Three key tools to evolve your workplace

“If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” – Brent W. RempeIn this week’s episode, Carol Schultz sits down with Brent Rempe (President & CEO of First Alliance Credit Union) to unpack what actually drives workplace evolution—and why most companies fail to make their values meaningful. Brent shares how his team redefined their mission, vision, and values after realizing the old ones didn’t resonate, and how simplifying them into something tangible changed the direction of the organization.Brent explains why having too many values makes them forgettable, how organizations can embed values into hiring and performance systems, and why alignment matters more than raw output. They explore how behavioral interviews reveal real character, why pairing HR with hiring managers improves decision-making, and how growth can expose weaknesses inside a team. The conversation also touches on leadership realities—like imposter syndrome—and why purpose and storytelling are critical to keeping employees engaged. The episode closes with a practical look at how companies can create workplaces where people feel connected to the impact of their work, not just the job itself.TakeawaysMission, vision, and values only work if they are simple and actionableToo many values make culture harder to understand and applyValues should be embedded into hiring, performance, and daily decisionsBehavioral interviews help uncover genuine alignment—not rehearsed answersHR involvement improves hiring consistency and reduces biasGrowth without alignment can create internal frictionEmployees stay engaged when they feel their work has real impactStorytelling helps teams connect to purpose and meaningEven experienced leaders deal with imposter syndromeStrong culture creates momentum, not just complianceChapters00:03 Intro: What it means to evolve a workplace04:13 Rethinking mission, vision, and values05:14 Why simplicity in values matters07:33 The three core tools: mission, vision, values08:17 Embedding values into hiring and performance09:10 How to interview for alignment10:28 The role of HR in better hiring decisions15:58 Defining the ideal member and growth focus18:05 Looking beyond credit scores: human-centered decisions20:26 Growth challenges and team development26:19 Imposter syndrome among leaders31:25 Purpose, storytelling, and employee motivationConnect With Host Carol SchultzFind more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, YouTube, 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!