Leadership doesn’t stop at your org chart—it follows you out the office door and into the communities your business touches. In this final episode of my Leadership That Gives Back mini-series, In this final episode of my Leadership That Gives Back mini-series, I’m closing the loop on everything we’ve talked about together.

I’m closing out this conversation with one core truth: Belonging isn’t a workplace perk—it’s a leadership practice. And when belonging stops at the office door, it’s incomplete. Because organizations shape communities whether they intend to or not—through wages, policies, and who gets access… and who doesn’t.

Leadership decisions ripple outward—through families, neighborhoods, dignity, and opportunity. That’s why giving back isn’t separate from belonging. It’s an extension of it. And if we build belonging inside our companies while ignoring our impact outside of them, we’ve missed the point.

If you’ve been wrestling with purpose-driven leadership, workplace belonging, and business that actually means something, or what it looks like to build a culture that doesn’t just perform—but contributes—this one will hit home.

Press play, then share it with a leader who’s ready for the responsibility to turn culture into community-level impact. 🎧✨ Listen now and keep deliver on big impact with me.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [0:36] Leadership Doesn’t Stop At Your Org Chart

• [1:06] HOW Leadership Decisions Ripple Outward To Communities

• [2:03] WHY Giving Back Is An Extension From Belonging

• [2:41] WHAT We Can’t Forget As Leaders

• [3:33] We All Have The Opportunity To Impact For Good

Episode Show Notes

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If you’re ready to dive deeper and level up your learning beyond the Finding the Upside episodes, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

Misty Lyon didn’t say yes to this journey without hesitation. In fact, self-doubt showed up immediately — the familiar question of whether she was “good enough” lingering just beneath the surface.

In this episode of the Real Women: 7 Minutes of Transformation series, Misty shares a story shaped by bravery, authenticity, and the quiet decision to move forward anyway. Recorded live at the Revive and Thrive 2025 Empowerment Summit, her reflection offers a glimpse into what happens when we stop waiting for certainty and choose courage instead.

Without giving everything away, this episode explores the space between fear and possibility — the moment when taking a chance opens doors you didn’t even know existed. Misty’s story touches on growth, connection, and the unexpected discoveries that emerge when you trust yourself enough to begin.

This episode is part of a larger collaborative book project launching in 2026, created by the women whose voices you’re hearing throughout this series. Listen—or watch—and consider what might happen if you took your shot, even without knowing exactly where you’d land.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [1:02] Misty’s Personal Growth Journey

• [3:01] Her Bucket List Item Became TRUE

• [4:47] The Keys To A Solid Friendship

• [6:10] What She Gained By Writing Her Chapter

Episode Show Notes

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

If you’re ready to dive deeper and level up your learning beyond the Finding the Upside episodes, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

What does it really take to step onto a stage and leave a lasting impact? In this powerful keynote from the Revive and Thrive 2025 Empowerment Summit, award-winning director, producer, and author Tricia Brouk shares how to unlock the full power of your voice so you can influence, inspire, and lead, whether you're on a global stage, in the boardroom, or around the kitchen table.

Tricia takes us on a journey from her early days as a dancer performing around the world to witnessing history on 9/11, and how those moments shaped her understanding of the true impact of voice and presence. She breaks down what it means to communicate with clarity, courage, and purpose, showing us that influential speaking isn’t just about technique, it’s about service, values, and authenticity.

Through powerful stories and practical insights, Tricia reveals how to coexist with fear, use your physical presence intentionally, and speak from a place of truth. She reminds us that being an influential voice isn’t reserved for celebrities or thought leaders, it’s something each of us can embody in our daily lives to create real change.

If you're ready to stop shrinking back and start showing up with confidence, this episode will give you the mindset and tools to command any room and trust your voice like never before.

Want more than a glimpse? The full speaker presentations, panels, and replays are now available exclusively inside the Business Leaders Hub — my subscription community built for education, empowerment, and inspiration. Details are in the show notes!

And if this sneak peek sparks something in you… just wait until next year’s event. We’re already planning, and trust me — you’ll want to be in the room.

Listen now + get access to the Hub here: http://go.businessleaderhub.com/join

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [7:44] The Importance of Vulnerability
• [13:29] How To Think As A Performer AND An Influential Voice
• [17:41] THIS Is The Impact of Communication
• [20:26] Your Voice is Your Truth

Episode Show Notes

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the full Revive and Thrive Empowerment Summit, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

What does it really take to step onto a stage and leave a lasting impact? In this powerful keynote from the Revive and Thrive 2025 Empowerment Summit, award-winning director, producer, and author Tricia Brouk shares how to unlock the full power of your voice so you can influence, inspire, and lead, whether you're on a global stage, in the boardroom, or around the kitchen table.

Tricia takes us on a journey from her early days as a dancer performing around the world to witnessing history on 9/11, and how those moments shaped her understanding of the true impact of voice and presence. She breaks down what it means to communicate with clarity, courage, and purpose, showing us that influential speaking isn’t just about technique, it’s about service, values, and authenticity.

Through powerful stories and practical insights, Tricia reveals how to coexist with fear, use your physical presence intentionally, and speak from a place of truth. She reminds us that being an influential voice isn’t reserved for celebrities or thought leaders, it’s something each of us can embody in our daily lives to create real change.

If you're ready to stop shrinking back and start showing up with confidence, this episode will give you the mindset and tools to command any room and trust your voice like never before.

Want more than a glimpse? The full speaker presentations, panels, and replays are now available exclusively inside the Business Leaders Hub — my subscription community built for education, empowerment, and inspiration. Details are in the show notes!

And if this sneak peek sparks something in you… just wait until next year’s event. We’re already planning, and trust me — you’ll want to be in the room.

