In this episode of Carolina Business Leaders, we sit down with the powerhouse founders behind Management School LLC—Emily Watrous, Traci Newkirk, and India Martin—to unpack one of the biggest gaps in today’s workplace: the lack of training for new managers.

Too often, top performers are promoted into leadership roles with little to no guidance—left to figure it out on their own. Emily, Traci, and India saw this problem firsthand and decided to build a solution. Their program, Take the Lead, is designed to equip emerging managers with the real-world skills they need to lead confidently, communicate effectively, and build high-performing teams.

We dive into how they launched a business in record time, what makes their leadership program different, and why investing in managers is the fastest way to transform an organization. You’ll also hear powerful insights on mentorship, managing stress, and the mindset shifts required to become a great leader.

In this episode of Carolina Business Leaders, we sit down with the founders of Wilson Associates, a leading real estate firm in Greenville, South Carolina, to unpack what it really takes to build a high-performing, service-driven business.

From launching their firm with a people-first philosophy to navigating one of the fastest-growing real estate markets in the country, they share the strategies that helped them outperform larger competitors while maintaining a strong culture and community focus.

In this episode of Carolina Business Leaders, we sit down with Tristan Peterson, founder of MoveCrew, the upstate moving company redefining what great service looks like in an industry known for mixed reputations.

Tristan shares how he went from marrying his high-school sweetheart at 19, grinding through college on scholarship refund checks, and hustling with yard sales and side jobs to building one of the Upstate’s most trusted moving companies.

We dive into the early days of MoveCrew, leadership lessons from Chick-fil-A, building teams that can run major multi-state moves, and how Tristan created a business where others can achieve their dreams inside of his.