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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
Are You Leading the Business - or Carrying It? with Charlie Rhea
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Many founders start their businesses because they love building, creating, and solving big problems — but somewhere along the way, they become the bottleneck. In this episode of Unlocked, Kristyn Drennen is joined by EOS Implementer Charlie Rhea to break down the leadership structure that helps founders scale without burning out: the visionary–integrator partnership.
Charlie explains the critical distinction between an EOS Implementer and an Integrator, why those roles are often confused, and how they work together to support healthy execution. Kristyn shares real-world examples from her work as a fractional integrator, including why asking a visionary to also lead, manage, and hold a leadership team accountable almost always backfires.
Together, they dive deep into the visionary seat — what it is, what it is not, and why so many founders struggle to step fully into it. From protecting culture and casting vision to creating space for strategic thinking, this conversation gives founders a clear picture of what leadership looks like when it’s functioning well.
This episode is especially timely for leaders heading into annual planning, navigating growth complexity, or feeling stuck between strategy and execution. If you want your business to grow beyond you — without losing control — this conversation will give you practical clarity on what needs to change next.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The difference between an EOS Implementer and an Integrator — and why confusing the two creates friction
- Why visionaries struggle when they try to lead, manage, and hold their teams accountable
- What the visionary seat actually owns when it’s working well
- How the visionary–integrator relationship drives leadership team effectiveness
- Practical ways to keep vision alive inside the business — not just on paper
LINKS & RESOURCES
- Discover your Founder’s Freedom Score! Free tools, instant results: Founder's Freedom Score
- Learn more about EOS Worldwide: https://www.eosworldwide.com
- Connect with Charlie Rhea on LinkedIn
- Recommended Books:
- Traction by Gino Wickman
- Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman
- Living Forward by Michael Hyatt & Daniel Harkavy
If this episode resonates, share it with a fellow leader who needs to hear it. And if you’re ready to unlock your capacity and lead from your zone of genius, book a conversation with Kristyn and the TCXO team.
🎧 👉 Subscribe to Unlocked with Kristyn Drennen on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube — and share this episode with a visionary leader who needs to hear it.
Learn more about TransformCXO: https://transformcxo.com
Connect with Kristyn Drennen on LinkedIn: Kristyn’s LinkedIn
Follow Kristyn on Instagram: @kristyndrennencxo