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
Designing a People-First Organization: What Makes a Merger Actually Work with Sara Hoffman
Mergers test everything: leadership, communication, trust, and culture. Many organizations focus on systems, contracts, and integration plans, but overlook the human experience inside the transition.
In this episode of Unlocked, Kristyn is joined by Sara Hoffman, Managing Partner at Conexus Insurance Partners, for a candid conversation about designing a people-first organization in the midst of growth and change.
Sara shares how Conexus approached their merger with intention, using clear leadership rhythms, consistent communication, and shared accountability to keep people aligned. Rather than relying on slogans or values statements alone, the leadership team focused on building structures that reinforced trust and clarity week after week.
You’ll hear how separating ownership conversations from leadership execution created psychological safety, why predictable communication rhythms reduced uncertainty, and how peer-to-peer recognition helped bring core values to life in a tangible way.
This episode is especially relevant for leaders navigating mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, or rapid growth who want to protect culture while still driving execution.
What You’ll Learn
- Why most mergers struggle with culture, even when the strategy is sound
- How leadership rhythms and meeting structure shape the employee experience
- The importance of separating ownership dynamics from leadership execution
- How peer recognition reinforces values more effectively than top-down messaging
- What it really means to design a people-first organization, not just talk about one
About the Guest
Sara Hoffman is a Managing Partner at Conexus Insurance Partners, where she helps lead a growing, people-centered organization built on clarity, trust, and intentional leadership. Sara brings a grounded, practical perspective on culture, communication, and what it takes to lead well through change.
Links & Resources
- Learn more about Conexus Insurance Partners
- Connect with Sara Hoffman on LinkedIn
- Explore TransformCXO and fractional Integrator/COO support