What would you tell yourself on day one as a manager?

In this episode, Kamaria sits down with Kaitlyn Rios — a Doctor of Physical Therapy, certified wound specialist, and VP of Clinical Business Development — who has climbed from her first supervisory role all the way to leading national teams across startups, corporations, and privately held organizations.

Kaitlyn gets candid about what no one told her stepping into leadership, starting with a revelation that still makes her laugh: she didn't realize her new role actually meant leading people. From there, the conversation gets real about the four jobs every manager is actually doing at once, the burnout that comes when people leadership becomes an afterthought, and why protecting your calendar isn't just a time management tip — it's a survival strategy.

Kamaria and Kaitlyn also dig into the support systems that hold good managers together, why trust is the foundation of any meaningful leadership relationship, and what it looks and feels like to create a team culture where people truly feel safe to take risks and grow.

Whether you're brand new to management or a seasoned leader, this one is a candid trip down memory lane with hard-won lessons you can use today.

Show Notes: Connect with Kaitlyn Rios on LinkedIn | Connect with Kamaria Scott on LinkedIn | managermomentum.com

What does it mean to be a manager when you’re the only one in your business?

In this episode of Manager to Manager, host Kamaria Scott sits down with Lauren Gibson, Founder of Letters Launched and writer of the Connections newsletter, to explore what happens when creative entrepreneurs become people leaders for the first time.

Lauren shares the real lessons she’s learned from hiring — and letting go of — virtual assistants, balancing delegation with direction, and discovering that being “the first manager” is as much about mindset as it is about skill. Together, she and Kamaria unpack how the fundamentals of leadership apply just as powerfully to solopreneurs as to corporate managers.

This conversation explores how entrepreneurs can:

• Shift from doing the work to leading the work when building their first team

• Hire for outcomes, not hours — and design fair, value-based relationships with contractors

• Create structure through simple routines, one-on-ones, and clear expectations

• Recognize when to seek an “architect,” not a “carpenter,” to bring their vision to life

• Build sustainable momentum by managing people, not just processes

Lauren reminds us that growth doesn’t just come from scaling revenue — it comes from learning to lead well.

Whether you’re a founder hiring your first assistant, a creative building a small team, or a manager rethinking what leadership looks like in the new world of work, this episode offers relatable, real-world insights to help you manage with clarity and care.

Show Notes: Connect with Lauren Gibson on LinkedIn | Subscribe to her newsletter Connections Connect with Kamaria Scott on LinkedIn | managermomentum.com

What if the most powerful thing a manager can do isn’t setting goals or tracking metrics, but simply caring about the people behind the work?

In this episode of Manager to Manager, host Kamaria Scott sits down with Zachary Wright, founder of Grapevine and longtime strategy and operations leader, to explore how human-centered leadership transforms performance and culture. Zachary shares his journey from being micromanaged early in his career to discovering his own leadership style—one that prioritizes treating people as people, not cogs in a system.

Through personal stories of helping underperformers become top contributors, navigating the challenges of being a first-time founder, and leading teams through uncertainty, Zachary demonstrates why relationships and results are inseparable in effective management.

This conversation explores how managers can:

• Unlock performance by aligning employees’ personal goals with organizational objectives

• Build trust and influence through genuine curiosity and consistent one-on-ones

• Set the tone as a founder or leader, recognizing that every action ripples across the team

• Distinguish between positional power and true leadership rooted in respect and care

• Use technology, including AI, to support managers rather than replace them

Zachary reminds us that leadership is more than positional authority—it’s the daily choice to balance optimism with realism, influence with empathy, and results with relationships.

Whether you’re leading inside a startup, managing contractors across time zones, or working to redefine your own leadership style, this episode offers practical and inspiring insights to help you lead with greater clarity and care.

Show Notes:

Follow Zachary Wright on LinkedIn and explore Grapevine at grapevinesoftware.io Follow Kamaria Scott on LinkedIn | managermomentum.com