After nearly two decades in corporate HR leadership, Scott Trumpolt made a bold move—leaving Germany and stepping into entrepreneurship. With over 30 years of experience in compensation planning and rewards strategy, Scott now leads Trumpolt Compensation Design Solutions, helping companies align pay with purpose.

In this episode of the Second Chance Podcast, Jeff Robertson dives deep with Scott into what it means to truly engage employees through compensation. Scott shares the story of his transition from structured, segmented corporate roles into the hands-on world of independent consulting, where he crafts tailored compensation strategies for businesses of all sizes and sectors.

Scott sheds light on the evolving landscape of pay transparency, how younger generations are driving new expectations around salary disclosure, and why career development is the key to sustained employee motivation. He also unpacks common mistakes companies make when structuring pay and offers insight on how to balance competitive compensation with business needs—especially for startups and growing firms.

Whether you’re a business owner navigating your first hires or a seasoned executive looking to improve engagement, Scott offers practical wisdom and strategy born from decades of experience. His second chance story reminds us that passion and purpose are powerful guides when it comes to career transitions.

Tune in and discover:

  • How to structure pay to retain top talent
  • Why transparency and career pathing matter more than ever
  • What inspired Scott to step away from corporate life and start his own firm
  • Actionable insights for building compensation plans that work

🔗 Learn more about Scott here.
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