Pathfinders Podcast: Navigating Your Career Map with a Personal Board of Advisors

About Pathfinders Podcast: Navigating Your Career Map with a Personal Board of Advisors

The Pathfinders Podcast, hosted by Pete Schramm, CEO of Lattitude, dives into the real stories behind the careers of C-Suite execs, leaders, business owners, and more from all over the world. Pete asks the kinds of questions that get to the heart of how these pros built their careers, who helped them along the way, and the lessons they’ve learned. If you’re curious about mentorship, career growth, and building your own personal board of advisors, this podcast is made for you. New episodes drop about twice a month, packed with honest conversations and practical advice. And here’s the kicker — every episode wraps up with a little surprise from Pete that you won’t hear anywhere else. Trust us, you’ll want to stick around for it.

Publisher

WRKdefined Podcast Network

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Oct 2024

Latest episode

9 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

39 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Dec 2025

   Why 'We’re Good' Isn’t Good Enough: Rethinking Growth with Pete Reinke

   In this episode of the Pathfinders podcast, Pete Schramm is joined by fellow leader, connector, and culture builder, Pete Reinkie, for a conversation on how to strengthen engagement, development, and retention with intention and action. The two explore the impact of career mapping and mentorship at scale, highlighting how tools like Lattitude are helping organizations create clarity for employees at every level. From mapping where someone has been, to defining where they want to go, and guiding who can support them along the way, this episode dives into what it means to truly support professional growth. Pete and Pete unpack common leadership roadblocks, like time, budget, and resources, and offer a fresh lens on how organizations can address turnover, accelerate onboarding, and create space for cross-functional connection. Whether it’s identifying functional mentors or building adjacent networks across departments and locations, the conversation centers on how real, measurable progress starts with a willingness to listen, take action, and invest in people. One standout takeaway: the importance of asking (and being able to answer) the question, “What would it take for you to give me a superlative review 12 months from now?” When leaders can’t answer, it signals a gap—one that career maps, mentorship, and intentional development can help close. For leaders looking to reduce attrition, improve productivity, and build a culture of belonging, this episode delivers practical insight and an energizing reminder: growth is not accidental. It’s mapped, mentored, and measured.

2. 

   25 Nov 2025

   Respected, Honored, Heard: What Inclusion Really Looks Like at Work with George Sample

   In this episode of Pathfinders, host Pete Schramm is joined by George Sample, Principal Consultant at Blue Streak Consultants and former HR leader at organizations including the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and Lubrizol. From his early love of paintball to his current passion for growing careers, George’s journey is grounded in curiosity, servant leadership, and a drive to create inclusive workplaces. Originally a computer science graduate and applications engineer, George didn’t start in HR—but it was through building relationships across departments and immersing himself in ERGs that he found a deeper calling: helping people grow through systems, structure, and support. George shared how a pivotal shift came when he transitioned into a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion role. Though he lacked formal subject matter expertise at first, his relationship-building skills made him a trusted and effective voice across all levels of the organization. That move opened his eyes to the influence HR has on succession planning, employee opportunity, and long-term culture. Since then, he’s remained committed to helping individuals and organizations align growth with purpose. His unique background gives him a well-rounded view of how systems and people must evolve together. A core part of George’s success has been his personal board of advisors, which includes early mentors like his high school track coach and leaders who championed him during career transitions. He emphasized the role mentors play in demystifying executive paths, holding up a mirror to reveal both strengths and blind spots, and helping people move past mental roadblocks. For organizations, George was clear: when every employee has a career map and a few strong guides, the result is better engagement, stronger internal pipelines, and higher organizational performance. Succession planning becomes sharper, and talent is developed—not just replaced. Now running Blue Streak full time, George focuses on coaching, leadership workshops, DEI facilitation, and fractional HR support. His mission is simple but powerful: to have a positive impact on as many careers as possible. Whether he’s supporting a frontline leader, advising an executive, or helping a team embrace inclusive decision-making, George brings energy and insight to every step. His reminder to “keep learning, every day” and his practical recommendations—from audiobooks to negotiation tactics—make this episode a must-listen for anyone leading people or planning their own next step.

3. 

   11 Nov 2025

   From Operations to Impact: Mapping a Purpose-Driven Career with Stephen Shackelford

   On this week’s episode of Pathfinders, Pete sits down with Stephen Shackelford, a financial wellness advocate and community builder with over 40 years of experience helping people grow, both personally and professionally. Stephen’s story begins with a love for cars and a dream of being a designer. But life rerouted him into finance, where he discovered a calling in helping others secure their futures. Over time, his roles evolved from banking to leadership at Capital Group, to now running the 401(k) Division at Invest. In this episode, Stephen reflects on the value of building a Career Map and surrounding yourself with a strong Personal Board of Advisors (PBA). Two mentors were instrumental in his growth: Karen, who helped him see beyond the daily grind, and Steve, who championed his shift into sales leadership. Stephen shares how these mentors evolved with him over time and how great leaders help others grow by asking better questions, not just giving answers. Today, he’s not just helping clients with retirement plans, he’s using benefits to drive business strategy, retention, and engagement. Whether you’re early in your career or leading a team, this conversation is filled with lessons on legacy, leadership, and the impact of intentional mentorship.

Who has been a guest on Pathfinders Podcast: Navigating Your Career Map with a Personal Board of Advisors

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Amy Bouque
• Rob Thomas
• Divya Divakaran
• Colleen Capel
• Zane Zumbahlen

Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

44

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact Pathfinders Podcast: Navigating Your Career Map with a Personal Board of Advisors

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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