The Collective Growth Podcast: Inner Work

What if the feedback that stung the most… was exactly what made you a leader?   In this episode of Inner Work , Brad Wallace, Partner at LKCM Headwater Investments, opens up about the emotional turning point that reshaped his life and leadership philosophy. From college baseball to building a people-first private equity firm, Brad shares how self-regulation, real-time feedback, and long-game...

How do you go from burned-out solo agent to visionary CEO leading a multimillion-dollar real estate empire?  In this episode of Inner Work , host MaryAnn Means-Dufrene sits down with Ashton Theiss, founder of The Ashton Agency,  to uncover the personal and professional transformation behind her explosive business growth. Ashton shares the real, behind-the-scenes journey: how she learned...

What if your biggest leadership growth happens inside, not outside? In this energizing episode of Inner Work, host MaryAnn Means-Dufrene introduces Karen Finney, a powerhouse HR executive, leadership coach, and trusted voice inside the Collective Growth team. Together, they pull back the curtain on what really shapes a leader: the personal pivots, burnout moments, mindset shifts, and hard-won insi...

Can you scale a company without losing your soul or your sanity? In this episode of Inner Work, we dive into the real story behind a hospitality empire and the inner transformation that made it possible. Paul Coury, founder and CEO of Coury Hospitality, went from persuading 20 nervous investors to launching one of the most acclaimed lifestyle hotel portfolios in the country. But the real story? It...

Leadership can demand everything until your body demands a reckoning. In this powerful episode, host MaryAnn Means-Dufrene sits down with Dr. Julie Kennedy, founder of Seed Wellness Co., to explore how chronic stress, illness, and achievement addiction can quietly erode even the strongest leaders. Julie shares how her battle with autoimmune illness became the turning point that reshaped not only h...

In this solo premiere episode, MaryAnn Means-Dufrene opens up about founding Collective Growth, wrestling with self-doubt as a "reluctant entrepreneur," and what it means to lead from the inside out. She dives into how identity shifts, faith, and personal breakdowns shaped her leadership evolution and how these unseen moments build the foundation for lasting impact. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll...