The Art of Bringing People Together

The Art of Bringing People Together

In this episode of Grit, Grace, Growth, hosts Kim & Ken welcome special guest Ernesto Mandowsky, CEO of MDM, a CRM consultancy focused on helping people maximize relationships and create momentum in business and life. Ernesto shares the unconventional path that led him from throwing a 2,000-person graduation party in Miami at 18 years old to building systems and strategies for entrepreneurs, business owners, and organizations across multiple industries. What began as a love for bringing people together evolved into a career centered around hospitality, relationships, and helping others create meaningful growth through connection. Along the way, Ernesto opens up about the resistance he faced early on...from being told restaurants and hospitality weren’t “real careers” to navigating uncertainty, entrepreneurship, and the pressure of building something from scratch. Through every pivot, one thing remained constant: his belief that momentum matters more than perfection. At the heart of this conversation is the idea that success isn’t linear. It’s built through persistence, creativity, adaptability, and the willingness to keep moving even when you don’t have all the answers yet. In this episode, we talk about: * An April showers-themed “Two Truths and a Lie” (featuring rain clouds, Hawaii, and Saturn’s moon Titan) * Throwing a 2,000-person nightclub party at 18 years old * Ernesto’s early passion for hospitality and bringing people together * Being pushed toward “stable” career paths while pursuing entrepreneurship * How systems engineering unexpectedly shaped his business mindset * The evolution from restaurant operations to CRM consulting * Why Ernesto believes relationships should be maximized, not just managed * The five “recipes” behind his relationship-building framework * Using systems and structure to create peace, performance, and profitability * Entrepreneurship, uncertainty, and redefining success over time * Why momentum matters more than perfection Connect with Ernesto: Website: /www.yourmdm.co/ [http://www.yourmdm.co/] Instagram: @momentum_ernesto [https://www.instagram.com/momentum_ernesto/] Connect with Grit, Grace, Growth: Email: support@gritgracegrowth.com [support@gritgracegrowth.com] If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that success doesn’t have to be a straight line to still be the right one.

Conducting Your Own Symphony

In this episode of Grit, Grace, Growth, hosts Kim & Ken welcome special guest Beth Goldsmith, Second Vice President of Practice Management and Development at Ameritas. Beth shares an inspiring and deeply personal journey that spans music education, motherhood, leadership, and career reinvention. Originally beginning her professional life as a music teacher, Beth opens up about the unexpected path that led her into the insurance and financial services industry...and how saying “yes, and” became the philosophy that transformed her career and life. From starting in an entry-level customer service role to eventually becoming a senior leader helping independent financial professionals grow thriving businesses, Beth reflects on the power of humility, resilience, curiosity, and continuous growth. Along the way, she discusses imposter syndrome, stepping into opportunities before feeling fully ready, and why women so often underestimate their own qualifications and potential. But at the heart of this conversation is family. Beth vulnerably shares what it was like becoming a mother to six boys at a young age, balancing career ambitions with raising a large blended family, and learning that the moments children remember most are simply the moments you showed up for them. Warm, thoughtful, and full of wisdom, this episode is a reminder that growth rarely happens in a straight line—and that sometimes the biggest transformations begin when you’re willing to take a chance on yourself. In this episode, we talk about: * A Mayflower-themed “Two Truths and a Lie” (with some surprising American history trivia) * Beth’s early career as a music teacher and her love of performance * Transitioning from education into the financial services industry * Starting over in an entry-level role to build long-term career growth * The “Yes, And” philosophy that shaped Beth’s professional journey * Why women often wait until they feel overqualified before pursuing opportunities * Navigating imposter syndrome and learning to trust yourself * Leadership, mentorship, and helping others become the best version of themselves * Balancing career growth while raising a large blended family * The realities and rewards of becoming a stepparent at a young age * How family, resilience, and consistency shaped Beth’s outlook on life * Why showing up for people matters more than perfection Connect with Beth: About [http://www.acli.com/rising-leaders/2024-rising-leaders/beth-goldsmith] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-beth-goldsmith-mba-184150bb/] Connect with Grit, Grace, Growth: Email: support@gritgracegrowth.com [support@gritgracegrowth.com] If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that success doesn’t have to be a straight line to still be the right one.

