Proven Digital Marketing & Technology Executive


Durham NC’s Response to Violence in Charlottesville, VA
Photo by Adam Schultz

Adam Schultz

919-451-8983
durmadam@gmail.com

I’m a serial impact entrepreneur who never met an important problem I didn’t want to solve. That’s doubly true as we navigate this dark timeline. I can build from scratch or scale something that’s already working. My work tends to live at the intersection of digital engagement (marketing & product), education, behavior change and social justice. I’m a visionary, an iconoclast, a servant, a coach, and an architect, but at the end of the day, I just want to be a really useful engine and leave this world and the people in it better off than when I got here.

Things that I know are true:

  • What got you here isn’t going to get you there.

  • We will achieve more together than we can on our own.

  • Power should liberate, never control.

  • Innovation comes from all levels and directions.

  • Profit is useful, but people are vital.

  • Change requires risk and failure is a necessity.

  • Nothing is sacred.

I am an agent of change, but my approach is always the same:

  • Scope the challenge, define goals, and craft an actionable plan.

  • Assemble the necessary team and acquire the resources we will need to embark on our journey.

  • Pursue discovery, derive insights, and develop hypotheses.

  • Run tests to solve problems and deliver tangible value.

  • Continuously adapt plans, and resources to to overcome obstacles and learn from failure.

  • Check in regularly to ensure the well-being and productivity of our team.

  • Invest time and effort into systems early, enabling scalability and allowing others to follow with greater ease.

While seemingly uncomplicated, this approach requires discipline and will consistently drive transformative change. Over the past 20 years I’ve applied it again and again to great success. If you have a problem that needs solving, a market that needs disrupting or a vision that needs realizing, I’d love to join you in making a positive impact here in Durham, The Triangle and beyond.

Let’s work on something cool together.

What people say about working with me.

  • "Adam is highly qualified and fun to work with. One of Adam's greatest strengths is that he goes the extra mile and works to ensure that projects are brought in on time, within budget and to the satisfaction of everyone involved. Adam's incredible listening and communication skills have helped us work through challenging situations with key stakeholders and leaders on multiple occasions."

    Kay Zimmerman, Assistant to Vice Provost at NCSU and a client of Verified Studios for 12 Years

  • "For an executive, speed is the distance between asking the right questions and launching into the right execution. This underlies the value that Adam brings to an organization. He has an uncanny ability to intuitively pinpoint the "right" questions that expose the underlying assumptions that form the core of your strategy. His skill in identifying and clarifying those assumptions enables him to translate strategy into artful execution quickly and effectively."

    Doug Speight, CEO Triad Growth Partners, I was a Board Advisor for Annex Tech Partners for 3 years when he was the CEO.

  • "Adam is the very definition of a collaborative visionary. He consistently brings strong leadership and innovative ideas, yet he understands when it's time to step back and allow others to lead. A standout quality is his adeptness at building teams and constructing frameworks for new ventures. He displays an impressive understanding of the tasks, timelines, people and processes needed to execute a vision."

    Christine Westfall, Business Partner in Affordable Durham for 5 Years

  • "Adam's leadership style is akin to that of a coach and player. He recognizes and embraces your strengths, allowing you to excel in your areas of expertise. At the same time, he steps in with guidance and leadership when necessary. This dynamic approach creates a supportive environment where you can thrive while receiving valuable direction from Adam. With him by your side, you feel empowered to do your best work while knowing you have a trusted mentor to turn to."

    Malic Vann, 8 years working together as a contractor, employee and now business partner. We also worked together 20 years ago at the same marketing agency.

  • "Adam thrives in entrepreneurial environments, he enjoys learning and embraces new challenges. He brings fresh energy and creativity to ideation, strategy, and aligned execution. He communicates with high transparency, operates with high integrity and delivers a high say/do ratio. He seeks mission alignment as an important driver of his energy and passion."

    Steve Monti, Solidarity Capital Advisors is a partner with Affordable Durham in Woven on Liberty for 4 years

  • "Anyone who works with Adam comes away with an unforgettable impression of his passion, generosity, and creativity. Adam also has an affinity for building relationships. He demonstrates his expertise and builds a level of trust with his clients and coworkers to where they come to him for advice and inspiration. No matter what problem you are trying to solve creatively or what solution you are trying to build from scratch, you want Adam on your team."

    Giia Lombardo, Employee for 5 years

What people love about being led by me.

  • "Working with Adam has been life changing. Unlike a lot of coaches/mentors I have had in the past, he had real world experiences that applied to me. He listened to me a lot and did not center himself, during coaching sessions. I have been able to shift personally and professionally in my career and business with sound advice from him. After years of trying to find a business mentor, I finally felt not only seen, but heard and understood."

    Maya Jackson, Founder MAAME and mentee through Echo-NC for 2 years.

  • "Adam is a natural leader. He is unafraid to take risks and lead by personal example through both challenges and victories. He’s assertive and confident, yet open to criticism and alternate viewpoints. He has an eye on the future, but is willing to do what it takes today to get the job done. He’s known for building strong relationships within members of his teams and bringing the best out of each of them. He's loyal, hardworking, and kind. He's willing to say the hard things that need to be said, and is one of the most creative and inspiring people I've ever worked with."

    Rachel Mork, 10 years working together as an employee and now business partner.

  • "Adam is an exceptional leader who brings consistent enthusiasm to every project he works on. His ability to motivate and empower others is truly inspiring. Working with Adam has been a transformative experience for me. His guidance and encouragement helped me grow into a more confident marketer with a stronger belief in my abilities. His positive energy and unwavering support have been instrumental in my personal and professional growth."

    Shannon Wanna, Contractor for Verified Studios for 6 years

  • "Adam's positivity, knack for making complex problems seem simple, and well-balanced leadership style tend to foster a work environment that's both productive and supportive. He's fantastic at setting clear goals and expectations—striking that perfect balance between driving growth and nurturing team development while making sure no one feels overwhelmed or gets burned out."

    Mark Branly, 15 years working together as a contractor and now business partner

  • "Adam knows how to meet people where they are and widen their perspective to be more effective at whatever they are trying to do. His capacity to hone in on impactful details while asking the larger questions that matter is both impressive and educational. Adam saw my raw potential when I was just starting out and gave me the support and opportunity to grow into a confident professional who is now a global product owner at a fortune 500 company. The strategic concepts and tactics that Adam taught me are evergreen and have stayed with me for years after we worked together."

    Gia Lombardo, Employee for 5 years

  • "Adam is an incredible mentor. He has an encouraging nature and brings a unique perspective to every situation. His innate ability to help me see my challenges clearly allows me to meet them head-on and his unwavering belief in me makes it easier for me to believe in myself. His guidance and support have been instrumental in my personal and professional development. I could speak volumes about Adam's awesomeness, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow under his mentorship."

    Sa’Mecia Blount, Founder Sa’Mecia Blount Natural Hair Company and mentee through Echo-NC for 2 years.

  • "Adam leads with energy, intuition and an innate ability to analyze problems and envision multiple paths towards success. This creates an environment where most avenues are possible and doors are never fully closed without solid evidence. He manages through delegation, encouragement, and trust in his colleagues to push together towards shared goals. He takes care to know the people he works with "on the level" so he can meet each team member where they are."

    Mat Jordan, Employee for 6 years