?”
 ✔ “Or did I just end up here because I never stopped to question the pace?”
 
I think about whether I am the driver of my own car or am I in the passenger seat, moving through life and career on auto pilot. 

And I do enjoy a good movie on planes too! 

If you're traveling somewhere this Thanksgiving, I ask you - are you in the driver seat or passenger seat? 
 
📌  Are you traveling or staying home this Thanksgiving?

Safe travels!

Friday Gratitude: Want higher performance? Try appreciation first.


I watch my good friend, and countless other leaders, struggle with people at work. 

Instead of, "great job,"
he gets, "why didn't you do this."

Instead of, "let's collaborate,"
he gets, "I'm doing it my way."

And I could go on.

But what leaders need to remember is that by showing appreciation and recognition to our peers and teams, gratitude carries its weight in improved employee satisfaction and retention.

Want a good team member to stick around?

Say thank you.
Acknowledge the good.
And collaborate.

Today I'm grateful for the amazing connections I've been making on LI.

📌 What are you grateful for? 





 

📌

Friday Gratitude- This week I'm grateful for the people who make me uncomfortable.


Earlier this year, I was on a stage for "hot seat coaching." I asked a question that I needed help with in front of a stage of hundreds of people watching from the audience.

[It took me years to get enough courage to be vulnerable in front of an audience like that].

The answer surprised me. The mentor told me, "I don't think you're afraid of failing, I think you're afraid of success."

What?

I hadn't thought about that. But the more I sat with that idea, the more I realized he was right.

We focus so much on what we don't want to happen, but what if we actually got what we really wanted?

That mentor got to my core, pushing me to care enough to challenge me. 

The people who make us better. The leader, the team, the co-worker... Our kids, our spouse, our friends, or sometimes even our loyal pet. 

📌 Who are people you are grateful for who make you better?

Showing up authentically, and not just on a mug! 



When I bought this mug, my kids groaned. But then they all wanted to use it too! 

Too often, we hesitate to highlight our achievements or showcase our unique skills. 

Thoughtfully demonstrating your value isn't bragging—it's essential for both personal development and team success.

Three ways I've learned to shine authentically:

-Document your wins, both big and small
-Volunteer for projects that leverage your unique strengths
-Mentor others in your areas of expertise

When you bring your "best self" energy to work, you create new opportunities 

And buy yourself a fun mug, while you're at it. You won't regret it! 

📌What are ways you give yourself a boost at work and in life?

How I Helped Change Laws — and What It Taught Me About Leading Change Anywhere.


A few years ago, my children's lemonade got shut down by police due to a complaint and lack of permits.

This was silly. Turns out lemonade stands were technically illegal in my city and they were in cities and states across the USA.

So I rallied people together, and we got lemonade stand laws changed in Denver, kid business laws changed in Colorado, and I partnered with CountryTime Lemonade/Kraft Heinz, and we got laws changed in 17 states across the country.

All from a lemonade stand.

Here's the steps I took that can rally change anywhere- in your organization or your community:

1. Start small. Our change began with a simple question: “Why can’t kids sell lemonade legally?”

2. Gather your people. Parents, kids, community members — small voices become powerful when united.

3. Find the data. Research your case, collect stories, and back it with facts.

4. Get visible. Share your mission publicly. Change accelerates when people care.

5. Stay kind but persistent. Real change takes resilience — and a lot of follow-up and persistent.

The whole experience was a lot of fun. I couldn't have dreamed it up if I tried. 

📌 What is a time that you recognized a need for change, and rallied around the change initiative?

How was your Thanksgiving? It’s hard to believe it’s December already, which is so often a crazy busy month. 


What was your Thanksgiving about?

Mine was:
Family 
Family 
More family 
And getting some fresh air along the way!

If your extended family is anything like mine, there may have been some tensions along the way. 

Some triggers. Do I speak up? Or walk away. Which result in waking up at 3am processing countless discussions and events.

But at the end of the day, family is family. And I’m grateful for mine. 

But here we are in December. 

A scramble to the end. A whirl of busyness and finishing those goals that we set for ourselves.

I am finishing my book (yay!), wrapping up some consulting projects, mentoring some graduate students and am coaching some amazing high achieving ladies. And all the holiday stuff galore. 

(I’m married to a Clark Griswald wannabe - we take the holidays seriously!🎅🏻)

Wishing you a great week. 

📌 How was your Thanksgiving? What are you looking forward to this December?

Tuesday Teach: Want to become a better storyteller? Start with the stories you tell every day


Conduct a story audit.

Leaders and high achievers can conduct a simple audit:

 1. What story am I telling about my team?

-Are they disengaged?
-Or overwhelmed and needing support?
 
Those are two very different stories — and two very different leadership responses.

2. What story am I telling about myself as a leader?

-“I’m not ready.”
-“I’m not qualified.”
-“I should have figured this out by now.”
 
These aren’t truths — they’re unexamined stories.

3. What story am I telling about the work we’re doing?
 
-Is it “just a project”?
 -Or is it meaningful, high-impact work that changes lives?
 Your story becomes their story.

4. What story am I telling about what’s possible?

-If your internal narrative is small, your leadership will be too.

 This becomes a powerful tool for culture and performance.

We don’t just tell stories.
We become the stories our teams believe.

 
📌What is a story that you realized you told, that had a big impact on people at work?

