Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amy Schons. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Amy, thanks for joining us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

We are about challenging the status quo in leadership, traditional models aren’t going to sustain the pace moving ahead.
One of the things I love most about working with small to med size business owners and leaders is their ability to challenge the status quo. In my work, I intentionally depart from traditional leadership development approaches in a few key ways:

From Theoretical to Practical – Many corporate leadership programs focus on frameworks and theories, but I emphasize real-world, immediately applicable strategies that leaders can actually use and that will stick. My coaching isn’t about checking a box; it’s about creating tangible results, whether that’s retaining top talent, making time for strategic growth, or finally stepping out of the daily grind to scale a business.

Modern Wellbeing & Performance Over Hustle Culture – Many leadership programs still operate on outdated productivity models that glorify “grinding” and overworking. I help leaders create sustainable success by prioritizing energy, well-being, and intentional leadership so they can grow their business and enjoy their life.

Bridging Generations & Future-Proofing Leadership – Many industries struggle with attracting and retaining top talent because they fail to adapt to new leadership expectations. I actively work with leaders to bridge generational gaps, modernize their leadership approach, and create cultures where people want to stay and grow.

Why This Matters

One day, we were running a thriving business. The next, everything was shut down. Overnight, the world changed, and with it, every assumption we had about business, leadership, and what truly matters.

During COVID, I watched as industries collapsed, entire teams were furloughed, and leaders scrambled to make sense of a world that no longer played by the rules we knew. My own business was no exception. What had taken years to build was suddenly put on pause indefinitely. It was a gut-punch moment, but also a defining one.

We had two choices: wait and hope for things to return to normal, or embrace a new way of thinking. I chose the latter.

In the face of uncertainty, I saw one thing clearly: the leadership strategies of the past would no longer carry us forward. We had to reimagine everything, how we worked, how we led, and how we engaged talent in a world that had fundamentally shifted.

New ways of thinking weren’t optional; they were necessary. We couldn’t lead by old playbooks. Agility, innovation, and well-being had to become priorities. Talent would never see work the same way again. Employees were no longer willing to sacrifice everything for a paycheck. They wanted meaning, flexibility, and leadership that actually cared.
Purpose would become the cornerstone of success. Companies that didn’t adapt, who failed to give people a real reason to be invested, would struggle to attract and keep the best talent.

The Shift That Changed Everything
I refuse to believe that leaders can’t build thriving businesses and have lives they love. That we can’t create environments where people are truly engaged and successful. That we have to choose between personal well-being and professional impact.

The leaders I work with are redefining success—shifting from reactive, burned-out leadership to modern, sustainable approaches that drive results, and create meaningful impact. They navigate uncertainty with clarity because they have the right frame of mind, strategies, and support to handle anything that comes their way.

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that waiting for stability isn’t an option. We have to create it for ourselves.

And that starts with modern leadership.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

With 25+ years of experience of leading teams, fostering client relationships, and building innovative business models, I’ve been in the board room and seen firsthand what it takes for businesses and leaders to not just survive, but truly thrive.

As a Certified Integrative Health Coach and Certified High-Performance Coach as well, I’m passionate about redefining leadership—bridging innovation, well-being, and real-world strategies to create sustainable success for both organizations and individuals. I’ve spent my career challenging outdated leadership norms all with one goal in mind: helping leaders and business owners create success that doesn’t come at the cost of their well-being, energy, or vision.

When the business I helped build shut down overnight during COVID, I had a front-row seat to the unraveling of traditional leadership models. What worked in the past wasn’t going to work in the future. It was clear that leadership needed a new approach, one that was more agile, more intentional, and more aligned with how people want to work and live today.

That’s when I knew it was time to step out on my own and help other leaders and business owners navigate change, build strong teams, and scale their businesses, without burnout.

What I Do
I specialize in Modern Leadership & 1:1 Business Coaching (I like to say Business Success Partner, like your trusted advisor, coach, consultant, personal board member all rolled into one), helping business owners, executives, and teams:

– Lead in a way that actually works today – Ditching outdated leadership styles and building cultures that attract and retain top talent.
-Build sustainable success – Learning how to step out of the daily grind and focus on growth, innovation, and long-term strategy.
-Develop teams that thrive – Making leadership less frustrating by mastering influence, delegation, and alignment.
-Find more time, energy, and clarity – Eliminating the constant overwhelm that keeps leaders from doing their best work and living a life they love.

