WORKLiberated

What does it take to build, scale, and successfully sell a business? In this episode, Margaret Graziano sits down with entrepreneur and former CEO George Kriza to share lessons from growing MTC Performance from a startup to the Inc. 500. George discusses the challenges of rapid growth, hiring senior talent, managing team conflict, making financial decisions, and preparing a business for acquisition. He also explains why recurring revenue, strong customer relationships, and strategic leadership are essential to building long-term value. Whether you're an entrepreneur, CEO, or business leader, discover practical insights on scaling your organization, overcoming leadership challenges, and creating greater freedom at work.   Connect and learn more: Challenging Decisions — Connect with George Kriza: https://challengingdecisions.com/ Keen Alignment — Leadership development, coaching, and organizational alignment: https://keenalignment.com/ MargaretGraziano.com Hashtags #WorkLiberated #GeorgeKriza #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CEOLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ScalingYourBusiness #BusinessStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessAcquisition #ExitStrategy #CompanyValuation #RecurringRevenue #OrganizationalCulture #HighPerformingTeams #StartupToScaleUp #SmallBusinessSuccess #FounderJourney #ProfessionalGrowth

In this episode, Margaret Graziano sits down with Katie Keller Geer, co-founder of KK Social, to explore the powerful connection between personal branding, social credibility, and career fulfillment. As a Personal and Professional Development Coach, Margaret leads a thoughtful conversation about how professionals can align their values, online presence, and career goals in today’s digital-first world. Katie shares her journey from corporate social media strategist to entrepreneur, revealing the challenges and rewards of launching an agency and building a brand alongside her husband. Together, they discuss how authenticity drives credibility online, why personal and business branding are increasingly intertwined, and how professionals can leverage social platforms to attract the right clients, employers, and opportunities.   If you want to use social media with intention as part of your personal and professional development, Momentum Coaching helps you clarify your message, build visibility, and take action that actually moves your career forward.   👉 Turn presence into progress.   https://www.keenalignment.com/momentum-coaching   Ideal Future Visualization - https://www.keenalignment.com/your-ideal-future   📢 Connect with Katie Keller Geer & KK Social: 🔗 Website: https://kksocial.co/   💬 Ready to take your team or event to the next level? Book Margaret Graziano today and bring a spark of inspiration to your audience. margaretgraziano.com   #PersonalBranding #SocialCredibility #EntrepreneurLife #WorkLiberation #MarketingStrategy

In this episode of WORKLiberated, Margaret Graziano speaks with Dr. Lisa Abendroth, a marketing professor, about Women's Leadership, digital transformation, and the future of work. They delve into the importance of curiosity, agility, and continuous learning in the age of AI, discussing how these traits can liberate individuals in their careers. Lisa shares insights from her experiences and her unique "Bold Futures" trip to Tokyo and Seoul, designed to open minds to global innovation. Tune in to discover how to embrace AI responsibly, transform your workflows, and cultivate a growth mindset for a fully liberated work life.   Leadership isn’t something you arrive at — it’s something you grow into. If this conversation resonated and you feel a pull toward your next level of leadership, join us at Ignite Your Power — a women’s leadership retreat designed to deepen clarity, confidence, and personal authority.   👉 Step into the next chapter of your leadership. https://margaretgraziano.com/retreat/   From Friction to Flow Ebook https://www.keenalignment.com/response-agility-ebook   💬 Ready to take your team or event to the next level? Book Margaret Graziano today and bring a spark of inspiration to your audience. margaretgraziano.com

In this episode, Margaret Graziano sits down with Sejal Thakkar, CEO of TrainXtra and former employment attorney, to uncover the hidden costs of workplace incivility and the leadership behaviors that shape culture. Through the lens of tools like the Organizational Culture Inventory, they explore how subtle behaviors—eye rolls, interruptions, and exclusion—can quietly erode trust, damage team performance, and even lead to legal consequences. Sejal shares powerful insights on recognizing early warning signs of toxic culture, addressing bias and microaggressions, and why leadership training must focus on behavior—not just compliance. With real-world stories and practical strategies, this conversation highlights how organizations can intentionally build respectful, high-performing environments where people feel safe, valued, and empowered to do their best work.   Most organizations don’t realize they have a culture problem until it becomes a legal one. If you want to understand where your workplace culture truly stands — before conflict escalates — take our confidential culture survey. It’s a clear, practical way to assess civility, leadership behaviors, and risk areas inside your organization.   👉 Start with awareness. Take the survey. https://keenalignment.scoreapp.com/ 🔗 Connect with Sejal Thakkar: 🌐 https://www.trainxtra.com 💬 Ready to take your team or event to the next level? Book Margaret Graziano today and bring a spark of inspiration to your audience. margaretgraziano.com   #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #CivilityAtWork #ToxicWorkplace #WorkLiberated #InclusiveLeadership

In this episode, Margaret sits down with Dr. Tony Masri, neurologist and founder of Helix Health, to uncover why sleep may be the most overlooked success strategy for leaders and high performers. As a Personal and Professional Development Coach, Margaret explores with Dr. Masri how sleep directly impacts executive function, emotional intelligence, decision-making, and resilience.    Together, they discuss the neuroscience behind sleep, the hidden ways poor sleep contributes to burnout and memory lapses, and practical strategies for improving sleep hygiene. From resetting your circadian rhythm naturally to using wearables and understanding the truth about melatonin, this conversation offers powerful insights for anyone striving to perform at their best in both life and leadership.   High performance doesn’t come from doing more — it comes from managing your energy. If you’re ready to turn insights like this into sustainable personal and professional development, Momentum Coaching helps leaders translate science into daily habits that actually stick.   👉 Build momentum where it matters most.   https://www.keenalignment.com/momentum-coaching   🌐 Visit Helix Health: https://helixhealth.org   Ideal Future Visualization - https://www.keenalignment.com/your-ideal-future   💬 Ready to take your team or event to the next level? Book Margaret Graziano today and bring a spark of inspiration to your audience. margaretgraziano.com #SleepHealth #ExecutiveWellness #MargaretGraziano #HighPerformanceHabits #BrainOptimization #MentalClarity