Leader Name: Scott Schmidt
Job Title: Director of Talent Development
Company: Quasius Construction quasius.com
Favorite Restaurant: Field to Fork, Sheboygan
Favorite Sports Team: Green Bay Packers
Favorite Hobby: Writing, recording and performing music

1. What makes a great leader?
Great leaders prioritize the success and wellbeing of their people, recognizing that healthy, engaged teams drive success. Great leaders communicate clearly, are quick to welcome diverse perspectives, and create environments where individuals feel inspired, valued, and empowered to contribute their best work.

2. How does emotional intelligence help you lead and connect with yourself and others?
When people see that you truly care about their wellbeing and success, and that you’re not just in it for yourself, it enables them to buy into team initiatives at a much deeper level and even more gives them the opportunity to personalize their resolve towards those initiatives. Relying on emotional intelligence has enabled me to build stronger connections, both professionally and personally, especially in situations in which the relationship hasn’t grown organically. By considering others' perspectives and emotions, and adapting my communication style to suit the situation, I can foster understanding, facilitate positive paths and outcomes more effectively, and make more informed decisions. The result is building and maintaining the kind of relationships that can lead to successful ventures.

3. What is the most important thing you value in workplace culture and why?

For me it’s two things:

Empathy. When employees feel understood and valued, they are much more likely to be (and to stay) engaged in their work, and much more likely to want to stick with a company long-term.
Open and timely communication builds trust and efficiency. When teams share information promptly and transparently, problems surface early and solutions emerge faster, reducing costs and preventing minor issues from becoming major obstacles.