Tuesday Teach: Lewin's Change Model. 

Here's a simple model that is easy to remember and easy to use:

Kurt Lewin's Change Model

Unfreeze - Change - Refreeze


Unfreeze: Prepare for a desired change. Identify the need for transformation and foster readiness.

Change: Implement the transformation. It’s where new processes, systems or behaviors are introduced, and teams begin adapting to the shift. 

Refreeze: Reinforce and stabilize the change.

What I like about this model is it's simplicity. Easy to remember, relatively easy to implement. 


I've been teaching my entire professional career, from teaching leadership development in organizations, to teaching graduate students about organizational performance and change, and even teaching kids how to start a business. I love teaching. 

📌 What is a consistent thing that you've done your entire career?

Morning routine: coffee, dog, quiet in the house. 


I am not a morning person. 

In college I got my second (or third wind) to study starting around 10pm.

But I get up at 5am most weekdays.

Why?

Because it’s the only way I can carve time for myself all day.

I’m fresh.
I’m alert (mostly).

I often journal, I stretch, I move my body.
I set my intentions.
And I give lots of pets to my dog who wiggles himself into just the right position for a good back scratch.

I usually choose a mug with pictures I took  so I can be reminded of happy experiences. 

And all of this really helps.

Why do I say all of this?

Because these tiny little things we can do for ourselves can help us show up and be a better version of ourselves, for work, for our family, for all of our commitments.

As I sit here with my coffee and dog, I wish you a great day!

📌What is something that you do in the morning that helps you have a good day?

6 things working moms excel at like no one else- 
[As we've entered the extra busy season for us moms, I salute you!]

When I envisioned my life, I never thought I'd become a mom of 3 boys! As a result, I've pivoted my career multiple times and reshaped my working identity numerous times. 

Here's 6 things that make working moms pretty darn awesome! 

1. Time Management Goddesses

➜ We optimize every minute of their day
➜ We can complete 3-hour tasks in 1 hour
➜ We know exactly when to tackle each responsibility

2. Professional-Personal Balance

➜ We excel at separating work mode from mom mode
➜ We create clear boundaries between office and home
➜ We maximize quality time with their children

3. Crisis Management

➜ We handle workplace deadlines and sick children simultaneously
➜ We always have a backup plan ready
➜ We remain calm under multiple pressures

4. Efficiency Champions

➜ We master the art of multitasking
➜ We develop innovative solutions to everyday challenges
➜ We streamline processes at work and home

5. Emotional Intelligence

➜ We navigate different personalities at work and home
➜ We understand and address various emotional needs
➜ We excel at conflict resolution

6. Resilience

➜ We bounce back from setbacks quickly
➜ We adapt to changing situations effortlessly
➜ We maintain their composure in challenging times

So today I salute all the working moms (and working dads too!). 

📌 Who is a working mom who inspires you? 

ps- this picture was taken after we drove 9 hours to see the USA team play. Oh, the things we do as parents!

Most people chase more.
More money. More status. More stuff.


I'm working on my next book, More Money by Friday, so I've been reading lots and lots of books on financial literacy.

As I'm reading and researching, I'm finding patterns come up over and over.

One of those patterns is that when our time, values, and work all point in the same direction, then life is better, happier, more fulfilling. 

We no longer need to fill that need of buying more stuff to satisfy that feeling of being unsatisfied.

We start living more on purpose.

The more aligned we are, the more we can take steps towards fulfillment.

Here's 4 questions to ask yourself:

1. Does the way I spend my time reflect what I say matters most?
2. Am I chasing what I want — or what others expect?
3. Where do I feel constant resistance, and what is that trying to tell me?
4. If my calendar were a mirror, would I like the reflection?

For me, this is a daily action, taking small intentional steps, to close that gap.

And suddenly, those things material things I thought I wanted don't matter as much. 

📌 When was a time when you felt fulfilled with what you have, just as things are now?

(this picture is when my family and I traveled to Istanbul earlier this year- at that moment, I didn't feel the need to chase anything- family, adventure, and fresh air and was the perfect day)

7 Small Things You Can Let Go Of (Now That the Penny Is Officially Retired)


Yesterday marked a big day in US History- the US minted their last pennies, to ever be made at the Philadelphia mint.

Last year I had a chance to tour the Philadelphia mint with my kids and see how many was actually made. Pictures weren't allowed, otherwise I would have included one! 

Did you know: 
-1 cent coins had been minted for 232 years, since 1793. Wow! 
-There are still 250 billion pennies still in circulation. 

I have lots of questions how pricing will work going forward. 

Will anything change?
Will prices change?
Will things still end in .99?
What if I own $4.97? Will the new price by $4.95 of $5.00?


This served to me as a reminder how we as change makers, organizational leaders, and professionals can let go of the old to make space for forward movement: 

Here are 7 small things we can let go of.

1. Old expectations
The ones you outgrew but still feel obligated to honor.

2. Perfection as a standard
It’s not excellence—it’s self-punishment.

3. Doing everything yourself
High-performers often carry invisible loads. Delegation is not weakness.

4. Guilt for wanting “more”
More time, more money, more rest, more joy…it’s allowed.

5. Outdated identities
You don’t have to be who you were last year, last month, or last job.

6. Saying yes to protect others from being uncomfortable
You’re not responsible for managing everyone else’s emotions.

7. The belief that change must be big to matter
Small shifts — are the ones that compound.

A penny for your thoughts: (pun intended!)
📌 Which one (#1 -7) most resonates with you?  

