Carrie Wulf is a leading figure in operational excellence and strategic innovation. She is well known for her holistic approach to reducing waste and cutting redundancy, which aims to align tools and technology with internal operations and business goals. Carrie is the visionary and strategist behind Wulfden Professional Solutions, providing a guiding light for women entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of business operations without sacrificing their vision or values.
Carrie Wulf, Strategy Consultant and Operations Expert at Wulfden Professional Solutions
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life so we can get to know you better.
Hello, I’m Carrie Wulf, an Operations and Change Management Expert and founder of Wulfden Professional Solutions. Originally from Kansas, I have lived in many states while my husband was on active duty, and we have finally settled in Connecticut, although I am feeling an intense draw to head west.
Being a military spouse can be one of the most challenging jobs in the military. I had to navigate months and sometimes years as a geographical single parent of three. We moved every two to three years, and it was my job to coordinate all the moving parts required to relocate a family of five people, three pets, medical records, and special education plans across multiple states without losing anyone or anything in the process.
But I wouldn’t trade those hardships for anything and would do it again without hesitation. My brain thrives on the logistics, attention to detail, and organization required to make these drastic and sometimes last-minute changes.
What inspired you to start Wulfden Professional Solutions, and what sets your business apart from others in the industry?
As the spouse of a (now retired) active-duty service member, I made it my mission to volunteer as much as possible, no matter where we were stationed. I spent many years working with nonprofit groups as a civilian liaison, sat on a Board of Directors, and led a Family Readiness Group at the company level.
When my husband retired from active duty after 23 years of service, I found myself forcibly retired from countless hours of volunteer work. I suddenly had nowhere to be volunteering and no meetings to attend. I needed an outlet for my skills in digital data organization, logistics, and project management. I was going stir-crazy, struggling to find where I fit in among this strange new world of regular, everyday civilians. That’s when Wulfden Professional Solutions was born.
My unique background, built from my extensive collaboration with service members of various ranks, their spouses, and multiple organizations, positions my business as a leader in diversity and inclusion. My experiences gave me a deep understanding of multiple perspectives and showcased an ability to engage effectively with a diverse clientele and workforce. Such a skill set is invaluable in today's global market, where cultural competence and emotional intelligence are increasingly recognized as critical business assets.
I also excel at examining a project or launch from a mile-high perspective, visualizing all the moving parts, and identifying how they work together to create the bigger picture. Once I see all the moving pieces, I can break them down into the tasks that each team member or vertical will need to complete to deliver the project. Project management like this is one area where I will “nerd out” and dive into my Gantt charts and spreadsheets to track project progression. It’s like a giant game of Tetris to me, and I love it!
We asked Carrie why she created her business name with a play on words using her last name.
During our time at one of the installations where we were stationed, one of my husband’s soldiers referred to our home as ‘The Wulfden,’ and it stuck. From that point forward, no matter where we were stationed, it was always the Wulfden. I loved that play on words, so it was the most natural name when I created my business and brand.
Can you describe the range of services Wulfden Professional Solutions offers and the specific problems or challenges it addresses for your clients?
When clients come to me, they have hit a growth plateau or are so overwhelmed at trying to do everything in their business that they don’t have time to work on revenue-generating activities. They face decision fatigue, technology struggles, and bottlenecks they can’t identify. They are looking for a better work-life balance, brand recognition, operational efficiency, and sustainable scaling for their business. They might even be afraid of success and the additional responsibilities and visibility that accompany that success.
Our signature service is a SPARK Assessment that will help them find and rekindle the spark they are looking for—that mojo and excitement they had when they were creating and building their business—the drive that wakes them up in the morning and the excitement of possibility that wakes them up in the middle of the night.
What sets my approach apart is not just identifying what's wrong in their technology ecosystem but peeling back the layers to reveal the hidden waste and inefficiency. It's about understanding the why behind the what, looking beyond the symptoms to the systemic issues that need addressing. I apply lean principles, automation, and project management technology to deliver bottom-line results through people, process, and technology solutions. I do this through a solution tailored to the client’s business needs and goals in my three-phase Spark Assessment.
Systems Diagnosis: This first phase will lay a solid foundation for the entire program, ensuring that the strategies developed are deeply rooted in the client's actual business context and targeted toward addressing their specific challenges and objectives.
Prepare and Assess: The second phase is the program's core, where the deep dive occurs. It's where my expertise in dissecting complex systems and reassembling them into more efficient and effective processes comes to the forefront.
Assemble the Solution: Combining the analysis and strategy development into a cohesive implementation solution and preparing for potential risks and resistance allows clients to visualize the line from their challenges to visualizing the path forward.
Recommend and Report: For the third phase, we regroup and report our recommendations to streamline operations, align your technology with your business goals, and simplify your systems.
Kickstart the Change: The client takes the roadmap and implements the recommended changes. If the client wants to work with me to manage those changes and implementations, we have another conversation to assess whether I am the best fit.
How does Wulfden Professional Solutions approach client relationships and ensure their needs are met effectively?
