Karla Verdi
Karla Verdi is the dynamic CEO and Founder of Elevating‑Leaders, a leadership development firm committed to transforming individuals and organizations through strategic coaching and impactful training. With over 25 years of experience, Karla specializes in guiding executives, mid-level managers, and emerging leaders toward enhanced performance, emotional intelligence, and organizational influence. Her approach is rooted in real-world experience, adult learning theory, and a deep understanding of leadership psychology, allowing her to design programs that are not only practical but transformative.
Before founding Elevating‑Leaders, Karla held key leadership roles at several organizations, including serving as Vice President of Learning & Development at PuzzleHR and Director of Training at Calero‑MDSL. In these roles, she created high-impact leadership curricula, designed custom 360-degree feedback tools, and developed onboarding and upskilling programs that dramatically improved team engagement and client outcomes. Her career began with over two decades at Paychex, where she led national training initiatives and helped shape the company’s leadership competency models.
Karla’s leadership philosophy is grounded in vulnerability, empathy, and trust. She believes that effective leadership starts from within and thrives in environments that prioritize authenticity and development. Through Elevating‑Leaders, she partners with organizations ready to invest in their people, offering tailored coaching and facilitation to cultivate high-performing teams and enduring leadership capabilities. Her mission is to help leaders rise with purpose—and empower others to do the same.
• Crucial Conversations
• Situational Leadership II
• MBTI
• Corning Community College
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having a clear vision: helping elevate others and empowering them to reach their full potential. Guiding people to grow into confident, capable leaders has always been at the heart of my work, and it’s what continues to inspire me every day.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—I’ve faced in my field is stepping out to start my own company after spending over 30 years helping other businesses grow and thrive. While it was a leap of faith, it was also an empowering decision. Building something of my own has allowed me to fully align my work with my values and vision, and to directly impact the leaders and organizations I care most about.