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Scaling the Gap

Scaling the Gap

Written by: Madeleine MacRae
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 Scaling the Gap is a podcast crafted for the bold, bright, ambitious leaders of today. As an Owner, Entrepreneur, Founder, CEO, President you've already tasted success, and you’re on a quest for more — more impact, more growth, more fulfillment! Our podcast is your companion on this journey, offering a unique recipe of inspiration, introspection and innovation blended with high-impact tactical, practical business advice. We’re here to guide you through the complexities of scaling your business by providing proven tools and dynamic personal growth insights that will help you solidify your vision and transform it into a lasting legacy. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.legacyleadershipinstitute.com/podcast-guest.Madeleine MacRae Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Family First, Business Second, and Building a Life Worth Living with Toni Parkhurst

    Family First, Business Second, and Building a Life Worth Living with Toni Parkhurst
    Jan 16 2026
    When life throws you curveballs, do you have the freedom to step away when it matters most? In this episode of Scaling the Gap, Madeleine MacRae sits down with Toni Parkhurst, franchise owner of Budget Blinds, to explore how a sudden family crisis reshaped her definition of leadership, success, and freedom. Together, Madeleine and Toni explore the unseen sacrifices behind long term success, the emotional cost of ambition, the identity shifts required of business owners, and why true scaling is about creating a business that gives you freedom when life demands your presence elsewhere.This conversation is a powerful reminder that growth is not just about revenue. It is about building something that sustains you through life’s hardest and most meaningful moments.Key TakeawaysWhy choosing family at critical moments can unlock unexpected opportunitiesHow resilience and persistence compound into long-term successWhy “luck” is earned through preparation, sacrifice, and actionThe emotional cost of entrepreneurship that most people never seeHow building a strong team creates freedom, not dependencyWhy success evolves through different seasons of lifeHow generosity and giving back create purpose beyond profitThe importance of redefining identity as your role as a leader changesIn This Episode[00:00] Introduction to Toni Parkhurst[05:46] How Toni entered the industry[06:12] Career growth & family crisis[09:58] Taking risks & “winging it”[12:16] Building momentum & facing hardships[14:04] Luck, opportunity, and preparation[18:11] Community recognition & professional milestones[19:55] Bougie success & staying grounded[20:49] Multigenerational family support[21:02] Caring for her mother & team support[24:33] Defining success beyond money[27:08] Toni’s personal success algorithm[29:10] Embracing a new grandmother role[30:45] Contact information & closingNotable Quotes[10:13] "I remember I borrowed money from my mom to buy the first franchise." – Madeleine [10:45] "Pushing through the fear, I never dreamed I would have a multi-million dollar company." – Toni[13:08] "I would get in my van in the morning to go to my first appointment crying." – Toni[14:17] "Luck sits at the intersection of opportunity and preparation." – Madeleine[16:30] "The biggest compliment for me is when people say, “You deserve it. You’ve worked your ass off.” That is the biggest compliment." – Toni[19:57] "I can enjoy some bougie, but I'm still that same person. I've been broke before, and you don't forget that." – Toni[24:17] "Most of it doesn't have to do with money. I am successful because I've been a really good mother. I've been able to help my kids both to get into their first home." – Toni[24:39] "I am very proud of the daughter I was to my mom, and the granddaughter I was to my grandma." – Toni[28:24] "I’m in a paradigm shift right now, with my first grandbaby coming." – ToniOur GuestToni Parkhurst is a longtime entrepreneur and franchise owner of Budget Blinds, leading a multi-million-dollar business with a strong family and community focus. With nearly two decades of ownership, Toni has built a company rooted in generosity, resilience, and people-first leadership. Her journey reflects the power of perseverance, values-based decision-making, and redefining success across seasons of life.Resources and LinksToni ParkhurstBudget Blinds of Fairfield & Vacaville: https://www.budgetblinds.com/fairfield/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/budgetblindsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/solanobudgetblinds/?hl=enEmail: tparkhurst@budgetblinds.comLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/toni-parkhurst-501b23aPhone: Phone: (707) 447-2494Madeleine MacRaeWebsite - https://mmmacrae.com/making-changes-training-motivating/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/macraemadeleineInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/madeleine.macrae/Book – The Tenacious Pursuit of Peace: Where to Go When Success Isn’t Enough
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    32 mins
  • Succession Planning in Family Businesses: More Emotional Than Strategic? with Brandi Marek

