One could call Kate Glantz a do-gooder with an entrepreneurial spirit but the description pales compared to the powerful effect her social impact work has had on women and girls, small business owners, individuals and communities.
Following a career spanning numerous industries and roles–from social impact and marketing to economic inclusion–across public and private sectors, the native Arizonan co-founded and serves as CEO of Move Over Bob, a media and lifestyle company redefining the construction trades industry as an aspirational career path for women and girls. The company recently launched an Arizona-based magazine of the same name after Glantz earned a Certificate of Completion in Construction Trades: Carpentry at Mesa Community College (MCC) in 2025.
It was a major career pivot for Glantz. Until then, she had led social impact at Luma Pictures, an independent visual effects studio in Los Angeles; directed economic empowerment programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Washington, D.C.; and built transportation access initiatives at Lyft in San Francisco. She also founded multiple ventures like a street food tour celebrating the cuisine of Zanzibar while living in Tanzania and a charitable wedding registry.
“I am driven to leave the world better than I found it and have as much fun as I can along the way,” she said. “If you look at my resume, it might seem like I’m 10 different people or one very confused person. But if you go one step below the surface, it’s clear that all of my experiences are tied to some combination of creativity, a service mindset and solving really complex problems.”
Prior to attending MCC, Glantz earned a bachelor’s in political science and African studies from the University of Michigan and attended the University of Cape Town in South Africa in a study abroad program. But she came home to Arizona to be closer to her parents and to found Move Over Bob.
The idea for the company is based on social media research in which Glantz discovered a growing interest by women to forge careers in the construction trades. Her observations in her MCC construction classes supported her findings, noting that in each class about one-third of the students were women. “And it made sense to start the magazine in Arizona because construction is booming here,” she added.
Glantz credits MCC with drawing more women to its construction programs. “Considering less than 5% of tradespeople are women, MCC is clearly doing something right when it comes to attracting and retaining female students.” Her long-held belief that there’s a shift in dynamics when women are present in meaningful numbers also holds true in a classroom setting.
“There’s more collaboration, more encouragement, and more space for people to show up as themselves,” Glantz explained. “That kind of environment doesn’t just benefit women, it strengthens the entire workforce. MCC is creating a training ground where students build real skills while also learning how to work together, support each other and take pride in what they’re building. That’s exactly the kind of culture the industry needs if we’re going to meet the workforce shortage in a lasting way.”
She cites an incident on her first day of Welding 101 that demonstrated the energy that women can contribute to all types of environments. “Every time someone tried a new technique, the young women in the class started cheering and clapping for them. It was a small, but powerful show of support. The guys quickly joined in, and before long, everyone had their moment to be celebrated.
“I don’t think that energy would have existed if there had only been one woman in the room, which is often the case. That moment really stayed with me.”
Getting firsthand experience in the carpentry program was critical to the start up of Move Over Bob. “I could barely swing a hammer before I enrolled at MCC and in just a few months I was framing a house!” Her new knowledge and understanding of the industry also allows her to connect with women and girls in an honest way to help them move past initial barriers. “I’m not just encouraging them, I’ve been in that exact position myself, and I know what’s possible once you take that first step.
“Because of my time at MCC, I can speak from real experience about what it looks and feels like to start from zero. I picked up my first hand tool on campus and learned how to take an idea and, with my hands, my mind and a few materials, turn it into something real,” she explained.
Currently the Phoenix resident’s days consist of a mix of meetings and presentations to industry, schools and brands “and a lot of strategic planning to figure out how to take our Arizona-based magazine nationwide this fall…so many emails!”
Growing up with loving parents and a nurturing environment enabled Glantz to carve out her own career path with confidence while being aware that not everyone gets the same start. “Helping level the playing field so more people, especially women, have the opportunity to build big, fulfilling lives on their own terms, has felt like the most meaningful way I can spend my time.”
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