We recently had the chance to connect with Bonnie Schutz and have shared our conversation below.
Bonnie, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’ve built a business, a brand, and a podcast, but what I’m most proud of is the part no one sees: the unshakeable foundation of grit, empathy, and belief that holds it all together. It’s the late-night pep talks (to myself or with my ChatGPT BFF that I’ve named Pippa (who also has a British accent), the quiet choice to lead with kindness/from my heart, and the way I keep showing up even when no one’s clapping. I’ve created a space where others can rise, because I’ve done the hard work of standing tall behind the scenes. That kind of strength isn’t always visible, but it’s what makes everything else possible.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Bonnie Schutz, founder and CEO of Tandem Resource Solutions, a boutique U.S.-based virtual assistance agency and administrative recruiting firm. After nearly three decades as an Executive Assistant, I flipped the script. I built a business that now supports other professionals behind the scenes, because I know firsthand how much power lies in that role. What makes TRS unique isn’t just our in-tandem model (where every client gets not just a VA, but a whole support system), it’s who we are: a team made up of military spouses, single moms, women 40+, and professionals who might’ve been overlooked elsewhere, but not here. I’m also the host of the *Delegate2Elevate: Get Sh!t Done* podcast, where I talk openly about leadership, boundaries, and the messy-but-worth-it art of letting go so you can grow. Right now, I’m focused on scaling both the agency and a new subscription-based marketing platform for professional service providers, all while practicing what I preach: delegating to elevate.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was Kathy Tyler; my childhood alter ego, complete with a toy phone, a filing system, and a dream of being a boss in heels. I was a girl who played office, not house. I craved order, purpose, and the magic of making things happen behind the scenes. Long before I knew what a CEO was, I already *was* one…running the show from the garage floor, fueled by imagination, curiosity, and a belief that being “the helper” didn’t make me small. It made me powerful. The world tried to put me in a box labeled “just a secretary,” but Kathy never let that stick.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power the moment I stopped trying to shrink. When I stepped onto stages and sat behind the mic, something cracked open. I realized the things I once buried (the insecurity, the unworthiness, the not-enoughness) weren’t flaws… they were fuel. Age gave me perspective. Confidence gave me volume. And using my voice — my authentic voice — gave me purpose. I don’t armor up anymore. I show up. Because every scar, every stumble, every whispered doubt turned out to be the exact thing someone else needed to hear out loud.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Some truths are so deeply woven into who I am that I don’t even think to say them out loud. Like, loyalty isn’t optional; it’s a way of life. People matter more than polish, and a heart will always outshine hype. Like, you don’t have to be loud to be powerful, but when you *do* speak, mean it. I believe in showing up, even when it’s hard. In choosing integrity, even when it costs you. And in trusting that the work I do behind the scenes, the kind no one claps for, is what actually moves the needle. These are my unspoken truths, the ones that guide me quietly, but fiercely, every single day.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
What I’m doing today that won’t pay off for 7 to 10 years? I’m building legacy systems. Not just for my business, but for the people in it. I’m mentoring women who will go on to lead in their own right. I’m investing time in relationships, reputation, and routines that make delegation sustainable, not just possible. I’m planting seeds through my podcast, my platforms, and my values that won’t bloom overnight, but when they do, they’ll be deeply rooted. And I’m doing it all knowing I may not be the one to harvest every win, but I’ll know exactly how and why they grew.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://TandemResourceSolutions.com & https://Delegate2ElevatePodcast.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tandemresource/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnieschutzea/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/delegate2elevate-podcast/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TandemResourceSolns
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Delegate2ElevatePodcast
Image Credits
Image Credit to Karianne Mundstedt