    Succession Planning in Family Businesses: More Emotional Than Strategic? with Brandi Marek
    Jan 6 2026
    In this episode of Scaling the Gap, Madeleine MacRae sits down with Brandi Marek, Business Advisor at Ferguson Alliance, to unpack the unseen emotional and leadership challenges inside family-owned businesses.Brandi brings a rare and powerful perspective, not just as an advisor to lower middle market companies with revenues between $20M and $150M, but as someone who lived inside a family business herself. She shares how obligation, ego, exhaustion, and misplaced expectations quietly block growth, and why scaling is not just about systems. It is about mindset, surrender, and identity.Madeleine and Brandi explore the grief of letting go of roles you were supposed to play, the freedom that comes from redefining success, and why leadership often requires stepping out of the way so others can rise. As we step into a new year, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: you don’t have to stay where you are out of obligation, and surrender is often the gateway to fulfillment.Key TakeawaysWhy obligation, not incompetence, is one of the biggest blockers in family businessesThe difference between wanting change and being willing to actionize itHow ego prevents leaders from scaling and what it really means to get out of the wayThe under-discussed grief of leaving roles you once loved or felt responsible forWhy mindset, not strategy, determines whether growth initiatives succeedHow surrender becomes a leadership skill, not a weaknessWhy success is measured by fulfillment, relationships, and impact, not just revenueThe importance of building leadership structures that match the next generation, not the lastIn This Episode[00:00] Introduction to Brandi Marek[05:03] Why mindset matters more than strategy[08:56] The three T’s: time, tools, and training[12:45] Letting go of identity and redefining purpose[16:35] The unique challenges of family business dynamics[19:31] Surrender as a leadership practice[21:28] Choosing a word for the year and what it really invites[22:12] Brandi’s definition of success[26:55] Connect with BrandiNotable Quotes[02:30] “There's just not a lot of people that can really know and understand what it's like to be a family member in a family owned business, and how to do that.” – Brandi Marek[15:46] “Being able to connect and say, ‘I know exactly how you feel,’ is huge, because we needed that so desperately in my family.” – Brandi Marek[20:01] "If you use the word 'surrender' as your word [for the year], you're going to get a lot of opportunities to practice surrender." – Madeleine MacRae[22:42] “My biggest measure of success is not just what it means for me, but how I’m able to share it with others.” – Brandi Marek[23:41] “Releasing expectations and letting everyone find a path that feels purposeful and fulfilling is huge for me.” – Brandi Marek[27:43] “You don't have to stay where you are of obligation. You're allowed to make new decisions. You're allowed to have become someone new and step into something new.” – Brandi MarekOur GuestBrandi Marek is a Business Advisor with Ferguson Alliance, where she specializes exclusively in advising family-owned businesses in the lower middle market. With over 20 years of experience, including firsthand experience inside a family enterprise, Brandi helps leaders navigate succession planning, leadership development, family dynamics, and mindset shifts required for sustainable growth. Her work bridges strategy, psychology, and real-world leadership challenges to help families build businesses that thrive across generations.Resources and LinksBrandi MarekFerguson Alliance: https://ferguson-alliance.com/brandi-marek/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandi-marek-66183728/Madeleine MacRaeWebsite - https://mmmacrae.com/making-changes-training-motivating/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/macraemadeleineInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/madeleine.macrae/Book – The Tenacious Pursuit of Peace: Where to Go When Success Isn’t Enough
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    29 mins
  • The Fractional Future: How Dave Gilbert Turned Experience Into Impact

    The Fractional Future: How Dave Gilbert Turned Experience Into Impact
    Dec 30 2025

    As the year closes, one powerful question rises to the surface. What does it take for someone to walk away from the comfort of a Wall Street career, the predictable salary, and the traditional definition of success, and instead choose the wild, uncertain, and incredibly rewarding path of entrepreneurship?

    In this powerful episode, Madeleine MacRae sits down with Dave Gilbert, a founder whose entire entrepreneurial journey refuses the traditional script. After two decades in tech, real estate, and e-commerce, and after building a company from two people to 5,000 employees, Dave discovered that success was not about chasing unicorn valuations or 100 hour weeks. It was about freedom, meaningful relationships, and building companies where people actually love working.

    Dave opens up about his winding career, the emotional cost of selling a company, the grief that follows identity loss, and the joy of building his fractional executive firm where world class leaders bring 20 to 30 years of experience to companies that could never afford them full time. He also talks about redefining ambition, designing a life you want to live, and choosing work that aligns with who you are, not just what you can build.

    As we step into 2026, Dave's story is the reminder we all need: success is not about scale. It is about intention. And this year, you deserve a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside.

    Wishing you a grounded, purpose filled, deeply joyful start to 2026. More transformative guests on the way!



    Key Takeaways

    Why non-traditional careers are becoming the new norm and why that is a gift

    Why fractional executives are becoming the future of growth for small and mid sized businessesThe hidden grief founders experience when they exit their companiesWhy chasing unicorn status creates unhealthy pressure and what sustainable success actually looks likeHow to build companies where people stay because they want to, not because they have toWhy success is less about money and more about freedom, family, and meaningful relationships

    In This Episode

    [00:00] Introduction to David Gilbert

    [04:43] Validating career paths and startup hiring[05:08] Tech startup exit and business growth[05:56] Fractional executive firm vision and passion[06:37] Benefits of fractional executives

    [09:39] Challenges of buying vs building companies[11:56] Service vs product business models[12:27] Growth mindset: unicorns vs sustainable companies[13:41] Redefining success and profit

    [16:16] Identity and grieving after exiting a company

    [19:59] Defining personal success

    [23:58] Closing thoughts and contact information

    Notable Quotes

    [15:34] “Who you are is how you treat people and what you do with your life and how you spend your time. It's not what you did in your career or the company that you grew.” – David

    [21:01] “Spending time with people that we want to spend time with that we choose to spend time with, to me, is the ideal success story.” – David



    Our Guest

    Dave Gilbert is a tech founder, entrepreneur, and owner of multiple companies including a fractional executive firm and an engineering company. After two decades building businesses across tech, real estate, and e-commerce, Dave now leads a 30 person team that delivers fractional CFO, HR, and back office services. His passion is sustainable growth, meaningful relationships, and building companies where people truly thrive.



    Resources and Links

    David Gilbert

    Email: Dave@ProvenCoLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/davidmgilbert⁠



    Madeleine MacRae

    Website - ⁠https://mmmacrae.com/making-changes-training-motivating/⁠LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/macraemadeleine⁠Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/madeleine.macrae/⁠Book – ⁠The Tenacious Pursuit of Peace: Where to Go When Success Isn’t Enough⁠
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    26 mins
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