How Curiosity and Connection Drive Growth with Brian McGroarty

Welcome back to Lending Leadership: The Creative Brief, your go-to podcast for staying ahead in the dynamic world of lending, real estate, and business development.In this episode, Rachael Tresch welcomes Brian McGroarty—a self-described “Renaissance guy” who’s as comfortable talking title insurance as he is discussing AI, business growth, and modern marketing strategy. If you’ve ever wondered how to truly stand out in this industry, you're in for a treat: Brian is someone people want to work with, not just for his expertise in title, but because he brings fresh perspectives from multiple fields and is genuinely passionate about helping others grow.Today, we dive into what it takes to be a thought leader across multiple industries, and how wearing “many hats” isn’t just a buzz phrase—it’s essential for creating value and forging meaningful partnerships. Brian opens up about his career journey, from a psychology degree and family PR firm to sales, payroll, merchant services, and eventually, title insurance. Along the way, he shares invaluable lessons on business ownership, building agile teams, and how technology (especially AI) is transforming everything we do.We explore topics like leveraging the “7921 Rule” for marketing (a Gary Vaynerchuk favorite), discovering your personal superpowers, building authentic relationships, and leadership when no one is watching. Whether you're in lending, real estate, title, or sales—this episode packs a punch of actionable advice for growing your reach without losing your authenticity.Key takeaways:Find and Own Your Superpower: Brian challenges us to clearly articulate and believe in the unique value we bring. It’s not enough to say you “bring value”—you need to know exactly what makes you special, and be confident in sharing that with others.Stay Curious and Adapt to Change (Especially AI): We discuss how AI isn’t just some distant future—it’s transforming sales, marketing, and business strategy right now. Dipping your toes into these tech waters isn’t optional; it’s the only way to avoid falling behind in a rapidly evolving industry.Diversify Your Efforts (The 7921 Rule): Inspired by Gary Vaynerchuk, Brian breaks down how to allocate your energy and resources: spend most of your time on what works best, but always experiment with smaller, alternative channels so you’re ready when something new takes off.Build Strong Teams by Playing to Strengths: Drawing from his background in psychology and PR, Brian explains how recognizing and harnessing the individual superpowers of your team members creates a more cohesive, resilient organization. It’s about listening, adapting, and helping everyone find their best-fit role.Authenticity Wins—Be Seen, Be Impactful, and Follow Up: In a world overloaded by digital communication, showing up in-person, building real relationships, and having a purposeful reason for every interaction sets you apart. Success isn’t about being everywhere online—it’s about making meaningful connections and always following up (including Brian’s pro-tip: the “double dial” to actually get someone on the phone).Additional Highlights:Brian's career evolution—and why no kid grows up saying they’ll work in title insurance, but how the path matters.The importance of leadership and integrity when no one is watching.Lessons on transitioning from behind-the-scenes roles to client-facing positions, and knowing when to delegate or seek outside expertise.Why curiosity and questioning everything (à la Socratic method and Ted Lasso) is crucial for growth.How returning team members and open communication create a stronger business culture.We wrap up with a reminder: try something new, be authentic, and never underestimate the power of a well-timed follow-up.Want to connect with Brian? Find his LinkedIn and website below. As always, please like and subscribe to Lending Leadership—your resource for creative growth and genuine leadership in lending and beyond.Have a great rest of your day, and thanks for listening!Rach & Rinn