What if the key to being a better leader wasn't a new management strategy, but a deeper look at yourself? In this episode of Making Business Personal, I sit down with Margaret Andrews, a renowned leadership expert and instructor at Harvard University.

Margaret shares the pivotal "moment of truth" in her career: receiving blunt feedback from a boss that she lacked self-awareness. Instead of dismissing it, she spent years researching psychology, philosophy, and management to discover that true leadership starts from within.

In this episode, we explore:

• The "Inside Job" Philosophy: Why you must manage yourself before you can effectively lead others.
• Breaking the Habit: The difficulty of unlearning ingrained patterns and how small daily changes can rewire your brain for success.
• The Harvard Connection: The story behind Margaret’s celebrated leadership course and why it remains one of the most popular professional development programs.
• From MIT to Hollywood Connections: A look at Margaret’s journey from a "standard Southern California childhood" to the halls of MIT and Harvard.
• The Power of Feedback: How to process difficult professional critiques and turn them into a competitive advantage.

Whether you are an aspiring manager or a seasoned executive, this conversation offers a roadmap for leading with more intention, clarity, and fulfillment.

Connect with Margaret Andrews:

• Website: margaretandrews.com

• LinkedIn: Margaret C. Andrews

• Get the Book: Manage Yourself to Lead Others (MYLO) on Amazon

#Leadership #SelfAwareness #ProfessionalDevelopment #HarvardLeadership #Management #MakingBusinessPersonal #MargaretAndrews #MYLO

How does a 14-year-old from the suburbs of Minnesota go from cold-calling agents in the Yellow Pages to starring in cult classics like Freaks and Geeks and major films opposite Chevy Chase?

In this episode of Making Business Personal, I sit down with actress and entrepreneur Brianna Brown Keen for a raw and inspiring look at the power of resilience.

Brianna opens up about her "foundational moment" surviving relentless middle school bullying and a mental health crisis, and how that experience severed her need for external validation, fueling a fearless career in Hollywood.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Hip Pocket" Strategy: How Brianna landed a top L.A. agent before she even moved to California.
• Overcoming Stage Fright: From being rejected for middle school plays to singing in the prestigious St. Olaf choir.
• The "Figure It Out" Mentality: Why a Midwest work ethic and a history of rejection are actually competitive advantages in business and acting.
• Divine Intervention: The vivid 14-year-old "awakening" that led Brianna to realize actors can have a more powerful voice than politicians.

Whether you're navigating the entertainment industry or trying to build a business with "balls-out" tenacity, Brianna’s story is a masterclass in turning pain into purpose.

Connect with Brianna Brown Keen:

• LinkedIn: Brianna Brown Keen
• Instagram/TikTok: @briannabrownkeen
• Websites: briannabrownkeen.com, manifestingyourmission.org, and thenewhollywood.org

Season 1 Finale

This is the final episode of our first year on Making Business Personal.

Instead of asking what you accomplished, this episode asks a different question:
What did your success cost you?

Not just time or energy.
But presence. Health. Relationships. Parts of yourself you set aside to keep things moving.

Success isn’t a trophy.
It’s a relationship.
And every relationship has a cost.

In this episode, we explore:

• The hidden toll of achievement

• Why burnout comes from paying costs you never consciously chose

• The difference between a cost you accept and a tax you don’t realize you’re paying

• How to assess the real price of success before you say yes again

This is a slower, more honest conversation for leaders and high performers heading into a new year.

Don’t just count your wins. Count the cost.

Season 2 begins in January 2025.