Career Pivots - From Corporate Burnout to Consulting Freedom

In this episode of Grit, Grace, Growth, hosts Kim & Ken welcome special guest Holly Knoll, founder of The Consultant Code and host of The Everyday Entrepreneur Podcast. Holly shares a raw and honest look at what it actually takes to build a career on your own terms. After starting her career at Accenture and working her way through major companies like Target Corporation, Sephora, and Taco Bell, Holly found herself in a breaking-point moment that forced her to rethink everything. Getting fired from a role that was never the right fit became the unexpected catalyst for building her own consulting business...one that’s now evolved into a thriving recruiting and placement firm in the tech space. Along the way, Holly opens up about navigating male-dominated industries, burnout, starting over (more than once), and what entrepreneurship really looks like behind the scenes. At the heart of this conversation is a simple truth that success isn’t linear and sometimes the hardest moments are the ones that push you exactly where you’re meant to go. In this episode, we talk about: * A spring-themed “Two Truths and a Lie” (and why worms deserve more credit than we think) * What a consultant actually does and why the term is so misunderstood * Holly’s early career in tech and project management * Navigating leadership as a woman in male-dominated spaces * The moment she knew a job wasn’t the right fit and what happened next * Getting fired and using it as fuel to start her own business * The reality of entrepreneurship: risk, uncertainty, and resilience * How mindset, energy, and alignment play a role in business growth * Surviving the pandemic as a business owner (and starting over again) * Pivoting from solo consulting to building a recruiting and placement firm * Why freedom is a driving force behind entrepreneurship Connect with Holly: Podcast: The Everyday Entrepreneur Podcast [https://www.hollyknoll.com/the-everyday-entrepreneur-podcast] Instagram: @hollyknoll [https://www.instagram.com/hollyknoll/] Connect with Grit, Grace, Growth: Email: support@gritgracegrowth.com [support@gritgracegrowth.com] If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that success doesn’t have to be a straight line to still be the right one.

How Unconventional Plans Help Us Lead With Purpose

In this episode of Grit, Grace, Growth, hosts Kim & Ken welcome special guest Olivia McGraw, a wealth strategist with Unbridled Wealth whose story is anything but conventional. Olivia shares a powerful and wide-ranging journey that spans military college, international humanitarian work, and a complete career pivot into financial strategy. From attending The Citadel (one of the first generations of women navigating its male-dominated culture) to living in East Africa during and after periods of conflict, Olivia’s experiences have shaped a deeply resilient and purpose-driven perspective on life. After years working in the nonprofit sector and living abroad in places like Burundi and Rwanda, Olivia eventually found her way into the financial world in an unexpected way. What began as curiosity turned into a passion for helping others create long-term financial freedom through strategic planning and education. At the heart of this conversation is a theme of trust—trusting the process, trusting your path even when it doesn’t make sense, and allowing life’s detours to shape something greater than you originally imagined. In this episode, we talk about: * A WrestleMania-themed “Two Truths and a Lie” (with some surprising celebrity trivia) * Olivia’s experience attending The Citadel and navigating a male-dominated environment * Living and working in East Africa * Lessons learned from poverty, resilience, and global perspective * Transitioning from nonprofit work into the financial sector * What it means to become a wealth strategist and help others build financial freedom * The concept behind “infinite banking” and alternative financial strategies * The importance of trusting the process (even when you don’t have a clear plan) * Building a life driven by purpose, adaptability, and growth Connect with Olivia: Visit: https://unbridledwealth.com/ [https://unbridledwealth.com/] Connect with Grit, Grace, Growth: Email: support@gritgracegrowthpodcast.com [support@gritgracegrowthpodcast.com] If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and share the podcast with someone who could use a little inspiration.

Rebuilding From Nothing: What It's Like to Start Over

In this episode of Grit, Grace, Growth, hosts Kim & Ken welcome special guest Monica Sample, global real estate advisor, team leader of the Monica Sample Group, and a woman whose story is the definition of "resilience". Monica shares a deeply personal journey marked by reinvention and perseverance. From growing up between Washington State and Pittsburgh, to battling addiction as a young mother and making the life-changing decision to move with nothing but her daughter and a duffel bag, Monica opens up about the moments that reshaped her life forever. She reflects on the courage it took to rebuild from rock bottom, the support of her family, and how motherhood became the catalyst for change. From there, her story unfolds through heartbreaking loss, including the death of her infant daughter Scarlet, the trauma of family grief, and the mindset shifts that allowed her to keep moving forward. Today, Monica leads a thriving real estate team, mentors new agents, gives back through Homes for Heroes, and continues building a life rooted in gratitude, purpose, and connection. Her story is a powerful reminder that where you begin does not determine where you’re capable of going! In this episode, we talk about: * A baseball-themed “Two Truths and a Lie” icebreaker with Pittsburgh Pirates trivia * Monica’s journey from Washington State to Pittsburgh * Her early career as a hairstylist and salon leader * The difficult reality of addiction and the moment she chose to leave that life behind * Returning home as a single mother and rebuilding from the ground up * The role family support played in her recovery * Motherhood as the driving force behind transformation * Navigating profound grief after the loss of her daughter Scarlet * How faith, perspective, and gratitude carried her through devastating loss * Building a successful real estate career from family roots in renovation and investing * Leading a team, mentoring new agents, and stepping into leadership * Giving back through Homes for Heroes and community-centered philanthropy * Why Monica wants to be remembered not for one chapter, but for the way she loved people Connect Visit: https://monicasamplerealestate.com/ [https://monicasamplerealestate.com/] If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, follow, and subscribe! If you're interested in being a guest or have any questions, reach out to us at support@gritgracegrowthpodcast.com