Velveth Schmitz - How did you become a leader? (CEO, Mayor, Commissioner)

Check out our Video Podcast!https://youtu.be/hNUAJe7e86YMy "Adventurous" PathWhat do cleaning toilets, turning down investment banking, founding a stationery company, and becoming mayor have in common? For Velveth Schmitz, they're all stepping stones on her adventurous career path.Growing up as the child of a single mother who escaped domestic violence, Velveth developed problem-solving skills and responsibility at an early age. These early challenges became the foundation for her extraordinary career journey. "What happens with children who have interesting circumstances is that you learn to think about a chessboard, not just the present moment," she explains. This ability to anticipate several moves ahead has served her throughout her professional life.One of Velveth's most defining moments came during her senior year at Berkeley when she walked out of a final-round investment banking interview after realizing the lifestyle wouldn't align with her values. This bold decision—virtually unheard of in banking recruitment—led her to a management training program that better matched her desire to explore different areas. From there, her path took unexpected turns through financial services, entrepreneurship with her stationery company The Hen and The Bird, venture capital at Invent Ventures, and ultimately to her current role as CEO of Hire Better.Alongside her corporate career, Velveth pursued public service, progressing from volunteer committee member to mayor of Rolling Hills Estates. Throughout these diverse experiences, she's maintained a people-centered leadership philosophy: "I've always seen being a CEO as the person who's the most serving and bringing everyone together." This perspective, combined with her willingness to learn new skills and embrace challenges, has enabled her to thrive across vastly different sectors.Ready to create your own adventurous career path? Listen now to discover how trusting your gut, embracing diverse experiences, and leading with an abundance mindset can help you build a meaningful professional journey—one thoughtful yes at a time.Feel free to leave comments here!Support the show