Listen now + get access to the Hub here: http://go.businessleaderhub.com/join

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [7:51] What Being An Influential Voice Means
• [10:53] Getting clear on what you are passionate about?
• [18:01] The Five Ways To Communicate Effectively
• [19:36] How to Co-Exist with the Fear

Episode Show Notes

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the full Revive and Thrive Empowerment Summit, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

For a long time, Lisa Cain believed that protecting others meant holding parts of herself back. In this episode of the Real Women: 7 Minutes of Transformation series, Lisa shares a story shaped by careful restraint—and the moment she realized that healing wasn’t possible while she kept filtering her truth.

Recorded live at the Revive and Thrive 2025 Empowerment Summit, Lisa reflects on what happens when we stop playing small, remove the armor we’ve learned to wear, and allow ourselves to be seen without editing or apology. Her story offers a glimpse into the kind of transformation that unfolds not through perfection, but through honesty.

This episode explores the quiet courage it takes to choose vulnerability, the clarity that comes from naming what we’ve carried, and the unexpected connections that form when we stop hiding.

Lisa’s story is part of a larger collaborative book project launching in 2026, created by the women whose voices are featured throughout this series. Listen—or watch—and consider what might shift if you gave yourself permission to be fully seen.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [0:36] Lisa’s Revelation During Her Writing Journey

• [1:52] Writing Brought Her THIS

• [3:12] WHY She Constantly Wore A Mask

• [7:37] The Gift Of Writing

Episode Show Notes

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the full Revive and Thrive Empowerment Summit, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

Good intentions don’t create impact, execution does. In Part 3 of my “Leadership That Gives Back” mini-series, I’m getting practical about what it actually takes to build responsibility into the way you operate. Because most leaders aren’t avoiding impact because they don’t care; they’re avoiding it because they think it has to be complicated, messy, or risky.

In this episode, I share the simple model we chose, a clear 1% commitment tied to revenue (not leftovers) and why that one decision changes everything: it makes giving back predictable, transparent, and embedded in culture, not dependent on “good years” or guilt-driven spikes.

If you’ve been waiting for permission, perfection, or a massive initiative to “do it right,” this is your sign to stop overengineering's impact - because grand gestures make headlines, but consistency builds trust.

Listen now and take the one step that makes leadership real: do it, embed it, and let it scale with you.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [0:18] Good Intentions Without Execution Doesn’t Create Impact

• [0:43] WHY Most Leaders AVOID Giving Back

• [1:33] WHY Giving Back Matters

• [2:03] You Don’t Need A Massive Initiative - You Just Need THIS

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

Unlock your leadership potential with the Rebel Leader Assessment! Take my Leadership Skills evaluator quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening or watching the podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

Training Innovations recently presented another New Jersey Devils home game at the Prudential Center through the Devils Affiliate Partner Program with Eleven Sports Media.

For me, this partnership is about more than visibility. It represents a commitment to supporting our home team, connecting with other New Jersey businesses, and being part of a local community that believes in showing up for one another.

There’s also a natural alignment between sports and the work we do every day. Championship teams train with discipline, communicate clearly, and execute together under pressure—the same principles that help organizations build strong cultures and high-performing teams.

This episode reflects on why this partnership matters and why supporting local teams and local businesses is something I’m proud to be part of. Listen or watch to hear my thoughts on how hockey and business have a lot in common.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [0:36] A Peek Into What Training Innovations Has Been Up To

• [1:14] THIS Matters To Me

• [2:09] Not Just A Sponsorship

• [3:17] Different Arena, Same Principles

Episode Show Notes

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the full Revive and Thrive Empowerment Summit, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.

Earlier this year in Episode 162, I shared the launch of the MDR Give Back Program — our commitment to donate 1% of all company sales to organizations fighting hunger, specifically Feeding America and No Kid Hungry.

This episode is a short follow-up and reminder of that commitment. I’m sharing what that initiative produced in 2025, and why the cause behind it remains so important.

Food insecurity continues to affect millions of families and children, which makes the work of organizations like Feeding America and No Kid Hungry more critical than ever.

If you’ve been wanting to do something meaningful and be part of addressing this need, I invite you to join me.

I’ve started a No Kid Hungry fundraiser on Instagram, and I’d love for this community to rally around it. Donate if you can, share the campaign, and help us extend the impact of this effort.

Head to @themariadr on Instagram to join the fundraiser.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from today’s episode…

• [0:00] The MDR Giveback Program

• [0:40] Update on the Commitment

• [1:12] JOIN US!

Head to @themariadr on Instagram to join the No Kid Hungry fundraiser.

Episode Show Notes

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Instagram

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Facebook⁠

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | LinkedIn

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Website

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes | Youtube

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the full Revive and Thrive Empowerment Summit, sign up for the Business Leaders Hub! Get access to exclusive content, resources and tools, and a community built to help you accelerate to the next level. It’s all waiting for you HERE.

Want to scale your business to the next level? GET SCORED NOW My Scale Factor Formula™ Scorecard takes just 5 minutes and will give you a custom scorecard for your business. Get your Business Scale Ready Score HERE.

What kind of leader are you? Unlock your leadership potential with The Rebel Leader Assessment! Take the Leadership Skills Quiz HERE!

Thanks for tuning into Finding The Upside! If you enjoy listening to our podcast, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave us a rating and review HERE. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our content and reach more listeners like you. Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us @themariadr so we can thank you personally!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Finding The Upside podcast! Don’t miss out on future interviews with special guests plus bonus episodes! Follow now!

Never miss a show…get the goods delivered directly to your inbox! CLICK HERE and find “Email Me New Episodes” at the Bottom of the page.