For me, as a professional who's always busy doing so much, #4 resonates the most- guilt for wanting more, including an often needed nap!

Today is a humble share for my 14 year old son, Ben (proud Mama, here!). He wrote a book! If you or a family member likes sports, please consider checking it out and writing a review. It's free today on kindle! 


My son started writing this book earlier this year, and it became a labor of love. He loves sports and in honor of celebrating his 100th episode of his podcast, Footballing with Kids, he wanted to release it today. And it's free! 

The direct link to write a review in the comments. 

Or if you enjoy sports or know someone who does, this book is lots of fun and covers soccer, football, basketball and baseball! 

It takes about 5 amazon reviews to get a book started for credibility and visibility.  And the more people who get the book (it’s free today!) on the same day, the more it also helps with Amazon rankings! 

For anyone who gets his book (it's free today!) and reviews it, I'd be happy to show you what I know for writing books and will invite you to a book writing session - just message me! (the kids and I have been on a roll lately writing books!)

Wishing you a great day before Thanksgiving. I hope it’s not too hectic for you!

https://lnkd.in/gPZn66Hy

Open article: Would You Rather? Kids Sports Edition: The Ultimate Game for Kids Who Love Soccer, Football, Baseball and Basketball (Would You Rather: Kids Edition) by amazon.com

Would You Rather? Kids Sports Edition: The Ultimate Game for Kids Who Love Soccer, Football, Baseball and Basketball (Would You Rather: Kids Edition)

Ever feel like a fraud? Good news, it means you're growing.


I've worked with people from all levels- MD's, CEO's, mid-managers, and new moms, and one thing that everyone has in common?

Everyone questions themselves sometimes.

The only group I don't see this as much in?
Kids.

Why is that kids go for what they want, and we encourage it?
I want to be a baseball player- great!
I want to be an astronaut- amazing!
I want to be a movie star- go for it!

But when we become adults, we question what we want, who we are, and what we're doing in our career.

Here's what I'm discovering:

You can have doubt and still deliver.
You can have fear and still lead.
You can have imposter syndrome — and still make an impact.

📌 When was a time when you doubted yourself, and you did it anyway?

Tuesday Teach: The Kaleidoscope Career Model shows us how our careers change and shift over time due to alternating priorities in authenticity, balance, and challenge.  


Like a kaleidoscope shifts patterns, so does our priorities in our career.

I devoted my dissertation research to applying the kaleidoscope career model to examining high achieving women's careers. 

What I found interesting is that for most men and women, we start our careers out with similar priorities- focusing primarily on challenge. 

But as time progresses, the difference in priorities change between men and women. Women tend to focus on balance, and then authenticity later in their career. 

Men's patterns stay in challenge longer, and then focus on authenticity and the balance. 

Makes sense- in a traditional work environment, often a women's career gets put in the back burner as she sacrifices bits of her career to focus on family and other priority.

Life and career becomes a balancing act.

📌 Knowing that we are a bit of all three, what is your main focus now?  authenticity, balance, or challenge?

(I'm so happy to share this with you! I have been teaching my entire life- from teaching in corporations to teaching in universities, to teaching children how to create their own businesses. It's fun!)

Lately I’ve been working with high-performing teams, and here’s what I've discovered first hand about organizational culture:


Culture isn’t a vibe. It’s a system that determines whether people rise or retreat.

Look at these examples we can all learn from:

➜ Google’s Project Aristotle
 The teams who felt safe to speak up weren’t just happier—they were higher performing. Safety fuels success.

➜ Microsoft under Satya Nadella
 When leaders shifted from “prove yourself” to “grow yourself,” innovation exploded. Culture changed → results changed.

➜ Uber’s culture overhaul
 
Toxicity cost billions. Culture wasn’t a side problem—it was the foundation crack.

Here’s what winning cultures do differently:

1. Safety > Fear
They encourage people to say the brave thing, not the comfortable thing.

2. Learning > Blame
They ask, “What can we learn?” instead of, “Who do we blame?”

3. Ownership > Excuses
They solve problems together instead of pushing responsibility around.

The deeper truth:
 ➜ Culture is created every day
 ➜ People follow the energy of leadership
 ➜ Trust multiplies results

If you want a team that’s engaged and productive, start here:

✔ Create psychological safety
 ✔ Reward curiosity and courage
 ✔ Celebrate accountability
 ✔ Model the behavior you want others to mirror

People don’t leave companies—they leave cultures that don’t support who they are.

I have left organizations because of the culture, and I have also stayed at them  because I was a "fit." 

📌 Where has organizational culture either helped you or hindered you at work? 

📌 📌 Book Recommendation: I learned all about organizational culture in my PhD program, and have since taught it to many others. Here's a great book to put on your check out and implement: Organizational Culture in Leadership by Edgar Schein.

Did you know today is 11-11 and Veterans Day? 

I went to the post office, and it took me a few minutes to figure out why the post office wasn't open.

And then somebody told me it was 11-11. And then she told me that 11-11 is a spiritual number and is often viewed as an "angel number," and a sign of a day to make a wish or set an intention. 

And I woke up today just thinking it was another day. 