I work with small-med size business owners, corporate leaders, and teams through:
🔹 1:1 Coaching – Personalized strategies to help you grow, lead, and scale with confidence.
🔹 Team & Leadership Training – Developing the leadership muscle of your team to create lasting impact through our 3 pillars.
🔹 The Collective – A membership community for leaders who want real support, not just theory. Soon to launch
🔹 Speaking & Workshops – Helping organizations future-proof their leadership and culture.

What Sets Me Apart
Most leadership development programs focus on what worked in the past, I focus on what works now and what’s coming next. I’m not here to hand you another framework that will sit on a shelf. I’m here to help you implement real, actionable strategies that create results. I am no-nonsense, walk the talk and am extremely present with those I am working with.

I’ve led teams from 1 to 500+, so I know what it’s like to be in the trenches.
I’ve helped rebuild businesses after industry-shaking events, so I understand the pressure of leading through change.
I’ve invested in my own coaching, mindset, and leadership growth, because I believe leaders can’t pour from an empty cup.
I am also an avid gardener, love to grow my own food and cut flowers, my husband and I live on 10 acres. I wouldn’t have rediscovered my own love of hobbies and stepping off the hamster wheel had I not gotten my own coaches several years ago. I know what it is like to be on that wheel and know what it is like to step off it too. Plus I am a dog-mom, obsessed!

I’m proud of the leaders I’ve helped transform, leaders who once felt stuck or overwhelmed, and now have clarity, confidence, and they are out there inspiring others, building mission-driven business, making a bigger impact with joy.

I’m proud of building a company that helps leaders lead without it sucking:), grow without leaving life’s important moments behind, and finally step into their full potential.

Because the future of leadership is here. And it’s

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The Lesson I Had to Unlearn: Social Media

For most of my career, I never thought I needed social media. I had built a successful career, led teams, and thrived in a business where relationships were built in person. My plan was to stay at the company I was with for many more years—until COVID changed everything. I almost acted proud of it, watched as others were so distracted and tried to model the way for being present. It made me a great leader because I was fully engaged, attentive and listened.

Suddenly, the landscape shifted and I decided to pivot to my new business. I realized, oh no, now I need to be on social media. I had to be where the people I could help were at. That meant social media. I started with just about zero. I had a couple hundred on LinkedIn so that is where I have focused mostly.

The problem was I had every excuse in the book for why I didn’t want to get out there:
“I don’t have time.”
“I don’t want to put myself out there and have it suck me in or be a distraction.”
“What will my former colleagues and team think?”

But I quickly realized staying invisible wasn’t an option.

The hardest part was getting over myself.
The first few months were brutal. I cringed every time I posted. I worried about judgment, overanalyzed every word, and imagined my past colleagues whispering, “Oh, now she’s all about social media?”

But then I had a shift—I stopped making it about me.

I reminded myself:
🔹 I’m here to help people, not impress them.
🔹 The people who need me won’t find me if I stay silent.
🔹 Every post is an opportunity to serve, not to be perfect.

What I’ve Learned
-Social media isn’t just necessary, it’s powerful. The right people will connect with you when you show up consistently and authentically.
-The fear of judgment fades when you focus on who you’re helping instead of who’s watching.
-It’s not about going viral. It’s about making an impact, one real connection at a time.

I still spend too much time on posts sometimes because I want to do good out here. But if you had told me years ago that I’d be using social media to build a business, connect with incredible people, and create impact at scale, I would have laughed.

I was wrong.
And I’m so glad I was.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In early 2020, I was on vacation when the news hit: We had to furlough over 400 team members on my team.

Just days before, we had been on a massive growth trajectory. Everything was moving fast, and the future looked bright. Then, overnight, it all stopped. We told ourselves it would be two weeks. Then four. We all know how that went.

What followed was three years of relentless rebuilding. Many thought we’d never be able to bring the business back. There were moments when it felt impossible, when the weight of leading through uncertainty was almost too much. But step by step, we did it. So many twists and turns, working to keep clients stable in our food business and keep our team together.

And just as the business was coming back in 2023, I faced another unimaginable challenge- losing my dad and my brother just four months apart.

Those years tested everything I thought I knew about resilience, leadership, and purpose. But I know now that every challenge, every setback, was pushing me out of my comfort zone and preparing me for something bigger.

I do this every day in honor of my family, my team, and every leader out there who feels like they have to sacrifice everything just to keep going.

I want leaders and families to thrive. To stop giving up so much. To build businesses that work for them, not against them. To create impact without burning out.

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t just about what you build, it’s about who you become in the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.modwellship.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy.schons/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-schons/