At an age when many professionals are counting down to retirement, Gretchen Schoser is just getting started on her most ambitious venture yet. January 22nd, 2025 marked the official launch of Schoser Talent and Wellness Solutions, a consulting practice that reflects its founder’s unique journey of reinvention and purpose at age 61.
“They say the best careers are built on passion and experience,” Schoser explains. “After four decades in corporate America, I’ve finally found the perfect way to combine everything I’ve learned with what truly matters to me.”
Schoser’s path to entrepreneurship wasn’t conventional. After 15 years at UKG, where she developed deep expertise in their recruiting and onboarding systems, she made a bold decision that surprised colleagues and friends alike: walking away from corporate security to build something meaningful on her own terms.
“Leaving a stable corporate position in your sixties isn’t what most people expect,” Schoser reflects. “But I kept asking myself: if not now, when? I had this vision of helping organizations balance technological efficiency with genuine employee wellness, and I couldn’t ignore it anymore.”
This wasn’t Schoser’s first experience with reinvention. Two years ago, she launched a mental health podcast that quickly rose to the top 10 in its category. That unexpected success reinforced her belief that age shouldn’t limit new beginnings.
“The podcast taught me that my decades of corporate experience, combined with my passion for mental wellness, offered something unique,” says Schoser. “It connected with people in ways I never imagined, and showed me there was a market for this integrated approach.”
Schoser Talent and Wellness Solutions represents the culmination of 45 years of corporate experience, 15 years of specialized UKG systems knowledge, and over a year and a half of focused consulting work. The company specializes in optimizing UKG Recruiting and Onboarding systems while simultaneously developing mental health and wellness strategies for organizations navigating complex changes.
“What makes our approach different is that we understand both sides of the equation,” Schoser explains. “We can optimize the technical systems while ensuring employees are supported through transitions. That combination is surprisingly rare in the consulting world.”
For Schoser, launching this venture represents more than a business opportunity—it’s a statement about redefining what’s possible in the later stages of a career.
“There’s this narrative that innovation and entrepreneurship belong to the young, but that’s simply not true,” she says. “My corporate experience, combined with the perspective that comes with age, allows me to see connections and opportunities that might not be obvious to someone just starting out.”
Her advice to others considering a major career pivot later in life? “Don’t discount your transferable skills and life wisdom. These are invaluable assets that no course or certification can provide. And remember that expertise combined with passion is a powerful foundation for any venture.”
With its launch, Schoser is already looking ahead to growing her client base and expanding her team. But she’s most excited about challenging perceptions about age and career trajectories.
“If my journey inspires even one person to pursue their own reinvention, regardless of their age, I’ll consider that a success beyond any business metric,” she says. “The best chapters of your professional story can begin at any age—even at 61.”
For more information about Schoser Talent and Wellness Solutions, visit schosersolutions.com.