So I started to wonder who these two events today are connected.

Veterans align action to mission (thank you veterans!)
11:11 represents alignment of self to higher purpose.  

Strong leadership happens when your outer service reflects your inner values. And when the external is aligned with the internal, then are aligned at work, and in life.

So Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans, and thank you for protecting our country. And on 11-11, may all your wishes come true!

📌 What is something you're aligning to on 11-11?
📌 📌 Do you have a veteran in your life you can thank today? 

ps- I took this last summer in Washington DC, near Arlington Cemetery, which was humbling and beautiful

Corvus Empowerment Solutions

Provide operational transformation consulting to $1M-$10M companies using The Corvus Methodology™.

  • Execute 90-day kick-start plans that serve as the foundation for long term transformation and measurable results: 20+ hour weekly time liberation, 70% reduction in founder decisions, 14-day business continuity
  • Integrate AI-powered analytics (Claude, OpenAI) and OKR platforms for real-time performance tracking
  • Run weekly operational syncs, own execution, hold teams accountable—operator, not advisor
  • Small number of concurrent clients ensuring boutique focus on sustainable transformation

Fractional COO

The Outlier Project

The Outlier Project  is the leading private membership community for anyone who believes people are a company’s greatest asset.

Member

Premier Martial Arts International

Built and scaled two martial arts schools during COVID

  • Scaled to 100+ members across two locations through relationship-focused operations
  • Amplified student-centered operational model that drove retention during crisis
  • Aligned operational frameworks to environment and staff capabilities

Multi-School Franchise Owner

SunTrust

Led HELOC pricing transformation in highly regulated banking environment.

  • Delivered 74 basis point improvement in return on assets through two back-to-back pricing optimizations within 9 months
  • Secured buy-in across departments during organizational complexity
  • Championed analytics-driven decision frameworks for improved decision making

Senior Vice President

Cox Automotive Inc.

Led enterprise operational transformations serving $1B+ annual revenue across 68 locations, delivering $50-80M in captured value through systematic process optimization.

  • Deal Management Automation: Reduced approval cycles from 2 weeks to 22 minutes (60% improvement) via Salesforce architecture, processing hundreds of millions in annual transactions. CEO cited as "game changer." Presented at Dreamforce on behalf of vendor partner as a client success story.
  • Pricing Transformation: Identified $300M+ in optimization opportunities across 68-location network; delivered $50-80M in realized value through comprehensive market repositioning.  
  • Standardization Initiative: Consolidated 68 custom rate cards to 8 formulaic structures, achieving 83% operational efficiency improvement.  Received innovative leadership award for solution.
  • Change Management: Transformed stakeholder resistance into adoption through 50+ roadshow sessions using listening-first approach. Built relationships with regional VPs to drive all operational improvements for pricing and deal operations.
  • Stakeholder Alignment: Led cross-functional transformations spanning IT, Sales, Finance, and Operations - proving that the right systems create freedom, not dependency.

Senior Director

Georgia-Pacific LLC

Managed trade operations for consumer brands portfolio including Angel Soft, Dixie, and Brawny. Built foundational understanding of how operational systems impact both financial performance and team effectiveness.

  • Optimized trade-to-sales ratios across major retail partnerships
  • Developed negotiation tools empowering sales teams

Manager

The Home Depot

Graduate of two year development leadership program, which included leadership positions within corporate office and at store location.

LYCOS

Consumer facing and internal tool development expert, including main search and automated workflow systems.

Senior Software Engineer

Be the CEO of your life 💪 Achieve your professional purpose along with wealth and well-being 💪 Take “The Ascent” to your desired heights and definition of success 💪 Schedule a free, no obligation chat to learn more!

Your business should give you more life, not consume it.

Hi, I'm Scott—I help founder-dependent businesses architect operational freedom, bringing 25+ years across Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurial ventures.

Three perspectives shape how I work:

Fortune 500 Executive: Delivered $50-80M in captured value at Cox Automotive through systems reducing approval cycles by 60%. 74 basis point revenue improvement as SunTrust SVP in highly regulated banking environment. Built operational frameworks serving $1B+ annual revenue.

The Hard Lesson: Along the way, I learned what happens when effective systems aren't in place for yourself. Hospital bed. Blood pressure at stroke levels. The irony? I could architect freedom for others but not myself.

Entrepreneurial Operator: Became multi-location franchise owner during COVID—building operations from scratch and scaling two locations to 100+ members during pandemic shutdown, managing P&L and living the 80-hour weeks that trap most founders. Theory met reality. I learned what founders actually need isn't more frameworks—it's systems aligned with how their business and team actually operate.

Today: Fractional COO deploying The Corvus Methodology™. Measurable results within 90 days: 20+ hours weekly reclaimed, 70% fewer decisions requiring you, teams operating without constant oversight.

University of Pennsylvania (Computer Science) | Carnegie Mellon MBA | Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach | Host of The Corvus Effect® Podcast

Your business exists to enhance your life. Everything else is just sophisticated busy work.

Scott Raven

You just finished your biggest race. Now choose your next one wisely.

Reflection gave you data. Projection turns data into VISION. What will you BUILD in 2026?

Your dreams deserve strategic planning, not wishful thinking.

Foundation First: 
ONE dream defined. 
ONE system required. 
90 days to prove the foundation.

