“A good leader is someone who is helping others become the best of themselves.”

In this episode, Craig Anderson sits down with Brook Gratia, President of Edgewater CPA Group, to explore the realities of leadership, scaling a business, and the challenges of integrating new teams. Brook shares her journey from launching her firm to leading a team of 20, reflecting on key leadership lessons—like hiring the right people, adapting to team dynamics, and navigating the emotional complexities of leadership. She opens up about the difficulties of merging company cultures, setting clear expectations, and balancing the demands of running a business while supporting employees.

After You Listen:

• Connect with Brook Gratia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brook-avey-gratia-54275b6/

• Check out Edgewater CPA Group: https://www.edgewatercpa.com/

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigpanderson/

• Subscribe to Craig’s "The Evolving Leader" newsletter: https://clearpathcoaches.com/stay-in-touch

Key Takeaways:

• Hire the right people from the start to save time, stress, and money

• Separate your identity from employee decisions while still showing care

• Build structured processes to keep teams aligned and accountable

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(02:10) Best leadership book

(05:03) Leadership inspirations

(08:45) Defining leadership

(11:42) Early leadership roles

(15:54) Challenges in growing a business

(27:13) Get out of the weeds and lead