In this powerful episode of The Grit Mindset, Matt Rosen sits down with longtime friend, mentor, and client Richard Maranville, now CTO of Pinnacle Live, an innovative event-technology company operating in 150+ hotel properties nationwide.

Richard’s story is a masterclass in grit, adaptability, and leadership. From a humble upbringing with a single mother in Southern California to discovering coding on a vintage Tandy computer at age 13, Richard shares how early responsibility and hard work—from paper routes to McDonald's shifts—instilled the resilience that would fuel his entire career.

He walks listeners through his rapid ascent at Kinko’s (later FedEx Office), where he advanced from developer to CIO, managing a 300-person team in his mid-30s. Richard discusses the challenges of earning respect as a young leader, the importance of partnership between IT and business teams, and the lessons he learned about humility, communication, and empowering others.

Richard then opens up about his 12-year chapter at Freeman, the world’s largest event-production company. From stabilizing a broken payroll system to leading digital transformation, navigating multiple tech acquisitions, and managing through the chaos of COVID—when Freeman saw 100% of its revenue vanish almost overnight—he shares candid stories about crisis leadership, rebuilding trust, and the necessity of confronting problems head-on.

The conversation also explores his time as COO and CTO at Salad and Go, where Richard transitioned from tech into operations and supply chain—applying grit, people leadership, and decades of experience to a fast-scaling restaurant brand.

Matt and Richard dive deep into:
-What grit means in real life

-Perseverance, asking for help, leaning on your support network, and giving yourself space to think clearly.

-Lessons for young professionals

— Focus on soft skills, not just coding.

— Don’t play politics—focus on your work.
— Empower your team and take the bullets for them.

-Parenting with grit

— Teaching kids to earn what they want, handle “no,” and work in the service industry to build empathy and resilience.

-Leadership Principles

From early hustle to executive boardrooms, Richard’s journey is packed with insight, humility, and the kind of hard-earned wisdom that defines true grit.

Thanksgiving Special: The Untold Origin Story of Allata

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Host Matt Rosen sits down for a rare solo conversation to share the full origin story of Allata — the pivotal moments, the early supporters, the tough lessons, and the grit it took to build a company from his garage into a national consulting firm.

Matt opens up about the mentors who shaped him, the season of self-doubt, the leap into entrepreneurship, and the unexpected people who pushed him forward—sometimes intentionally, sometimes by accident. From his early years at Pariveda to navigating a difficult leadership environment, to naming the company in his backyard with his wife, this episode traces the real, unvarnished journey behind the Allata you know today.

You’ll hear:

How two founders, Bruce and John, sparked Matt’s passion for people-first leadership

Why timing mattered—and how his wife Stephanie helped build a life that made entrepreneurship possible

The hard quarter that revealed a leader’s true colors and ultimately pushed Matt to strike out on his own

The moment Allata got its name (hint: bamboo + a backyard conversation)

The first clients who took a chance and the early team members who shaped the culture

How the company survived 2020 and why Allata’s core mantra still anchors everything:
Family First. Clients Are King. Take Great Care of Your People.

A heartfelt message of thanks to his team, clients, partners, mentors, and family

This honest, gratitude-filled episode is part reflection, part masterclass in leadership, and part reminder that no entrepreneurial journey is ever walked alone.

If you’re a founder, a leader, or simply someone who believes in building something meaningful—this is a must-watch.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Grit Mindset. Stay gritty out there.

In this inspiring episode of The Grit Mindset, host Matt Rosen sits down with Christine Rogers, co-founder of Spark Farm, a marketing and PR agency built on flexibility, integrity, and a bold mission: reinventing the workplace—especially for working moms.

Christine shares the deeply personal and professional journey that led her from male-dominated big-agency environments to launching Spark Farm in the middle of the 2009 recession. What began as playground conversations during layoffs became a thriving 16-year agency that champions flexibility, balance, and a “no-asshole policy” that prioritizes culture over contracts.

From her early upbringing in Northern Virginia to the powerful mentors who shaped her, Christine opens up about resilience, founding challenges, hard lessons (including a costly legal one), and the value of standing firm in your values—even when it means walking away from clients. She also digs into modeling grit for her own children and supporting today’s working parents through Spark Farm’s unique flat-organization structure.

This episode is packed with real talk about leadership, motherhood, entrepreneurship, toxic workplaces, and finding a path forward—no matter what obstacles are in the way.

If you’re an entrepreneur, a working parent, or someone considering building something of your own, this conversation will hit home. Stay gritty!

In this episode of The Grit Mindset, Host Matt Rosen sits down with longtime friend and Cloud Communications Group partner, Chris Moffett, for a candid conversation on entrepreneurship, innovation, resilience, and navigating the ever-changing world of technology.

Chris shares his unconventional entry into the tech world — from carrying luggage at a Houston hotel to installing one of the building’s first voicemail systems, sparking a career in telecommunications and network infrastructure. With no formal engineering background, Chris built his expertise through curiosity, problem-solving, and a relentless willingness to learn on the fly — a defining theme of grit.

Together, Matt and Chris unpack Cloud Communications Group’s origin story, born out of a grad school business plan in 2009 and built through persistence, networking, and countless uncomfortable first conversations. Chris reflects on the early days of blank office walls, unanswered phones, and refining the company pitch after 30 minutes in a meeting before realizing the prospect thought he worked for AT&T.

Chris also opens up about the moments that tested his resolve the most — including losing an entire executive client team overnight and fearing the loss of his company’s largest account. Instead of collapsing, the challenge expanded his network, strengthened relationships, and ultimately grew the business.

As leaders in enterprise network strategy and cloud infrastructure for companies $500M+, the conversation naturally shifts to the future — including:

The rapid pace of AI advancement and why adaptation is non-negotiable

The risks of “shadow AI” and unmonitored corporate data exposure

Why data hygiene and governance are the real competitive advantages

The importance of solving problems without always knowing the answer upfront

How technical leaders must carry grit in the face of constant pressure and change

Chris also shares personal lessons in parenting with an entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging his kids to earn opportunities, embrace work ethic, and reject entitlement — even when it means manual labor to fund a weekend trip.

When asked what grit means to him, Chris puts it simply:

“We’re going to solve this — even if we don’t know how yet.”

Matt and Chris close the discussion with insight on leadership, decision-making, and the mindset required to thrive when the finish line isn’t visible.

Key Takeaways:

Don’t wait for perfect information — make the decision and adjust

Entrepreneurship means solving problems before knowing the solution

AI is a tool, not a threat — adaptation beats resistance

True grit is choosing motion over hesitation

This episode is a masterclass in patience, perseverance, and staying gritty through uncertainty.

Stay gritty.

In this inspiring episode of The Grit Mindset, host Matt Rosen sits down with Mandy Austin, President of Corporate Banking at Vista Bank, to explore how purpose, perseverance, and service define true grit.

Mandy shares her journey from growing up in North Texas to building a 20-year career in banking, culminating in her leadership role. She reflects on the influence of her father’s small business ventures and her mother’s dedication to education—two forces that shaped her entrepreneurial spirit and lifelong curiosity.

Throughout the conversation, Mandy opens up about the power of resilience—both in business and in life. She recounts overcoming early career challenges and a life-changing multiple sclerosis diagnosis at just 28 years old, which she managed to reverse through research, discipline, and lifestyle change. Her story is one of courage, optimism, and taking ownership of your path.

Takeaways include:
-How grit is both a choice and a mindset, defined by passion and perseverance.
-The importance of finding purpose in your career and aligning your “why” with your work.
-Teaching resilience to her children through sports and commitment.
-Leading teams through clear communication, vision, and empowerment.

Her commitment to community service through United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and Children’s Health, inspired by her nephew’s cancer survival story.
Mandy’s story reminds us that grit isn’t just about toughness—it’s about growth, purpose, and using adversity to serve others.

Listen to this episode to learn how to stay driven, serve with purpose, and keep pushing forward—no matter what challenges come your way.

Host Matt Rosen sits down with longtime neighbor and friend Kyle Wick, co-founder of 22 One Advisors, to unpack the grit behind building a purpose-driven wealth advisory from the ground up.

Kyle traces his path from small-town Iowa to Dallas—hauling boxes at UPS, managing third-shift sanitation crews in meat-packing plants, repo’ing cars for a farm bank—before betting on himself in a commission-only advisory role. With no network and no safety net, he leveraged discipline, continuous learning, and “champagne moments” (visualizing future wins) to push through rejection and build a practice.

Kyle shares why his firm’s name comes from Proverbs 22:1 (“A good name is more desirable than great riches”) and how that anchors their philosophy: connect what’s on the balance sheet to what’s in the heart. Today, 22 One Advisors manages ~$500M, prioritizing impact over products—helping clients retire with confidence, steward wealth intentionally, and “die with zero regrets.” He also dives into team dynamics with his partners, community commitments (DFW Hawkeyes, Oak Cliff, faith), and a powerful story of guiding a young widow—proof that real impact goes far beyond returns.

Episode Takeaways:
Grit = perseverance with passion over time; survive long enough for progress to compound.
Start from values: character and legacy before tactics and returns (Proverbs 22:1).
Build without a network: tap shared identities (e.g., alumni), tell your “why,” and keep showing up.
Introvert edge: Mastery and preparation create confidence
Impact over products: retire earlier than you think, spend on purpose (“Die With Zero” mindset), and align money with meaning.
Community matters: design clear guardrails for family time and invest in the places you live and serve.
Website: https://www.22oneadvisors.com/team.htm

In this episode of The Grit Mindset, host Matt Rosen sits down with Scott Wood, CEO and Co-Founder of True North Advisors.
Scott opens up about his early career — from dreaming of New York finance to launching his own firm that felt straight out of Wall Street. He shares how his family’s entrepreneurial roots shaped his work ethic and perspective, from his grandfather’s lighting company to his father’s home-building business and mother’s design background.

Scott reflects on pivotal career moments, including leaving Chase, joining Lockwood Financial in Dallas, and the lessons learned along the way. He explains why credentials alone don’t define success — relentless hard work does. Later, Scott discusses building company culture through shared values and how True North uses those values to guide hiring and leadership decisions.

Finally, Scott reveals the inspiration behind his drive, his definition of “opting in” to hard work, and why culture remains the heartbeat of True North Advisors.

In this inspiring conversation, Matt Rosen sits down with Eric Benanti, a marketing major turned creative entrepreneur, who shares his journey of joining and eventually leading his family’s renowned creative agency, Tractorbeam.

Eric reflects on the early days — when a set of business cards gifted at Christmas didn’t feel like much of a “gift,” but rather the beginning of a lifelong calling. Over time, his heart shifted. What once felt like work became purpose, and he found deep fulfillment in running a legacy company built on creativity, grit, and vision.

He shares the story behind the name “Tractorbeam,” how his father’s “Wild West” entrepreneurial style influenced him, and what it took to professionalize and scale a creative business in a competitive market. Eric opens up about the challenges of working with family, navigating tough client demands, and staying innovative through moments of real uncertainty — including the pandemic years spent building quality work out of a WeWork office.

💡 “Creative as a standalone business is challenging,” Eric admits, “but when you get the product mix right, the work becomes the mission.”

Stay Gritty!!
https://tractorbeam.com/