Then stack the next one.

I used to plan years at Cox based what I thought everyone else needed from me, not what my capacity could sustain.

Not because I didn't dream. Because I didn't PROJECT realistically.

What's the ONE dream you're building 2026 around?

Your biggest visions need foundations strong enough to hold them.

#MantraMonday #VisionaryPlanning #2026Dreams #DreamBuilder #LegacyCreation

Fractional COO | Former Fortune 500 SVP | UPenn + Carnegie Mellon MBA | Host of The Corvus Effect® Podcast | Your Partner in Operational Freedom

We're closing out our fall season this week with a profound conversation before our Thanksgiving R&R.

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." - Jon Mayo

Join us as we sit down with former US Army Captain and Waymaker Movement Founder, Jonathan Mayo, who shares his powerful roadmap for transforming relentless output into lasting impact.

We dive into:
- The Courage to Integrate: How aligning your whole self creates sustained energy.
- Steward vs. Servant: Cultivating leadership that brings calm and clarity.
- Building Your Support Systems so givers can receive, fostering resilience.

Tune in to Jonathan's wisdom now, and then catch up on the best of The Corvus Effect next week! Anchor some dedicated R&R for yourself, too!

Full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/ei8HcdYW

#TheCorvusEffect #AuthenticLeadership #LifeRedefined #IntegratedLife #LeadershipLessons

(12) Activity | Scott Raven | LinkedIn

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Did you DiRP today? 🇺🇸 Building the Operating System for Human Sovereignty

Transformation without anchors drifts back to chaos.

You built 20 hours of freedom. Your team owns key decisions. You're creating instead of managing.

Now it’s time to ANCHOR that freedom — make it permanent.

Foundation First is about ONE system plus clear accountability rhythms.

Measure for 90 days. Watch success compound because you've locked it in.

Then stack the next one.

I used to celebrate progress at Cox, then watch it evaporate when pressure hit.

Not because the systems failed. Because I never ANCHORED them against drift.

What progress needs permanent anchors this month?

Your biggest dreams need foundations that HOLD, not wins that fade.

#MantraMonday #StrategicFocus #AnchoredSystems #DreamBuilder #LegacyCreation

YOUR YEAR IN THREE QUESTIONS

No long strategic reports. No fancy retreats.

Just three simple questions that unlock your business freedom for next year:

The Dream Builder Reflection

1. What worked? (What system/decision/hire actually freed your capacity?)
2. What didn't? (What drained energy without creating value?)
3. What's ready to multiply? (What 2025 win becomes your 2026 foundation?)

Take 30 minutes. Be honest. Write it down.

Don't just think about it. DOCUMENT it.

Because you can't build on wins you don't acknowledge or learn from losses you don't name.

The pattern? Your answers reveal next year's roadmap.

What worked → Do more of that
What didn't → Stop doing that
What multiplies → Build 2026 around that

Drop your biggest 2025 win in the comments.

I'll reply with how to multiply it in 2026.

Remember: It’s not perfect execution you need. It’s learning that compounds into bigger wins.

#TakeActionThursday #YearEndReview #DreamBuilder #StrategicIntelligence

You can’t build bigger dreams without learning from the last chapter.

In January, you started with vision.
By December, you have the data.

What did your year teach you about building what truly matters?

Your next level grows FROM reflection, not DESPITE it.

Foundation First: ONE win documented. ONE lesson captured. 90 days of applied learning.

Then stack the next one.

I used to skip reflection at Cox—too busy chasing the next goal to learn from the last one.

Not because I didn't care. Because I didn't realize reflection IS strategic work.

What did this year teach you about your capacity to create?

Your biggest dreams need the wisdom you just earned.

#MantraMonday #StrategicReflection #YearEndReview #DreamBuilder #LegacyCreation

My daughter called me out while we were sitting on the couch watching YouTube shorts together.

Phone down. Laptop closed. But my mind was solving that "quick question" from earlier.

EMBED doesn't just apply to business processes.

Foundation First in your work creates PRESENCE in your life.

ONE boundary embedded = mental space actually freed
That boundary respected by your team = evenings truly reclaimed
Your systems running without hovering = being HERE when you're here

I used to think presence meant physical proximity. My family taught me better—it means mental availability.

Not because I'm a bad dad. Because I hadn't EMBEDDED the boundaries that protect what matters.

This weekend: Practice the redirect.

When work thoughts creep in during family time, redirect to the person in front of you.

30 days of that practice EMBEDS presence like nothing else.

Your business grows when your systems work. Your life grows when your presence does too.

What’s one boundary you’re rooting stronger this weekend?

#FamilyFriday #DreamBuilder #IntegratedLife #PresenceOverPerfection #WorkLifeIntegration

P.S. Sharing a snippet from our recent trip to Universal where we I got some Daddy-daughter time on the carousel with Zoe.

"Some days getting outta bed is the win." - Christine Campbell Rapin

That simple philosophy is the reward for an anchored business.

While I'm enjoying R&R and building family legacy over Thanksgiving week, The Corvus Effect® podcast is hitting a "Reruns & Rest" schedule.

If you missed it, our latest conversation with the phenomenal Christine Campbell Rapin is essential listening for anchoring your own freedom. We simplify the scaling process, discussing why complexity is a trap and how to spot the 3 Lanes of Traffic to find buyers who say "YES" today.

