Lisa Canning is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience helping small business owners build and grow their ventures. Her leadership and innovative approach have garnered significant recognition, including being named one of the top 500 female founders by Inc. Magazine in 2025 and earning a spot on their fastest-growing Midwest list.

Lisa's commitment to cultivating a positive workplace culture was further highlighted when she received the Culture Breakthrough Award from Hyer.co in 2025, a testament to her dedication to fostering a supportive and empowering environment for her team. 

Sales Maven specializes in collaborating with organizations that prioritize the development of strong marketing and sales teams through emotionally intelligent strategies. By focusing on authentic connections with clients and their target markets, Lisa helps transform visions into actionable strategies that drive significant results while promoting a culture of growth and empowerment. Through her extensive experience and expertise, Lisa continues to inspire and lead others toward success.

In this episode, Brad and Lisa discuss:

• How Lisa transitioned from a professional clarinetist to a multimillion-dollar business owner.
• The role of creativity, discipline, and emotional intelligence in building successful teams.
• How small businesses can overcome inconsistent growth through structure and strategy.
• The challenges of scaling with limited resources and leveraging fractional talent effectively.
• The growing impact of AI on marketing, authenticity, and human connection in business.

Key Takeaways: 

• Sustainable growth starts with defining roles, setting clear lanes, and fostering trust within teams.
• Small businesses often struggle with “doing it all,” but delegation and structure create real momentum.
• Marketing and sales are not luxuries; they’re essential investments that insulate businesses during downturns.
• Fractional and outsourced experts can offer high-level strategy at accessible costs for small enterprises.
• Authenticity will become a key differentiator in an AI-driven marketplace, and human connection still matters.

“Sales and marketing are not nice to have, but they’re essential and the trick is to figure out how to effectively manage them at a price you can manage long-term.” — Lisa Canning

Connect with Lisa Canning: 

Website: https://www.salesmaven.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisacanning/ 

Pillars of Performance Podcast: https://pillarsofperformancepodcast.com/ 

Additional Resources:  https://www.thinkherrmann.com/whole-brain-thinking-methodology

Connect with Brad Foley:

Website: https://www.hrvaluepartners.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfoley/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrvaluepartners/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrvaluepartners/ 

Email: [email protected] 

Show notes by Podcastologist: Francine Poblete

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.