Unlocked with Kristyn Drennen
You didn’t build your business just to burn out in it. And you didn’t become a leader to feel stuck in the day-to-day.
Welcome to Unlocked with Kristyn Drennen — where high-achieving founders, operators, and executives stop tolerating complexity and start building the businesses (and lives) they actually want.
Kristyn Drennen is a powerhouse Fractional COO, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, and MetaPerformance™ Executive Coach for elite leaders who are scaling with purpose and preparing for high-value exits. She’s known for rolling up her sleeves inside multi-million-dollar companies to align leadership, drive operational clarity, and help owners regain their freedom — all while unlocking extraordinary growth.
Each episode goes beyond theory. Expect straight talk, smart strategy, and transformational questions that cut through the noise. Whether you're leading a growing business or leading from the C-Suite, you’ll leave with real tools, new perspective, and the reminder that it's possible to love your business again.
Unlocked with Kristyn Drennen
Introducing Unlocked: Finding Joy, Growth, and Clarity in Business with Kristyn Drennen
Welcome to the debut of Unlocked with Kristyn Drennen—a podcast for visionary leaders ready to discover what’s next.
In this opening conversation, producer Jon Ekstrom interviews Kristyn to set the stage for the episodes ahead. Kristyn shares her story of building TransformCXO, where she and her team of fractional executives help business owners prepare for scale and high-value exits. She reflects on her philosophy of combining horsepower and joy in business—a fresh alternative to hustle culture—and why aligning values with execution is the key to lasting success.
You’ll also hear:
- The personal story behind Kristyn’s drive to help owners prepare for business transitions.
- A candid look at why 90% of business owners regret selling their companies—and how to avoid it.
- The importance of intangible capital (people, processes, customers, culture) in building real enterprise value.
- A powerful framework for shifting from working in the business to working on the business.
- Kristyn’s commitment to leaving every listener with something tactical and actionable.
This episode also features the first Unfiltered segment—a fun look at Kristyn’s walk-up song, guilty pleasures, and the experiences that humanize her beyond the boardroom.
Key Highlights
- Why Kristyn launched Unlocked and what listeners can expect.
- The difference between transactional leadership and relational impact.
- Case studies of two mergers—and why one thrived while the other failed.
- The “Delegate & Elevate” mindset shift every leader needs.
- Kristyn’s belief that better businesses create stronger families and communities.
Links & Resources
- Learn more about TransformCXO: https://transformcxo.com
- Connect with Kristyn Drennen on LinkedIn: Kristyn’s LinkedIn
- Follow Kristyn on Instagram: @kristyndrennencxo
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For more tools and insights, visit TransformCXO.com