A problem-solver by nature, Schultz always gravitated toward math and science. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics, she found herself pondering several job opportunities in her field. One problem, none of them sounded particularly exciting. Then, Arthur Andersen put a letter in her mailbox asking her to interview for their consulting division. Problem solved.

“I decided to get into consulting over 29 years ago because of the client interaction and the ability to help companies be successful in executing their strategies,” she said.

Schultz has stayed for nearly three decades because she finds the field as fascinating today as she did in the beginning. “As a consultant, you get to continually problem solve to help invoke needed business change,” she noted. Schultz also finds resolving complex issues speaks to her naturally curious disposition. “I am a high learner, and consulting projects provide a wonderful outlet to continue to learn and grow as a professional while helping to serve our clients and grow our people.”

Schultz, who serves as the market lead for the Nashville office of North Highland, noted healthcare is one of the company’s key areas of focus. “The healthcare industry has many challenges but many incredible opportunities,” Schultz pointed out. “I have had the pleasure of working in many industries throughout my career. It is rewarding to be able to be innovative and take ideas and thoughts from other industries and implement them in healthcare.”

Keeping up with the rapid changes and ongoing transformation in healthcare and other industries, however, presents new hurdles to overcome.

“The most challenging part of consulting is continuing to stay relevant and stay several steps ahead of our clients so we can continue to bring new ideas and value in solving their business challenges,” Schultz explained. “Technology and the solutions it brings are changing faster and faster every day. As consultants, we have to stay with the pace of change.”

Outside of her work – which has recently involved executive oversight of several large-scale ICD-10 and Meaningful Use implementation projects and now includes analyzing the resulting data – Schultz finds herself racing to keep pace with her active family.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Schultz headed south for college. “I came to Vanderbilt in ’82 and never left. I met my husband, Walter Schultz, while at Vanderbilt,” she explained, adding they are now parents to two busy, happy teenage sons. “We are enjoying the journey of parenthood and watching them become outstanding young men and scholar athletes,” she noted.

Chandler, 17, is a junior and Garrett, 15, a freshman at Ensworth High School. Both are outstanding baseball players and are fielding offers to play in college. “We’ve been all over the country playing ball, but it’s fun,” Schultz said. With the boys’ busy ball schedules, her husband left the corporate world several years ago and now teaches and coaches at Ensworth. “I cover the home field, and then he travels all over,” she explained.

Travel, in general, is important to the family. The foursome loves to explore other countries and cultures. And not to be outdone by her sons, Schultz also likes to get out and hit, albeit with a racquet instead of a bat. “Tennis is my therapy,” she said with a laugh.

Whether watching her children grow into young men, facilitating transformation for clients, or mentoring the next wave of leaders for her company, Schultz knows that change is not only inevitable but also important and exciting. “Embrace the change and be part of it,” she counseled.

As for Nashville’s largest industry, she said, “There is a lot of opportunity to improve healthcare in the world. Be a part of it. Be bold and think creatively. Be innovative and think outside the box. Bring best practices from other industries to make healthcare what it needs to be to provide the best care possible with the best processes to support it.”

Schultz added, “Healthcare is at the heart of our everyday life. We still have a lot of work left to do in shaping and changing the face of healthcare for the better. I look forward to continuing that journey.”