Stop setting yourself on fire. Anchor your own R&R by tuning into this and other top episodes!

Listen via this link: https://lnkd.in/eYHuNay5

#TheCorvusEffect #FounderFreedom #IntegratedLife #ThanksgivingWeek

Helping Entrepreneurs Scale from $100K to $1M+. No Fluff. Sharp Strategy. Moves that Matter.

YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES NEXT YEAR.
UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY REFLECT.

You know what kills dreams faster than bad execution?

Repeating the same patterns without learning from them.

January 2025: "This year will be different!"
December 2025: Somehow facing the same bottlenecks, same frustrations, same 70-hour weeks.

I know. I lived it. For three years, stuck in a cycle because I never stopped to reflect and learn.

Here's what I learned the expensive way: Your biggest visions need REFLECTION, not just ambition.

Foundation First: ONE hour this week. Review what worked, what didn't, what you're NOT repeating.

Not another "fresh start" that ignores the data.

Real reflection. Real learning. Real evolution.

What would you create if you stopped repeating last year's patterns?

That's not hypothetical. That's what strategic reflection creates.

What lesson from this year unlocks next year's dream?

Book a call: https://lnkd.in/ey7xvnWV 

#ToughLoveTuesday #StrategicReflection #DreamBuilder #FractionalCOO #LearningCulture

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WIN AT REFLECTION?

Most think: Identify every mistake. Beat yourself up. Promise to do better next time.

I used to think that too. Until I realized reflection without celebration kills momentum instead of building it.

Real winning? Learning from BOTH your wins AND your struggles to build bigger dreams.

Here's what most founders miss: Your failures teach you what to avoid. Your WINS teach you what to multiply.

Foundation First beats self-criticism every time.

Pick ONE success to analyze deeply:
What made it work?
How do you repeat it?
What does it reveal about your capacity?

No more guilt-driven year-end reviews.
Not theory that changes nothing.
Not ignoring victories while dwelling on mistakes.

Freedom to build 2026 BECAUSE you learned from 2025.

Then stack the next insight.

That's how you go from repeating patterns to evolving them.

From vague regrets to strategic intelligence.

From hoping next year is better to KNOWING why it will be.

What's YOUR biggest win from 2025 worth studying?

#WinningWednesday #StrategicReflection #DreamBuilder #CelebrateAndLearn

Honest question.

Two weeks. Fully unplugged. Phone off. Laptop home.

What parts of your business would FALL APART?

Those are your anchors.

Here's your action step this Thursday:

Run the vacation test.

Write down every process or decision that needs your attention during a two-week break.

Don't fix it today. Just NAME what's not actually anchored yet.

Because you can't secure what you won't acknowledge.

The fix? Anchor points.

Weekly check-ins that measure the right things.
Clear decision criteria that guide without you.
Accountability rhythms that catch drift before crisis.

That’s how freedom becomes PERMANENT -- not fragile.

What would break during your absence? Drop it in the comments.

I’ll reply with the best anchor to build first.

Your goal isn’t a business that survives your vacation.

It’s a business that THRIVES because it’s anchored well.

#TakeActionThursday #VacationTest #DreamBuilder #AnchoredFreedom

Most think: "If it worked once, I'm good. On to the next thing."

I thought that too, until I realized: one-time success shows possibility—ANCHORED success builds legacies.

Real winning? Your systems hold steady through pressure, turnover, and growth because they’re anchored.

Here's what most founders miss: You don't need more breakthroughs. You need to ANCHOR the ones you've had.

Foundation First beats constant reinvention every time.

ONE win secured with measurement + accountability. 90 days of tracking. Proof it holds under pressure.

Not another new framework to chase.
Not the next shiny strategy that replaces this one.
Not progress that evaporates when things get hard.

Freedom TO build your next level BECAUSE your current level is anchored solid.

Then stack the next one.

That's how you go from temporary wins to permanent capacity.

From good months to sustainable excellence.
From hoping it sticks to KNOWING it holds.

What's YOUR wildest dream that needs anchored foundations?

#WinningWednesday #SustainableSuccess #DreamBuilder #PermanentTransformation

"Our open team calls are now the keystone to what I was working on all along. And all of this came from the initiative of telling stories." - Lyndsay Dowd

REWIND ALERT 

While I'm enjoying R&R and building legacy with my family over Thanksgiving week, The Corvus Effect® podcast is on a "Reruns & Rest" schedule.

We're bringing back an essential episode that is key to claiming your freedom: Why Soft Skills Are Actually Power Skills with Leadership Strategist Lyndsay Dowd.

If you're ready to stop being your business's best employee and start being its true leader, this is your guide. We dive into:

How to build a team that truly thrives ("team go" vs. "team know").

The power of storytelling to create an anchored, results-driven culture.

Reclaiming your time and freedom by integrating your personal values.

Anchor some dedicated R&R for yourself, too! Catch up on the wisdom and start building a business that doesn't demand your constant presence.

Tune in via this link: https://lnkd.in/etz9-He3

#TheCorvusEffect #LeadershipCulture #TimeSovereignty #RerunsAndRest

Leadership Strategist | Fractional C-Suite Partner| Keynote Speaker | 2X Author | Host of the globally ranked Heartbeat for Hire Podcast and THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGE | Outlier | Wiener Dog Lover 🐾 | Mom of Twins 🩷💙

With Thanksgiving coming up, my son was asking me how hard I'm going to work next week.