My passion lies in empowering women-owned businesses to attain unprecedented growth by optimizing their operations and refining client experiences. I focus on pinpointing the elements that genuinely contribute value to their business and removing bottlenecks to ensure profit enhancement and, ultimately, the efficiency of their operations.
Each SPARK Assessment is tailor-made for the business owner. I don’t use a “cookie-cutter” approach; I meet the business owner where they are. I take great pride in developing a roadmap specific to their business model, process, and goals.
What is your core mission, vision, and values, and what inspired them?
At the core of the Wulfden ethos, I champion kindness and acceptance in every facet of the business. I want to see everyone thrive, which means I support and celebrate the diversity that makes people amazing humans.
My vision is a society created through our sphere of influence where people of all abilities and orientations feel comfortable in their skin and recognize that they belong in this world. My goal is to empower my client with the time and capacity to leverage their circle of influence to champion the causes that have the most meaningful impact on them.
This vision and mission are inspired by my children and the society where I want to see them thrive. Today's society has so much struggle and stigma over who or what you should be. My two older children struggle with mental health, and my youngest is on the Autism Spectrum. I have seen firsthand the struggle and unfair assumptions that they face. We need to do better. We need to be better. I want to use my circle of influence to accomplish that for them.
What successes or notable achievements has Wulfden Professional Solutions experienced since its inception?
I was honored to be featured as a subject matter expert on Standard Operating Procedures in a recent Forbes Featurette, highlighting the benefits an SOP playbook can provide your business. If you are considering your exit plan or are searching for ways to increase your business's value, implementing these standards and guidelines will position your company ahead of your competition.
I uncovered a nearly $96k annual revenue leak by developing and building a custom KPI dashboard for a client. The client was unaware she had a leak, let alone one of that magnitude. We were able to make a strategy pivot immediately and implement a better, more efficient workflow to plug the leak and begin recouping that lost revenue. This dashboard also identified the specific point in retention that the client was losing members of their program, providing another opportunity for a strategy pivot to increase retention.
I successfully planned and ran a three-day in-person conference that provided multiple speaker sessions for attendees. It took the team six months from the initial brainstorming phase through the execution of the event and the after-event evaluation. I developed a custom KPI dashboard to track everything from social media interactions to sales page and email conversions. Having an updated dashboard in real-time as we were in the marketing phase allowed us to see the moment conversions began to decline and make a strategy pivot to boost conversions back up. The business owner was able to close that conference with a close rate of 70% and revenue generation at over $300k as a result of my planning, strategy, and data tracking.
Tell us about your greatest achievement so far.
One of my greatest achievements was the honor of receiving the Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher for my exceptional dedication to supporting the service members and spouses in the Field Artillery Community. Being honored highly reflects a high degree of personal integrity and commitment and enhances my reputation beyond the military community. This award signals to clients that my business is led by someone who values service, leadership, and community support, setting it apart in an industry where trust and commitment to excellence are paramount.
I have also received the Commander's Award for Public Service, a distinguished honor that acknowledges exceptional dedication and support to service members and their spouses within the Military Community. This prestigious accolade is a testament to my unwavering commitment and significant contributions made toward enhancing the lives of those in the military sphere. Being recognized with such an award highlights a profound level of respect and gratitude from the military community and elevates my standing in the eyes of my clients, partners, and competitors.
These awards serve as a powerful differentiator for me, highlighting my solid foundation of integrity, community service, and leadership. They help position me as a socially responsible business owner who values and actively contributes to the welfare of those who serve our country.
How does Wulfden Professional Solutions prioritize contributing positively to the community?
We are deeply committed to making a meaningful impact in communities close to our heart. We proudly support the Wounded Warrior Foundation and K9s For Warriors, contributing monthly to assist wounded veterans and veterans with PTSD through the provision of service dogs, promoting a life of dignity and independence. My devotion to social impact also extends to the Organization for Autism Research, where the contributions made help fund vital research and resources to support families affected by Autism.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
Currently, the % of men holding operations and change management positions is 69%, while women only make up 30% of that industry. Increasing the representation of women in operations management and change management roles to more closely match or exceed the current 30% could yield significant benefits and impactful changes.
Diverse leadership teams, including a higher proportion of women, have been shown to enhance creativity and innovation by bringing a more comprehensive range of perspectives and solutions to the table. This diversity in thought and approach is particularly valuable in operations and change management, where innovative strategies can significantly improve efficiency and adaptability.
Additionally, having more women in leadership positions can improve organizational culture by promoting inclusivity and equity, which, in turn, can attract top talent from all backgrounds. This shift could also lead to improved decision-making processes, as studies suggest that gender-diverse teams make better business decisions up to 73% of the time.
The impact of increasing women's representation in these fields could extend beyond individual organizations, potentially leading to a broader societal shift towards gender parity in leadership roles. More women in the change management field could inspire future generations of women to pursue careers in industries where they are underrepresented, further contributing to the cycle of positive change and innovation. Overall, the benefits of having more women in operations and change management roles are clear, promising to enhance business outcomes and foster a more inclusive and equitable professional environment.
Thank you for your time, Carrie. How can our readers connect with you and your services?
You can connect with me on LinkedIn and learn more about my services through our company website, Wulfden Professional Solutions. Readers can also connect and follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
