Carrie Schroeder is the Principal, Lead Executive Coach, and Sales Strategist at Polaris Advisors, a consulting firm that helps organizations align strategy, culture, and operations to drive growth and successful transitions. With over 25 years of global experience in sales, business development, and M&A integration, she specializes in unlocking human potential and improving team performance. She is also a Co-founder and Partner at The B2B Builder, a women-led consulting firm focused on accelerating growth for purpose-driven organizations. Carrie is known for blending strategic insight with a strong focus on people, leadership, and sustainable business impact.

Matt Curts is the Principal and Lead Culture and Operations Strategist at Polaris Advisors. With over 25 years of experience across finance, leadership, and consulting, he specializes in culture diagnostics, leadership development, and operational planning. He is also a Co-founder at Switchback to Simple, where he helps organizations unlock team potential through culture-focused training and conversations. Matt is known for guiding leaders to align purpose with performance and create healthier, more resilient organizations.

Growth isn't just about strategy, systems, or scale — it's about people. Yet many leaders still treat culture as a "nice to have" instead of a core driver of performance and valuation. What if the real bottleneck in your business isn't the market, but how your people are aligned, developed, and empowered?

Carrie Schroeder and Matt Curts, seasoned operators and advisors, emphasize that people-powered growth is the foundation of sustainable scale and successful exits. They explain that businesses often suffer from an invisible "relational drag" caused by misalignment, lack of trust, and unclear communication. Carrie underscores the importance of psychological safety and self-awareness in teams, while Matt highlights the need for leadership evolution — from doing the work to developing others. Together, they show how addressing these human dynamics unlocks performance, builds resilience, and increases enterprise value. They also stress that founders must detach from day-to-day operations to create transferable, sellable businesses, reinforcing that culture and leadership are not soft skills but strategic assets.

In this episode of Proof Point, Stacie Porter Bilger is joined by Carrie Schroeder and Matt Curts, Principals at Polaris Advisors, to discuss how culture drives scale and exit readiness. They explore founder dependency risks, leadership development gaps, the hidden cost of disengaged teams, and how to build a transferable business. Carrie and Matt also give advice on preparing early for succession and navigating the evolving M&A landscape.

Tyler Beadlescomb is the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Content at Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E), a leading organization that manages the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, and other major live events across Indiana. Tyler oversees brand strategy, creative direction, and content innovation, guiding multi-platform marketing that strengthens fan engagement and drives organizational growth. Before joining PS&E, he held senior roles at TikTok, FOX Sports, and the Oakland Raiders, where he built high-impact digital campaigns and audience development programs. His career is defined by data-informed strategy, creative leadership, and consistent results.

A compelling story drives emotion, and emotion drives loyalty — especially in sports. But how do modern franchises turn everyday moments into powerful stories that captivate fans year-round while also using data to fuel smarter decision-making? And what happens when storytelling meets a rapidly expanding fan base?

Tyler Beadlescomb, a seasoned leader in sports marketing and content strategy, says the answer starts with putting fans at the center of everything. He explains that great storytelling comes from understanding what fans feel, need, and celebrate — then layering data on top to personalize those moments at scale. He highlights how blending creativity with analytics helps shape year-round engagement, from social content to in-arena experiences. This balanced approach not only deepens loyalty but also expands the footprint of the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever brands. Tyler shares real examples of how this philosophy drives consistency, sparks innovation, and connects diverse generations of fans.

In this episode of Proof Point, Stacie Porter Bilger sits down with Tyler Beadlescomb, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Content at Pacers Sports & Entertainment, to discuss how storytelling and data power the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever brands. They explore 365-day content strategy, the impact of player-driven narratives, and how fan behavior shapes creative decisions. Tyler also talks about the rise of global audiences and new opportunities in sports marketing.

Stacie Porter Bilger is the Founder and President of Proof Digital, a business growth-marketing agency that blends modern marketing tools with traditional sales funnel processes. She spent the first 20 years of her career working with businesses to strategize development and connect them to investors. Before founding Proof Digital, Stacie worked for several Chambers of Commerce and startups like the Indiana Venture Center. Her commitment to leveraging cutting-edge digital tactics has revolutionized business growth strategies, cementing her status as a digital marketing thought leader.

As AI transforms how we work, many business leaders still wonder where to begin. With the rapid acceleration of AI's capabilities, how can small and medium-sized businesses begin to implement it effectively without feeling overwhelmed? Is there a way to embrace it without sacrificing the personal touch that defines their brand?

Digital marketing expert Stacie Porter Bilger explains that businesses should approach AI with curiosity and start small, testing its capabilities on simple tasks first. She highlights the importance of integrating AI into existing systems, using it to streamline processes like project management and content creation. Stacie emphasizes that AI should enhance, not replace, human creativity, ultimately empowering teams to focus on what truly matters. By thoughtfully implementing AI into workflows, businesses can gain a competitive edge while maintaining a personal connection with their customers.

In this episode of Proof Point, Chad Franzen of Rise25 interviews Stacie Porter Bilger, the Founder and President of Proof Digital, about adopting AI to improve business efficiency. They dive into how businesses can take their first steps in AI adoption, how it can drive growth without losing human touch, and strategies for integrating AI into existing workflows. Stacie also shares tips on managing AI ethically and securely within your business.