My answer: I'm not.

ANCHOR doesn't just secure business systems.

Foundation First in your business creates TRADITIONS in your life.

ONE anchored process = sustainable freed capacity
That capacity protected by rhythms = reliable family presence
Your presence becoming tradition = legacy beyond business metrics

As a result, I'm building traditions my kids will carry forward.

Not because business slowed down. Because I ANCHORED the systems that protect what matters.

This weekend: Start one family tradition you want to ANCHOR.

Weekly game night. Sunday breakfast ritual. Monthly adventure day.

Small. Repeatable. Bedrocked in your calendar.

90 days of consistency builds traditions that last generations.

Your business holds when your systems are anchored. Your legacy grows when your presence is too.

What tradition are you anchoring this holiday season?

#FamilyFriday #DreamBuilder #IntegratedLife #LegacyBuilding #WorkLifeIntegration

P.S. I'm not working next week. My systems are ANCHORED to protect what truly matters: family presence and the traditions we're building. While I'm enjoying R&R and building legacy with my family over Thanksgiving week, The Corvus Effect® podcast will be on a "Reruns & Rest" schedule, bringing back some of our best episodes (especially those on Legacy and Time Sovereignty). Catch up on the wisdom and anchor some dedicated R&R for yourself, too!

Most think: They can do it when I'm watching. Good enough.

I used to settle for that too. Until I realized supervised delegation isn't freedom—it's just distributed micromanagement.

But real freedom isn’t about working alongside your team, but letting go so they truly own it.

Here's what most founders miss: You don't need them to execute your way. You need them to OWN their way.

Foundation First beats supervision every time.

ONE process fully transferred. 30 days of zero intervention. Someone else making it better than you did.

Not another "accountability system" that keeps you involved.
Not theory about "empowerment" while you hover.
Not delegation that still requires your permission.

Freedom TO create what you're meant for while they OWN what they're meant for.

Then stack the next one.

That's how you go from teaching processes to EMBEDDING ownership.

From freed hours to sustained capacity.

From one-off wins to LASTING transformation.

What's YOUR wildest dream that needs embedded systems?

#WinningWednesday #SystemsOwnership #DreamBuilder #LastingChange

YOUR 2026 PLAN IS ALREADY FAILING.
AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED YET.

You know what kills January momentum?

December planning that ignores November reality.

"Next year I'm going to scale to $5M AND launch three new services AND finally get work-life balance!"

Without the SYSTEMS to support any of it.

I know that feeling. I lived it. Ambitious martial arts expansion plans that collapsed because I never built the operational foundation first.

Here's what I learned the expensive way: Your biggest dreams need ANCHORED foundations, not optimistic timelines.

Foundation First: ONE 2026 dream + the SYSTEM that makes it possible. 90 days to build the foundation.

Not another goal list that's abandoned by February.

Real foundation. Real capacity. Real freedom.

What would you create if your 2026 plan was BUILT on systems, not hope?

That’s not fantasy. That’s what Foundation First delivers.

What’s the ONE dream you want made real with a system behind it?

Book a call: https://lnkd.in/ey7xvnWV 

#ToughLoveTuesday #FoundationFirst #DreamBuilder #FractionalCOO #2026Planning

Open article: 30 Minute Chat - Scott Raven - Corvus Solutions by calendly.com

30 Minute Chat - Scott Raven - Corvus Solutions

You know the process. 

You documented it. Trained someone. Handed it off. 

But bit by bit, it’s creeping back onto your plate -- one “quick question” at a time.

This is the drift pattern:
What you delegate drifts back unless you embed the boundary.

Here's your action step this Thursday:

Spot the Drift. 

Which process you handed off is finding its way back to you?

Don't blame your team. They're following the pattern YOU'RE creating.

Every "quick answer" teaches them: bring it back to the boss.

The fix? EMBED the boundary.

"That's your call now. What do YOU think?"
"You own this decision. Trust your process."
"I trained you because you're capable. Prove me right."

30 days of redirecting instead of rescuing.

That's how processes EMBED instead of evaporate.

Drop the process that's drifting back in the comments.

I'll reply with your boundary script to EMBED ownership.

Your goal isn't better delegation. It's EMBEDDED systems that free you to build your dreams.

#TakeActionThursday #TrustYourSystems #DreamBuilder #OwnershipCulture

"That's kind of the scary part because building equity is a long game. It takes time. And when you do it right and you do it consistently and everybody's aligned, it can have tremendous financial returns, but it's fragile." - Lysle C. Wickersham 

📣 NEW EPISODE ALERT 📣

On the latest episode of The Corvus Effect®, I sat down with the incredible Lysle Wickersham of BRANDThink. Lysle, a self-described "creative capitalist," has a powerful insight from his time in M&A: Investors don't just fund spreadsheets. They fund stories they believe in.

We talk about:
- Why "brand" isn't just a logo—it's the third, often missing, leg of the value creation stool.
- The difference between a 10x and a 50x multiplier at the negotiating table.
- How building Brand Capital (a registered trademark of Lysle's firm) from Day 1 is the most cost-effective way to reduce investor risk and lower your cost of capital.

Stop waiting to "have time" for the brand. It is the financial strategy.

