You've Got People Problems
Let’s be honest. People problems aren’t just HR problems. They’re business problems.
They show up as missed goals, unclear accountability, hiring mistakes, disengaged teams, and leaders carrying more than they should. Over time, they slow growth, create frustration, and make running a business feel harder than it needs to be. And they aren’t solved by another policy, personality test, or quick fix.
Business would be simple… if it weren’t for people.
That’s the reality behind You’ve Got People Problems, a podcast focused on the human side of running a business. Each episode explores how leadership behavior, hiring decisions, role clarity, engagement, and organizational structure directly impact performance, culture, and results.
Through honest conversations with business owners, operators, HR leaders, EOS Implementers, and consultants, the show tackles real issues leaders face every day: why the “right hire” still isn’t working, how teams outgrow roles, when full-time isn’t the answer, why accountability breaks down, and what actually drives engagement beyond perks and pay.
This isn’t about HR checking a box or leadership theory. It’s about helping leaders slow down, recognize patterns earlier, and make more intentional people decisions that support both the business and the people inside it.
If you’re leading a team, building an organization, or trying to get out of the day-to-day firefighting that comes with people problems, this podcast is for you.
Subscribe, listen, and start making sense of the people side of your business.
Episodes
44 episodes
The Hierarchy of Finance Needs and How People Fit into that Framework | Ep 44 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz sits down with John Marshall of Series Next Solutions to unpack why so many leaders struggle to feel confident in their numbers and what is actually missing behind the scenes.
Who Challenges the CEO? | Ep 43 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, host Mel Ortiz is joined by longtime Vistage Chair Gary Schulz for a deep dive into one of the most important and overlooked dynamics in business leadership: Who really challenges the CEO, and how ...
Elevated Brands & Experiences Through Intentional Cultures | Ep 42 | You've Got People Problems
Host Mel Ortiz welcomes Shane Greene of SGE International for a deep-dive into elevating brands by building intentional workplace cultures that drive extraordinary customer and employee experiences. Drawing from decades in hospitality, includin...
Cutting Taxes, Growing Talent: Turning Financial Strategy into People Power | Ep 41 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, host Mel Ortiz welcomes long-time friend and fractional CFO Joshua Britt to pull back the curtain on awkward financial conversations every small business owner and leader should be having—but rarel...
The Role of the Resistor | Ep 40 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, host Mel Ortiz welcomes EOS Implementer Wendy Waldron to explore the real value of “resistors” in organizations, those team members who push back against change, new systems, or leadership. Instead...
The Hidden Cost of Underutilized Strengths at Work | Ep 39 | You've Got People Problems
What is it actually costing your business when strengths go unnoticed?In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Brandon Miller to unpack the hidden cost of underutilized strengths inside organizations. ...
Building an Award Winning Culture in a Remote Environment | Ep 38 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Amber Bardon, founder and CEO of Parasol Alliance, to discuss what it really takes to build a strong company culture in a remote environment.Remote work is now a...
Navigating the Layoff Landscape | Ep 37 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz is joined by author and speaker Steve Jaffe to explore layoffs from a perspective that is rarely discussed openly: the human experience after a job loss and the responsibility le...
Businesses and Life: A Constant Rebalancing Act | Ep 36 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz is joined by leadership advisor and author Carol Enneking for a candid conversation about the constant rebalancing act required in both business and life.Drawing from Caro...
Inserting AI Into the Org Chart | Ep 35 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz is joined by organizational leader Amy Perenon to explore how artificial intelligence is already changing leadership, management, and organizational decision-making.Rather...
Do we Need a Partner or a Person? The FT/PT/Fractional Debate | Ep 34 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz is joined by organizational consultant Michelle Scribner to explore one of the most common, and costly, leadership questions: when to hire full-time, when to go part-time, and wh...
Executive Functioning in the Workplace | Ep 33 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz talks with Sarah Seitz and Kate Mathalone from The Enrichery, an organization dedicated to helping students discover how they learn, grow, and thrive—bot...
Clarity & Accountability: A Recipe for Success at Marco Technologies | Ep 32 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Dustin Bonn, VP of Operations at Marco Technologies, to talk about the power of clarity and accountability in leadership.With more than a decade ...
One Great Tool for Protecting Retention & Building Loyalty | Ep 31 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Jenna Dillon, CEO of Visionology Coaching, to talk about self-awareness, blind spots, and how leaders can unlock the potential of their teams. As an executive ...
When Companies and People Don’t Grow Together | Ep 30 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz welcomes Katie McConnell-Olson, Founder of GrowthWise Search Partners, to talk about what it really means to have the right recruiting partner.K...
Beyond the Office: Kotman's First Remote Hire Journey | Ep 29 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Luke Ross, CEO of Kotman Technologies, to talk about the evolution from an office-first culture to a hybrid and remote model.Luke shares h...
Outside Eyes & Quick Impact | Ep 28 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Mike Drolet of Six Degrees to talk about what it takes to step into a new organization and quickly chart a path forward.With nearly two decades of experience le...
Beat Burnout & Prime Productivity | Ep 27 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with David Satterwhite to talk about one of the most pressing leadership challenges today: how to beat burnout and prime productivity. With over 35 years in tech—including t...
Square Pegs, Round Holes | Ep 26 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Jennifer Guidry, founder and CEO of Solomon Advising, to talk about what it really takes to build well-rounded teams—and why forcing square pegs into round holes only h...
BEWARE Interview Bias | Ep 25 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Philip Samuel Raj, founder and CEO of TechJs, to talk about the intersection of AI, culture, and leadership. With a mission to help every individual and business transf...
People Problems or System Problems: Why We Tend to Blame the Wrong One | Ep 24 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Octavia “Tav” Treadway, founder and Chief Greatness Officer of You’re Carrying Something Great, to explore why leaders so often mistake system problems for people probl...
Engaging Employees in the Trades | Ep 23 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Mary Akioka to talk about how leaders can better engage and retain the skilled trades workforce. These are the “industrial athletes” who build our communities, often in...
Why We Shouldn’t Care So Much About Degrees & Qualifications | Ep 22 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa sits down with Ajay Malik—founder of StudioX and former leader at Google and Cisco—to explore why degrees and formal qualifications shouldn’t be the gatekeepers for great talent. A...
Who Not How | Ep 21 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz talks with Lauren Fisher, Senior HR Business Partner at Tru HR Solutions, about the game-changing leadership concept Who, Not How. They explore why shifting your foc...
Laying the Groundwork for Recruitment, Selection, & Onboarding | Ep 20 | You've Got People Problems
In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa sits down with William Uranga to dig into the real-world talent acquisition challenges that growth-focused companies face. From the very first candidate interaction to the first days on the...