The rules of growth are changing, and the most successful companies are adapting their strategies in real time. In this blog, you’ll find the most valuable lessons and real-world strategies shared in Red Caffeine’s Business as “Un”usual 2025 Livestream Series. Each session brought together mid-market experts and industry veterans to help executives like you tackle workforce disruption, economic instability, sales challenges, and strategic growth planning.

In this session, Mark Parrott outlines how shipping trends, demographic shifts, and global tensions are shaping the economic future, and how smart businesses are diversifying, de-risking, and
 positioning for resilience.

Family-owned doesn’t mean outdated. Sloan Valve Company’s fourth-gen CEO shared how strategic partnerships, leadership evolution, and customer-driven innovation have helped them punch
 above their weight.

In this session, Gary Gray breaks down how Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) give owners a tax-smart, employee-first succession strategy that keeps the business strong long after the handoff. Learn how ESOPs stack up against other exit options and why this model is gaining traction among future-focused founders.

Rome Grinding Solutions went from surviving to thriving by rebuilding their brand, rethinking culture, and aligning every move to a future-ready growth strategy. This session discusses what happens when you replace busy work with strategic work.

From AI in hiring to DEI blowback, workforce strategy has never been messier. Mary Lynn Fayoumi offers unfiltered answers and forward-looking insights to help leaders lead through change without losing trust or talent.

Cold calls are colder than ever. This session breaks down how curiosity, listening, and human connection, when combined with the right tech, can help sales teams cut through the noise and
close more deals.

Sick of CRMs that feel more like digital junk drawers than revenue machines? Dayna Kramer and Kayla Portillo share how to spot the leaks in your pipeline, align sales and marketing, and transform your CRM into a true growth engine.

If your sales team is stuck chasing bad-fit leads, it’s time to reset. Scott Peterson shows how to define your Ideal Client Profile (ICP), align messaging, and build repeatable systems that convert
the right prospects.

The real value in M&A is what happens after the deal. This session reveals how brand strategy can align cultures, protect talent, and accelerate integration for long-term success.

Buying another company isn’t always the answer. Barnet Rogers walks through how to evaluate M&A vs. organic growth, finance deals without burning cash, and spot red flags early.

What happens when you suddenly inherit a business and a legacy overnight? Christine Rogers, CEO of M3 Learning, shares how she stepped into ownership just days after the passing of founder and sales icon Skip Miller. What followed was a crash course in legacy, reinvention, and the human side of business continuity.

As wages rise and customers push back on higher prices, business leaders are stuck between supporting their people and protecting their margins. This session outlines what compensation strategy looks like heading into 2026.

Want to Be the First to Know About Upcoming Business as “Un”usual Events?

Our next round of Livestreams is already in the works. Learn more about what’s coming next and sign up to get updates straight to your inbox. Don’t miss your chance to watch the conversations shaping mid-market growth in 2026.

Christina Buettner

Content Marketer

Meet The Author

I’ve always been fascinated by what makes people tick. I love learning about the behavior of individuals and groups. I use these interests to help me become a better marketer. I’m passionate about creating successful content that resonates with people.

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