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 

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Unlocked with Kristyn Drennen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and don't forget to rate, review and subscribe. 

For more tools and insights, visit TransformCXO.com