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Human Side of Business Value with Karen Chalmers, InterVal
What if the numbers you rely on are telling only half the story?
In this powerful episode of Humans Behind the Metrics, Charlene Ormo sits down with Karen Chalmers of interVal to uncover the overlooked human side of business valuation.
Going beyond the numbers, they uncover the vital human elements – your story, your people, and your mission – demonstrating how these create a more holistic picture of true business worth that traditional metrics alone cannot provide.
This isn't just another conversation about business. It's a profound reframing of how founders and businesses—at every stage—can recognize their true worth through a more human, intentional, and empathetic lens.
Discover what your dashboards aren't telling you about the real value of what you've built.
Let’s dive in.
Meet Karen Chalmers – In 5 Fun Facts
- From Film Sets to Financial Tech
Karen’s career path isn’t a straight line — it’s a creative “jungle gym” of filmmaking, graphic design, and marketing. This eclectic background fuels her genius for storytelling and gives her a unique lens on business that numbers alone can’t explain.
- VP with a Mission
As the Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships at interVal, Karen helps small business owners understand the true value of their business — not just the numbers, but the story behind them.
- Advocate for Early Valuation
Karen is driven by one powerful belief: business owners deserve to know their worth before it's too late. Her work focuses on proactive valuation — empowering leaders with clarity, confidence, and the ability to plan ahead.
- ‘Your Story Matters.’
For Karen, stories aren’t fluff — they’re the heartbeat of every business. She helps founders uncover their narrative, shape it with purpose, and use it to connect, lead, and grow.
- Joy in the Journey
What fuels Karen? Joy, meaning, and alignment. She believes success is found not just in revenue, but in creating work that feels right — where people, purpose, and performance all come together.
“We have to give ourselves grace for who we were before and what happened before, moving through it, getting into who we are becoming.”
- Karen Chalmers
Topics Covered
[02:35] - Who is Karen: Her Identity as a Storyteller.
Dive into Karen's core identity as a storyteller and discover how this perspective not only shapes her personal journey but also influences her professional journey.
[04:08] - Karen's Unique Career Path: A Journey of Adaptability and Growth. Explore Karen's non-linear career journey, highlighting her diverse experiences in filmmaking, graphic design, and marketing, and learn how adaptability and resilience has been key to her career.
[07:25] - Navigating Change: The Power of Resilience and Pivots in Career. Gain insights into the importance of resilience and learn effective strategies for navigating career changes, as Karen shares her personal experiences of overcoming challenges.
[10:43] - Finding Your Way: Clarity, Inner Peace, and Grace in Transition. Understand how Karen navigated her journey to uncover her next steps in both life and career, focusing on the themes of clarity, inner peace, and grace during times of transition.
[15:56] - Discovering Karen's "Why": Business, Purpose, and Joy.
Learn about Karen's mission to empower business owners and consultants through Interval, and discover what truly brings her joy in both her professional and personal life.
[20:00] - Karen’s advice to businesses at any stage.Importance of Building an Advisory Team.
Get practical advice for business owners on how to effectively handle growth by building a strong advisory team that supports their journey and enhances their decision-making.
[26:57] - Human-Centered and Empathetic Leadership.
Explore Karen's leadership philosophy and understand why empathy is crucial for fostering a more human-centric approach to business, creating a positive impact on teams and organizations.
[27:02] - Handling Mistakes, Cultivating Growth, and Collective Learning as a Team.
Discover Karen's approach to managing mistakes through structured systems and processes, and learn how to foster collaboration and create supportive learning environments within teams.
[33:34] - Karen's Legacy: Joy, Love, and the Power of Your Story.
Reflect on the profound message that "the story you are building matters," as Karen emphasizes the importance of creating a legacy filled with joy and love while owning your unique narrative.
[35:37] - Ways to Connect with Karen Chalmers.
Find out how to connect with Karen and continue the conversation about storytelling, business growth, and leadership.
3 Key Things You Can Apply Today
- Harness the Power of Storytelling. Embrace storytelling as a fundamental aspect of your identity. Recognize that every business journey is a narrative filled with lessons, challenges, and triumphs that shape who you are and how you connect with others.
- Cultivate Collaborative Relationships. Prioritize building relationships and collaboration within your team and with advisors. Understand that seeking help and sharing experiences fosters a supportive environment where everyone can learn and grow together.
- Infuse Joy and Love into Your Life. Focus on creating joy and love in both your personal and professional life. These values not only enhance your own experience but also positively impact those around you, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful legacy.
Connect with Karen Chalmers
- Website: https://www.inter-val.ai/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Kareneachalmers/
Connect with Charlene Ormo
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleneormo
- LEADX Media: https://www.leadxmedia.co/