Tune in to learn how to infuse the right brain into your business strategy and truly become the visionary you started out to be.

You can listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform or via this link: https://lnkd.in/etDnsk6X

#TheCorvusEffect #FounderFreedom #BrandCapital #BusinessStrategy

Brand & business strategists | Positioning startups, early-stage & SMEs for differentiated competitive advantage & raising capital | Building performance, revenue, & equity value | And trying to fix one ugly slice ⛳️

#ShoutoutSunday #Embed

This week we celebrate the power to EMBED—the discipline of building practices so deeply into our lives and organizations that they become automatic, creating foundations that sustain without constant attention. True embedding transforms temporary fixes into permanent solutions, occasional wins into consistent patterns, and fragile dependencies into resilient systems that endure.

🌟 Desiree Petrich

Desiree captures the frustration many leaders feel when she admits, "I feel like I keep recreating my podcast system as things change. I would love to build deeper and more sustainable roots!" This honest reflection reveals the critical difference between constantly adapting surface-level processes and embedding sustainable practices deep enough to withstand change. Desiree's desire for "deeper and more sustainable roots" speaks to the heart of what embedding means—moving beyond reactive recreation to proactive foundation-building. Her insight reminds us that true stability doesn't come from perfecting temporary systems but from embedding principles robust enough to flex with change while maintaining their core integrity.

🎯 Marc Daner

Marc Daner understands that embedding ownership requires courage alongside strategy. He articulates the leadership tension perfectly: "Trusting your team to take full ownership can feel risky, but it's the only way to build something that lasts without you." Marc recognizes that embedded systems aren't just about documented processes—they're about embedding trust, autonomy, and ownership so deeply into organizational culture that leadership becomes distributed rather than concentrated. His perspective challenges founders to move beyond the illusion of control toward the reality of sustainability, understanding that what truly lasts is what we successfully embed in others, not what we perpetually hold ourselves.

⚡ Cicely Simpson

Cicely Simpson demonstrates exceptional understanding of how embedding happens through disciplined repetition rather than occasional effort. She cuts through the allure of quick fixes with clarity: "Quick wins are fun, but they don't last, Scott! Doing something over and over until it becomes normal is what makes work easier and keeps progress going." Cicely grasps that embedding requires patience—practices must be repeated until they become reflexive, systems must run consistently until they become automatic. Her insight that "growth comes from trust and structure, not working harder" reveals the dual foundations of sustainable embedding: trusting people enough to let them own the work, and building structures solid enough to make excellence the default rather than the exception.

#CommunityExcellence #ThoughtLeadership #NetworkValue #ContributorSpotlight

🎤 Keynote Speaker | 🎙️Podcast Host | Leadership Development and Team Engagement Consultant | Working Genius, 5 Behaviors and DISC Facilitator Helping Teams Turn Conflict into Connection | 📖 Bestselling Author

Founder & President || Husband & Father

Billion-Dollar Leadership Strategist for VP–C-Suite | Speaking, Executive Advisor & LeaderOS Accelerator | Building Leadership Systems That Scale Impact Without Scaling Hours | Trusted by 5 U.S. Presidents Admin.

You know what happens to most founder transformations?

January: "This year I'm building systems!"
March: Making real progress, feeling hopeful.
June: Old patterns creeping back in.
December: Right back where you started.

I’ve lived it—the surge of inspiration at conferences, then sinking back into the daily grind two weeks later.

Here's what I learned the expensive way: Your biggest visions need ANCHORS, not just inspiration.

Foundation First: ONE success metric tracked weekly. 90 days. Non-negotiable accountability rhythms.

No more empty promises of “starting fresh next quarter.”

Real anchors. Real measurements. Real, lasting change.

What would you create if your transformation lasted?

That’s not theory; it’s the power of anchored systems.

What’s your dream needing permanence?

Book a call: https://lnkd.in/ey7xvnWV 

#ToughLoveTuesday #AnchoredSuccess #DreamBuilder #FractionalCOO #SustainableGrowth

WHAT'S YOUR WILDEST DREAM FOR 2026?

Most think: More revenue. Bigger team. Faster growth. Same old metrics.

I used to think that too -- until I realized metrics measure ACTIVITY, but dreams focus on IMPACT.

Activity and results? Yes, they're important -- but only if they tie to the IMPACT you want.

Real winning? Building what you're MEANT to create with the capacity you've earned.

Here's what most founders miss: 2026 isn't about doing MORE. It's about creating WHAT MATTERS with the freedom you've built.

Foundation First beats hustle-harder every time.

ONE transformational goal. The system that creates capacity for it. 90 days to prove the foundation holds.

Not another year of operational overwhelm disguised as ambition.
Not theory about "vision" without the capacity to execute it.
Not dreams that sound impressive but drain your life.

Freedom TO build what matters BECAUSE you planned for the capacity it requires.

Then stack the next dream.

That's how you go from busy to impactful.

From revenue goals to legacy building.

From exhausted achievement to energized creation.

What's YOUR wildest 2026 dream?

#WinningWednesday #2026Vision #DreamBuilder #ImpactOverActivity

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The Battle

Jennifer Knowles, Ph.D

Scott Raven

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The Battle

Jennifer Knowles, Ph.D

Scott Raven

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Jennifer Knowles, Ph.D's LinkedIn Performance

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